Page 46 - Anchorage & Kenai Peninsula Bearfoot

RIVER FISHING
The Russian River opens for fishing in mid-June, when the first red salmon arrive. It's fly-fishing only untiltheendofAugust.Asecondrunofredsarrivesin midtolateJuly,andyoucanfishforsilversinthemid- dle ofAugust.There are two placesto fish the Russian Riveraftermid-June.ThefirstisfromtheRussianRiv- er Campground, at Mile 52.6 Sterling Highway. The secondiswheretheRussianRiverenterstheKenai River, at Mile 55. To get there, you take the Russian River Ferry across the Kenai. There's a large parking lot that often overflows on the weekends.
PUT IN & TAKE OUT
Becauseyou can'tusemotorsontheUpperKenai River, you won't be able to get back upstream to whereyouputin.Thismeansyou'llhavetohave two vehicles or use a shuttle service. Jim's Land- ing is the most w idely used public ta ke out point. Parkingislimited,butthere'sanicegraveled,flat launch to the river. Be aware before you go far- therdowntheriverthatthereisClass2andClass 3 whitewater ahead, and you'll have to go all the w ay to Upper Skila k Lake Campground to have another chance to take your boat out.
KENAI RIVER HIGHWAYACCESS the Kenai River and Skilak Lake.
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To Sterling
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Sterling Highway
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There are plenty of roadside access points on
o Mile 48 State Park Boat Launch Just past bridge on the north side. o Mile50.5CooperCreekCampgroundBothsidesoftheroad. o Mile52.6Russian RiverCampground Verylargecampgroundwithsteepstairways. o Mile 55 Russian River Ferry Parking Boat launch and ferry access acrossthe Kenai River. o Mile58RefugeInformationCenterLargeparkingarea,toilets,andsmallcontactcenter. o Mile58SkilakLakeRoadtoJim'sLandingTurnsouthonSkilakLakeRoadtogotoJim'sLanding.Thisisthemost used take out point for the upper Kenai River. o Mile58-Mile75SkilakLakeRoadSkilakLakeRoadcontinuesfor19miles.Ithasseveralcampgroundsandtrails.
Past Jim's Landing, the river runs through the more difficult Kenai River Canyon and then to Skilak Lake, where outboa rd motors can be used.
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: Creek Trail