Area Sport Fishing Reports
Anchorage

August 28, 2026

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• Ship Creek
  • Coho (silver) salmon fishing at Ship Creek has slowed, and the run is winding down. A few late silvers will be entering, so it could be worth a shot for any anglers who want to wet a line one last time with minimal company. Anglers should expect to put in some effort if they want to catch a coho salmon. To target coho salmon, try fishing the incoming tide by drifting salmon roe or a jig tipped with shrimp under a slip bobber.
    • By emergency order, the bag and possession limit for salmon other than king salmon has been increased to six fish; all six may be coho salmon. Any king salmon that is caught may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
• Bird Creek
  • Salmon fishing has slowed down at Bird Creek but a few late coho are still entering with some pinks and chum in the tide water section of the creek. Fishing will be best during the incoming and outgoing tides. Drifting roe under a slip bobber or casting medium-size spinners are effective ways to target coho salmon.
• Campbell Creek
  • Campbell Creek is open to coho (silver) salmon fishing through September 30. All salmon species other than coho salmon must be released immediately. Coho salmon are spread throughout the deep holes in Campbell Creek. Anglers should expect to sort through blushed fish. Rain will bring in some new fish but far less than earlier in the run. Fishing has been fair for anglers over the last week using all types of gear (jigs, spinners, or eggs under a slip bobber) through deep holes and bends.

Rainbow Trout/Dolly Varden/Arctic Char

Chester and Campbell creeks are great places to explore right now. Many salmon are spawning in the upper reaches of the creeks, so the best approach is to fish egg imitation patterns or beads behind schools of spawning salmon to target rainbow trout and Dolly Varden. Spinners, eggs, and brightly colored flies in the mainstem creek are also worth a shot.

Local Lakes

• Stocked rainbow trout are well-distributed throughout many of the Anchorage lakes. Fall stockings of rainbow trout have begun. Check out our stocking page to see what has been stocked or check out the Anchorage stocked lakes booklet for information on where stocked lakes are located.
  • Try slowly stripping a wet fly, casting small spinners or fishing small bait under a bobber to catch these stocked fish.
  • With the cooler weather approaching good fishing can be found throughout the day. On warm sunny days shoot for morning or evening fishing for your best chances.
  • Symphony Lake is open to sport fishing. Anglers have reported excellent catch rates of Arctic grayling and catching the occasional rainbow trout. For fly anglers, try stripping bead head nymphs or small streamers. For spin casters, size 0 or 1 spinners will do the trick.
• Fishing on base? Areas on Elmendorf and north of the Glenn Highway need a Department of Defense identification card (DoD ID) or to be accompanied by a person possessing a DoD ID. Additionally, you need to register and obtain a permit through RecAccess.

Special Species Information

Northern pike

Northern pike are not native to Anchorage area lakes. If you catch a pike in any Anchorage area lake, do not release it and immediately report it to the invasives reporting page here.

Emergency Orders

Please review the emergency orders and advisory announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip:

• Effective August 7, Emergency Order 2-SS-2-45-26 increases the bag and possession limit for salmon, other than king salmon, 16 inches or greater in length, in the Ship Creek from its mouth upstream to a cable 100 feet downstream of Chugach Power Plant dam, to six fish.
• Effective July 3, Emergency Order 2-KS-2-38-26 closes Ship Creek to sport fishing from its mouth upstream to a cable 100 feet downstream of the Chugach Power Plant Dam through July 13, 2026 and closes Ship Creek to the retention of King salmon for the remainder of the year.

Don't forget to purchase your 2026 sport fishing license and king stamp! You can purchase and display your fishing license and king stamp, record your annual harvest (i.e. king salmon), access sport fishing regulations and locations, and so much more on your mobile device. Download the ADF&G Mobile App today. You can also purchase licenses through the ADF&G online store and print them off from the comfort of your own home.

Make sure to review emergency orders, advisory announcements, and the 2026 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.

For additional information, please contact the Anchorage Office at 907-267-2218.