Area Sport Fishing Reports
Anchorage

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 10, 2017

Anchorage Area

Week of May 10 to May 16
Issued May 10, 2017

General Area Description:

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

• Ship Creek is currently open to salmon fishing from the mouth up to the cable crossing roughly 100 feet below the Chugach Power Plant Dam.
• Campbell Creek (entire drainage) is closed to fishing April 15 through June 14.
• Chester Creek (entire drainage) is closed to fishing April 15 through June 14.
• Bird Creek (entire drainage) is closed to fishing January 1 through July 13.
• Symphony Lake is closed to fishing May 1 through June 30.
• Eagle River (entire drainage) is closed to king salmon fishing. A section between the Bailey Bridge to an ADF&G marker at the Alaska State Park’s Campground will open to king salmon fishing on a weekend basis beginning Memorial Day Weekend.

NEW REGULATIONS:

• The NEW sport fishing regulation summary booklets are now available online and at local vendors!
• Ship Creek is closed YEAR ROUND to ALL fishing from 100 feet below the Chugach Power Plant Dam upstream to 300 feet above the Elmendorf Power Plant Dam, near the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery.
• A Ship Creek YOUTH ONLY king salmon fishery will take place on June 17 from 6 A.M. to 6 P.M. The area open to youth only is from the C Street Bridge upstream to the Bridge Restaurant. During this timeframe adults may assist youth fishing but only anglers 15 years old and younger may fish in this area.
• Campbell Creek from ADF&G markers on the upstream side of the Lake Otis Parkway Bridge to an ADF&G maker located near the forks at Piper Street is only open to sport fishing from July 14 through September 30.

Fishing Tip: Before you go fishing ALWAYS review the 2017 Sport Fishing Regulations.

For additional information about regulations in the Anchorage Bowl review the 2017 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 Dipnet and PWS Shrimp Permits can be obtained online as well.

Stream Fishing

Salmon

• Ship Creek is the only stream in the Anchorage area currently open to king salmon fishing. Fishing on Ship Creek is open from the mouth up to the cable crossing roughly 100 feet below the Chugach Power Plant Dam. Anglers have been scouting the creek to try and get that first king but no catches have been reported. Try fishing roe or casting spinners below the last bridge as the tide starts to flood.
• All other 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.

Fishing Tip: It has been a long winter. Brush up on your fish identification before you head out fishing. Test your fish identification knowledge with the new Pacific Salmon ID Quiz.

Trout

• All of Campbell Creek, Chester Creek, and portions of Ship Creek are currently closed to fishing to protect spawning rainbow trout. The closure on Chester Creek includes East and West Chester Lagoon and APU/University Lake.

Lake Fishing

General:

• Nearly all lakes in the Anchorage area now have open water.  Anglers who have access to a canoe, small boat, or tube could have success on Sand Lake which was just stocked with arctic char and rainbow trout.
• Arctic char were stocked into Sand, Fish, Thompson, Green, and Clunie lakes this week. 
• Rainbow trout have been stocked into Sand, Taku-Campbell, Delong, Campbell Point, Jewel, Spring, Triangle, Waldon, Green, and Hillberg lakes. 
• Airstrip, Alder, and Tangle lakes will be stocked at the end of the week.
• Cheney lake was stocked with chinook salmon at the beginning of April. 
• Jewel lake has a lot of hungry fish swimming around the dock! 
• Fish are usually not too picky in the spring. Try casting small lures or wet flies to attract aggressive fish. Bait under a bobber is also a good option. In the evening, watch for fish rising; as this is a great time to utilize dry and surface flies.
• Fish stocking by the WJH Sportfish Hatchery has begun! Anglers can visit ADF&G's hatcheries and stocking web page for more information regarding when and where fish are stocked.
• Often after fish are stocked, they remain in large schools. Spend some time searching for these schools.

Have you noticed a few dead fish washed up along the shores of local lakes this spring? Don’t be alarmed! Our lakes often see winterkill of some fish. Winterkill is used to describe fish dying because of low oxygen levels. This is a natural process! In the summer, submerged plants and algae create oxygen through the process of photosynthesis. During our long and cold Alaska winters, when lakes freeze over and are covered with snow, very little light makes its way to the vegetation below, reducing and sometimes eliminating oxygen production. In small shallow lakes the limited oxygen can quickly be used up by fish and bacteria. When oxygen levels decline far enough, fish may not survive. Given the long winter and thick ice we just had, some of our lakes may have experienced winterkill.

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.

Hooligan

• Open season for hooligan (smelt) in salt waters is April 1 through May 31. In fresh waters it is April 1 through June 15. Hooligan may be taken by dip net in any fresh or salt water during this time period. There is no bag or possession limit for personal use smelt.
• This is a personal-use fishery and only Alaska residents can participate. No permit is required, but you do need a 2017 Alaska resident fishing license or ADF&G Permanent ID card with you.

20 Mile River

• The hooligans are in! In order, to catch good numbers you need to put in a little extra effort. Groups of gulls have been spotted working the saltwater so there are likely more on the way.
• 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.
• For more information on hooligan dipnetting and hooligan dipnetting regulations, see the 2017 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations summary booklets.