Red salmon pouring into Russian River; limit increased

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Cooper Landing, Alaska   

By Dennis Zaki
Grab your rods and flies, the sockeye salmon are running strong on the Russian river.

Biologists with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game have decided to up the limit for red salmon on the popular river.

As of 6 a.m. Sunday, the limit will go from three to four fish per day.

By Friday morning, more than 18,000 spawners had safely passed through the weir above the Russian River falls. The minimum spawning goal is 14,000 fish, and the maximum is 37,000. Biologists think the maximum will be surpassed.

The four-fish limit that goes into effect Sunday will cover not only the sanctuary but the entire Russian River/Kenai River fly-fishing-only area.