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Area Sport Fishing Reports
Anchorage

July 21, 2021

* Just a reminder to all our anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by practicing social distancing while sport and personal use fishing, and wear a face covering when social distancing is not possible and if you are needing fishing supplies from your local store.

Freshwater Fishing

Hooligan

  • Dipnetting for hooligan has closed for the season in both fresh and saltwaters.

Rainbow Trout/Dolly Varden/Arctic Char

  • Rainbow trout and Dolly Varden fishing opened on many parts of the Campbell Creek and Chester Creek drainages on June 15. Campbell and Chester creeks have both been stocked with rainbow trout. Anglers can have success for local trout by casting small spinners and spoons through deep pools or drifting nymph or egg imitation fly patterns.

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.
  • Effective July 14, Ship Creek is open to fishing 24 hours a day.
  • From July 14 through July 31, 2021, an emergency order is in effect extending the season and increasing the bag and possession limits for king salmon in Ship Creek. Anglers may retain up to two king salmon during this time. Once the second king salmon is caught, anglers must quit fishing in the creek that day. Annual limits remain the same.
  • Catches of king salmon on Ship Creek has slowed down and coho salmon catches continue to pick up. Try drifting salmon roe under a slip bobber or casting spinners.
  • Eagle River drainage is closed to king salmon fishing.
  • Bird Creek opened on Wednesday, July 14 to fishing, except for king salmon. Bird Creek is always closed to king salmon fishing. Fishing was slow on opening day but more coho and pinks are getting caught. Bird creek will continue to see more fish coming in over the coming weeks. Angler can improve their success by fishing the incoming or outgoing tides.
  • Portions of Campbell Creek opened to fishing for coho salmon on July 14 and remains open until September 30. If you accidently catch another species of salmon be sure to keep it in the water and release it quickly. Fishing salmon roe under a slip bobber or casting spinners are good options. Fishing will be slow to start as silvers are just starting to move in.
    • Interest in learning how to use a slip-bobber on Campbell Creek? Check out this ADF&G YouTube video!

Local Lakes

  • Lakes through the Anchorage management area have been stocked with more rainbow trout! The most recently stocked lakes were Sand, Jewel, Delong, and Campbell Point (aka Little Campbell).
    • Check out the stocking webpage to find out when your favorite lake was last stocked.
  • Fishing in local lakes continues to be great! Anglers have reported consistent catches of catchable-sized rainbow trout from shore and by boat. The bite tends to be better early in the morning or late in the evening. Also, try fishing in the shady parts of the lake or the deeper parts that are cooler. Arctic char can be caught in local lakes by focusing efforts in deeper water.
  • Try fishing small spinners or bait under a bobber to entice a strike. Dry fly action can be a fun and effective way to target stocked fish in the evenings.
  • Symphony Lake opened to fishing on July 1. It’s almost 7 miles to get to the lake but Arctic grayling fishing has been good. The bag and possession is five fish, of which only one fish may be greater than 12 inches. Casting flies or small spinners work well to catch Arctic grayling in Symphony Lake.
  • Fishing on base? Just a reminder, you need to register with iSportsman and check with base personnel prior to fishing on JBER.
  • Northern pike is 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 keep it and call ADF&G at 907-746-6328.

Emergency Orders

  • Please review the Emergency Orders and Advisory Announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.
    • Emergency Order 2-KS-2-44-21 extends the king salmon season in Ship Creek through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, July 31, 2021. In addition, the bag limit was increased to two per day. If an angler catches and retains their second king salmon, they must stop fishing in Ship Creek for the remainder of the day.

Don't forget to purchase your 2021 sport fishing license and king stamp! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2021 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 2021 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.

Archives

Anchorage Area Archives for:
Jul 21, 2021 Jul 14, 2021 Jul 07, 2021 Jun 30, 2021 Jun 24, 2021 Jun 17, 2021 Jun 10, 2021 Jun 02, 2021
May 27, 2021 May 19, 2021 May 12, 2021 May 05, 2021 Apr 28, 2021 Apr 14, 2021