One of the Alaska Department of Fish & Game’s most exciting days on the calendar takes place this weekend: Sunday, June 11 is the opener for Russian River reds and rainbow trout.
Brian Marston, Fish & Game’s local Sports-fishing Management Biologist…
Marston: “The run seems to be a little higher than what we projected, the weir just counted it’s first day like yesterday (Wednesday). So we don’t have a ton of data but when we’re walking the stream for other surveys it does seem like there’s more fish down in the lower end then other years. The projected run size for the early run sockeye in Russian River was lower than average but it appears to be a little higher than that projection.”
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s forecast for sockeye salmon was 41 million, which is 12 million fewer than last year. But, based on preseason numbers there is a promising outlook that this run is either early or larger than the forecast.
The Department says the water levels in the Russian River are also lower than average, however water clarity conditions are good to excellent.
Marston: “Water levels are lower then average. Kenai in front of the Russian is kinda clearer even, so the water conditions are kinda low and clear.”