Region 2-Southcentral News Release
(Released: May 17, 2005)
Contact:
George Pappas
Soldotna Commercial Fisheries & Sport Fish Office
Phone: (907) 262-9638
May 17, 2005
300 feet above a smolt trap at River Mile 44.75, through June 25, 2005
Through June 25, 2005, the Division of Commercial Fisheries will be operating sockeye salmon smolt counting equipment in the Kenai River immediately upstream of the confluence of the Middle Killey River, at River Mile 44.75.
Since floating smolt traps and sonar equipment will be anchored to the river bottom, waters within 300 feet upstream of the smolt traps are closed to sport fishing through June 25.
A mooring anchor with two buoys is located approximately 90 feet offshore of the north bank and 200 feet upstream of the smolt traps. A submerged steel cable runs from the buoys down river to the smolt traps, and two more steel cables run directly from the smolt traps to the north bank. Additionally, a submerged steel cable runs from the north bank to the south bank on the river bottom in the immediate vicinity of the smolt traps.
Anglers and boaters should use extreme caution in this area. To avoid the equipment and steel cables, boaters are requested to stay on the south side of the river. If going downstream, stay to the left of the center of the river. If going upstream, stay to the right of the center of the river. Sport fishing gear drifted through this area will likely get snagged and lost on the equipment and cables located under the water.
If you have any questions regarding this study, please contact Mark Willette or Bob DeCino with the Division of Commercial Fisheries in Soldotna at 907-262-9368.
