Area Sport Fishing Reports
Anchorage

June 18, 2026

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

King salmon fishing at Ship Creek is fully underway. Fishing has been good but expect some tides to be better than others, especially as the creek experiences lingering snow melt from the mountains. Try a spin-and-glow with roe fished on the bottom during the incoming and outgoing tide. Casting large spinners at high tide is also productive method for these hatchery-run king salmon.

• Reminder: The Ship Creek Youth-Only Fishery is on Saturday, June 20th, from 6a.m. to 11p.m. from the upstream side of the C Street bridge to the downstream side of the Bridge Restaurant.

Rainbow Trout/Dolly Varden/Arctic Char

Fishing is open for Rainbow trout on Chester and Campbell Creeks as of June 15th. These systems were stocked this week with Rainbow trout and fishing should be good. Stripping small wooly buggers or letting bead head nymphs and dry flies float in the current are good options to catch these fish in the creeks.

• Reminder: By emergency order on Campbell Creek, only single hooks are allowed; no bait may be used through July 31st.

Local Lakes

• Rainbow trout have been stocked in all local lakes and fish should be acclimated at this point. Try slowly stripping a wet fly or fishing small bait under a bobber to catch these freshly stocked rainbow trout.
• For shore-based anglers, try fishing Cheney or Jewel Lakes. For anglers with canoes or small boats, fishing at Delong, Mirror, and Sand Lakes. Fishing will be best in the early morning and evenings.
• Keep up to date on lake stockings by visiting the ADF&G Stocking Update
• 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 May 1, Emergency Order 2-KS-2-2-26 closes sport fishing for king salmon in the entire Eagle River drainage. In addition, sport fishing gear is limited to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure with a gap between the point and the shank of the hook that is half-inch or less when fishing in waters of Eagle River.
• Effective June 15, Emergency Order 2-KS-2-1-26 prohibits the retention of king salmon (catch-and-release only) during the 2026 Campbell Creek youth-only fishery that occurs the last Saturday and Sunday in June, between Dimond Boulevard and the Old Seward Highway. In addition, only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used from June 15–July 31 in the Campell Creek drainage.

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.