Area Sport Fishing Reports
Anchorage

May 20, 2020

* Just a reminder to all our anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by following and reviewing the current State of Alaska Health Mandates in effect. This includes practicing social distancing while sport and personal use fishing and wearing a face covering when fishing and if you are needing fishing supplies from your local store as indicated in Health Alert 010.

* The Alaska Board of Fisheries adopted two proposals establishing new sport fish regulations for the Anchorage Management Area at its Anchorage February 2020 meeting. Please see the 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulation Summary booklet for a complete summary of the Anchorage sport fisheries regulations.

Emergency Orders

Please review the Emergency Orders and Advisory Announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.

• There are currently no Emergency Orders for the Anchorage Management Area.

Freshwater Fishing

Hooligan

• Dipnetting for hooligan (smelt) opened April 1 and will remain open until June 15 in freshwater. There is no bag or possession limit.
• This is a personal use fishery and only Alaska residents can participate. No permit is required, but you do need a valid 2020 Alaska resident sport fishing license or ADF&G Permanent fishing license ID card with you.
• Speed zone reductions are in place on the Seward Highway as of May 1, 2020. Watch for people along the roadways.
• For your safety, and for the safety of others, please park well off the highway. Do not trespass on the railroad tracks or the railroad right-of-way. Please be respectful and take all your trash with you, don’t throw it on the ground. Please obey all signs and do not block the boat launch.
• For additional information on dipnetting for hooligan see the 2020 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations summary booklet.
• Catches of hooligan continue to pick up. It is best to get there well before the tide comes in to get a good spot.

Rainbow Trout/Dolly Varden/Arctic Char

• Spawning closures are in place for Campbell and Chester creeks. Both creeks closed to all sport fishing April 15 and will remain closed through June 14 to protect spawning rainbow trout.

Salmon

• Ship Creek is currently open to salmon fishing from the mouth to a cable 100 feet below the Chugach Power Plant Dam. The remainder of the creek up to 300 feet above the Elmendorf Power Plant Dam, near the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery, is CLOSED YEAR-ROUND to ALL fishing.
• Remember to all anglers from May 15 - July 13 Ship Creek is open to fishing between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. each day.
• The first king salmon was caught on May 17! Fish should continue to start trickling in. Try spinners or bait, both are productive in this location.
• No other flowing waters in the Anchorage Bowl are open to salmon fishing.

Saltwater Fishing

Hooligan

• Dipnetting for hooligan opened April 1 and will remain open until May 31 in saltwater.
• Hooligan run timing is highly variable. Catches of hooligan continue to pick up. It is best to get there well before the tide comes in to get a good spot.

Local Lakes

• Anchorage Bowl lakes are fishing great right now as they have all been stocked with rainbow trout! Try fishing with small spinners, or bait under a bobber.
• If you have a canoe or kayak to get out onto the lake you will likely have better success.
• Check out the stocking webpage to find out where fish have been stocked most recently.
• Cheney Lake has been fishing great! Anglers continue to catch coho salmon that were stocked in late March and rainbow trout that were recently stocked.
• Jewel Lake is the most recently stocked lake. Get your gear together and get out there!
• Lakes on JBER have been stocked catchable rainbow trout. Just a reminder, you need to register with isportsman and check with base personnel prior to fishing on JBER.
• Symphony Lake will open on July 1 and is a great place to catch Arctic grayling.
• Northern pike are not native to Anchorage area lakes but there are some in Lower Fire Lake. If you catch a pike in any Anchorage area lake, please do not release it.

Don’t forget to bring your 2020 sport fishing license and king stamp! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2020 sport fishing license and king stamp through the ADF&G online store and print it off from the comfort of your own home. Also, make sure to review Emergency Orders and the 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.

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