June 22, 2017

Week of June 22 to June 28

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 and Emergency Orders

• Before you go fishing ALWAYS review the 2017 Sport Fishing Regulations available online and at local vendors!
• Sport fishing licenses, King Stamps, Personal Use Dipnet, and Prince William Sound Shrimp Permits are available for purchase online at the ADF&G Online Store.
• Anglers can visit ADF&G's Hatcheries and Stocking webpage for more information regarding when and where fish are stocked. Most lakes in the Anchorage area have been stocked.
• 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.
• Campbell Creek: select areas of the creek opened to fishing for fish species other than salmon on Thursday, June 15. Make sure you check the 2017 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for new fishing closures starting from the upstream side of Lake Otis Parkway Bridge.
• Chester Creek: select areas of the creek opened to fishing for fish species other than salmon on Thursday, June 15. NO SALMON FISHING IS ALLOWED ON CHESTER CREEK.
• Bird Creek (entire drainage) is closed to ALL fishing January 1 – July 13.
• Symphony Lake is closed to fishing May 1 – June 30.
• Eagle River (entire drainage) is closed to king salmon fishing.
• This weekend!! Get your kids out fishing to the Campbell Creek Youth-Only King Salmon Fishery taking place on Saturday, June 24 and Sunday, June 25 from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The area open to youth-only during this timeframe is from the ADF&G markers under the Dimond Street Bridge upstream to the Old Seward Highway bridge. During this timeframe adults may assist youth fishing but only anglers 15 years old and younger may fish in this area. Enforcement of this regulation will be in full effect by area biologists and Alaska State Troopers.

Stream Fishing

Salmon

• Fishing on Ship Creek is open from the mouth up to the cable crossing roughly 100 feet below the Chugach Power Plant dam.
  • Remember this area is closed to fishing from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
• King fishing has really picked up this week at Ship Creek. Both bait and hardware have been productive at catching fish. Don’t forget your valid 2017 fishing license and king salmon stamp!
• The annual king salmon derby, Slam’n Salm’n Derby ended on Sunday. The top fish was weighed in at 36.2 lbs!
• With the exception of downstream section of Ship Creek and the Campbell Creek youth fishery this weekend, all waters in the Anchorage Management Area are currently closed to king salmon fishing.
• If you are successful and would like to report a catch please contact the Sport Fish Information Center at 267-2218.

Trout/Dolly Varden

• Specific areas of Campbell Creek and Chester Creek opened to fishing for species other than salmon on Thursday, June 15. On Campbell Creek, it remains CLOSED TO ALL FISHING below Dimond Blvd. and in the stretch of river from Shelikof Street to Piper Street. Above Piper Street is open to catch and release only effective June 15. Check the regulation booklet for more specifics.
• Trout fishing is expected to be good on Chester and Campbell Creeks as stocked trout have had time to spread out throughout the drainages with no angling pressure. Try fishing small spinners or bead-head nymphs in deep pools and along cutbanks.
• Be aware that habitat restoration work is being conducted on Campbell Creek. Please obey all signs and stay on designated trails in these areas to reduce damaging all the hard work. This habitat work is going to help improve fish habitat on the creek. A great new fishing platform has been installed above the Dimond bridge!

Lake Fishing

General

• Cheney Lake was stocked in early June with rainbow trout. Fishing continues to be good for persistent anglers.
• Fish that were stocked over the last month have begun to spread out and acclimate to their environments. Fish will become pickier and more selective of lures, flies, and bait as the summer goes on. Try imitating natural prey they may encounter in the lakes like insects, leeches, and small fish. Bait under a bobber is always a reliable method for targeting stocked trout.
• Taku-Campbell and Jewell Lake are just a couple of the great lakes in Anchorage to take the kids for some rainbow trout action! Good access and fun fishing!

Fishing Tip: To improve your success in local stocked lakes review the lake bathymetric (bottom depth profile) map 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.

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. If you catch a Northern Pike in the Anchorage area, please contact the ADF&G Sport Fish Division immediately at 267-2218.

Hooligan

• Hooligan (smelt) dipnetting in salt waters closed on May 31 and closed in the fresh waters on June 15.
• For more information on hooligan dipnetting and hooligan dipnetting regulations, see the 2017 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations summary booklets.