Area Sport Fishing Reports
Anchorage

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 20, 2016

 Anchorage Area

Week of July 20 to July 26
Issued July 20, 2016

General Area Description: All waters draining into the east side of Knik arm south of, and including, the Eklutna River drainage, and all waters draining into the north and west sides of Turnagain Arm, and all waters draining into the south side of Turnagain Arm east of, and including, Ingram Creek.

Regulation Reminders

• All waters in the Anchorage Bowl are closed to King salmon fishing.
• Campbell Creek is open to coho fishing July 14–September 30 from the ADF&G markers under Dimond Blvd. bridge to ADF&G markers near Shelikof Street. In addition, coho fishing is open from ADF&G markers on the upstream side of the Lake Otis bridge to an ADF&G marker located near Piper Street. See the regulation book for a detailed map. The limit for coho salmon is 3 per day, 3 in possession.
• Campbell Creek upstream of the forks near Piper Street open to fishing non-salmon species. Only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure is allowed. No retention of rainbow trout or steelhead is allowed. Check the regulations for specific regulations on fishing non-salmon species throughout the drainage.
• Chester Creek (entire drainage) is closed to year round to all salmon fishing.
• Bird Creek opened to fishing July 14–December 31 for salmon EXCEPT king salmon. The limit is 3 salmon per day/3 in possession for fish 16 inches or longer. Check the regulation book for additional restrictions.

Fishing Tip: Before you go fishing ALWAYS review the sport fishing regulations.

For additional information about regulations in the Anchorage Bowl look in the 2016 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulation Summary.

Sport fishing licenses and king stamps are available for purchase online at the ADF&G Online Store. Personal Use Dipnetting and PWS Shrimp Permits can be obtained online as well.

Stream Fishing

Salmon:

• Ship Creek closed to king salmon fishing on July 13. No retention of king salmon is allowed in Ship Creek.
• On July 14, Ship Creek opened to fishing 24 hours a day from the mouth up to the cable crossing roughly 100 feet below the Chugach Power Plant dam.
• Coho salmon fishing has been picking up in Ship Creek over the last week. Anglers report bait to be best for catches of silvers over the last few days. Try fishing roe under a slip bobber on the incoming and into high tide.
• Campbell Creek opened to coho salmon fishing on July 14. Check the regulation book as there are restrictions and the entire creek is NOT open to coho fishing. Fishing for coho on Campbell creek has been slow as the water is fairly low in the creek. Rain will help bring the water level up and spread coho throughout the creek. Look for deep holes with shade from nearby trees; coho tend to shy away from direct sunlight.
• Bird Creek opened to coho salmon fishing on July 14. Anglers have report catches of coho on Bird creek with even a few limits observed. Pinks are plentiful and even a few chums have been reported to have been caught.

Trout:

• Trout and Dolly fishing is open in sections of Campbell, Chester, and Ship Creek. Only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure is allowed. Check the regulations to make sure you are fishing in the open areas!
• Trout fishing has been good on Chester and Campbell Creeks. Try fishing egg patterns and beads for good dolly varden and rainbow trout action.

Lake Fishing

General:

• In the Anchorage lakes, you’ll have a mix of freshly stocked fish and fish that have had a few weeks to acclimate and grow in their lake environment. Try fishing black leeches or bead-head nymphs; smaller flies might trick some of the pickier fish stocked in the late spring. Bait under a bobber or float have continued to catch fish over the last few weeks; particularly roe or shrimp on a small bait hook.
• With the warm weather focus efforts early in the morning or late in the evening, as fish tend to hunker down deep when the sun is high. On hot days, try fishing near cover or shade where fish can get relief from the direct light of the sun.
• In town, action has been reported to be good on Cheney, Taku-Campbell, and Campbell Point lakes in the late afternoon.
• APU/University Lake & West Chester Lagoon:
• APU/University Lake and West Chester Lagoon are in the Chester Creek drainage which opened to fishing for rainbow trout on June 15.

Symphony Lake:

• Symphony Lake opened on July 1 and grayling fishing was reported as good. Do not forget to take a measuring tape with you since only one fish may be greater than 12 inches in length. The daily and possession limit is 5 grayling of those only one can be greater than 12 inches.
• Anglers are doing well on both flies (e.g. Parachute Adams and nymphs) and spinners (e.g. Roostertails and Mepps).
• Early morning and later afternoon before or after the mid-day breeze are great times to target grayling at Symphony Lake.

Fishing Tip: To improve your success in local stocked lakes review the lake bathymetric (Bottom depth profile) map as well as recent stocking data online. This will help you determine what type of fish you are fishing for and where they might be. Often a little walk or getting away from the pack will provide rewards.
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishingSport.region&StockingAreaID=2

Northern Pike

• There are very few opportunities for Northern Pike in Anchorage as they are not native to the region. ADF&G has taken steps to keep pike out of Anchorage lakes.
• Lower Fire Lake is the closest place to find Northern Pike in the Anchorage Area.
• Pike are fun to fly fish for using frog, mouse and duckling patterns.
• Casting or trolling spinners and small plugs are successful techniques for catching pike on Lower Fire Lake.
• Very late in the evening can be a good time to target these predatory fish.
• Please respect private property and quiet hours around Lower Fire Lake. Using a boat will increase your success rate substantially.

Hooligan

• Hooligan dipnetting is closed. For additional information on hooligan dipnetting and hooligan dipnetting regulations, see Page 14 of the 2016 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations summary booklets.