Area Sport Fishing Reports
Anchorage

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 25, 2017

Week of August 24 to August 30

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

• Ship Creek is only OPEN to salmon fishing (except king salmon) 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.
• Per Emergency Order No. 2-SS-2-40-17, effective at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 25, 2017, the bag and possession limit for coho salmon in Ship Creek has been increased to six fish.
• Campbell Creek is open to fishing for coho salmon and fish species other than salmon from the Dimond Boulevard Bridge up to Shelikof Street and also from Lake Otis Parkway Bridge to the ADF&G markers near Piper Street. The area between Shelikof Street and Lake Otis Parkway Bridge is always CLOSED to ALL fishing. Above Piper Street, there is no salmon fishing allowed and there is no retention of rainbow trout and steelhead allowed. Besides coho salmon in select areas, no other salmon species may be targeted or retained anywhere on Campbell Creek. Check the 2017 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for specifics and a map.
• Chester Creek: select areas of Chester Creek opened to fishing for fish species other than salmon on June 15. NO SALMON FISHING IS ALLOWED ON CHESTER CREEK.
• Bird Creek opened to salmon fishing, EXCEPT king salmon, on July 14. Salmon limits (except king salmon) are three per day, three in possession, if 16 inches or greater. The bag limit for salmon less than 16 inches in length is ten per day, ten in possession.
• Symphony Lake opened to fishing on July 1. Arctic Grayling limits are five per day, five in possession; only one fish may be greater than 12 inches in length.
• Eagle River (entire drainage) remains closed to king salmon fishing.
• Before you go fishing ALWAYS review the 2017 Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet and have a current 2017 sport fishing license - available for purchase at the ADF&G Online Store.
• Anglers can visit the ADF&G Hatcheries and Stocking webpage for more information regarding when and where fish are stocked. Most lakes in the Anchorage area have been stocked.

Stream Fishing

Salmon

• All waters in the Anchorage Management Area are currently CLOSED to king salmon fishing.
• FISH HANDLING REMINDER: if you catch a fish and don’t plan to keep it because you don’t want it or it’s illegally hooked, you MUST release the fish carefully. Try to keep the fish in the water as best as you can. We want all fish to live after being released and proper care when taking hooks out and keeping a fish in the water is extremely important!
• Ship Creek:
  • Coho salmon fishing continues to be good on Ship Creek. Anglers are reporting that it is taking longer to catch limits than in the past weeks, but fresh fish continue to enter the fishery each day. The bag limit from the mouth to the Chugach Power Plant dam has been increased to six fish per day by Emergency Order.
  • Anglers using both roe and spinners have been taking their fair share of fish from Ship Creek. Salmon roe fished underneath a slip float can be very effective for coho salmon. Anglers should focus their effort during the rising and falling tides.
• Bird Creek: Fishing has been good for coho salmon. Anglers casting spinners on the rising tide and drifting roe during the falling tide have reported great success. Chums and pinks are still present in the fishery, but have begun to thin out. The retention of king salmon on Bird Creek is NOT ALLOWED. Make sure you know how to identify your salmon. Please obey regulation and private property signs.
• Campbell Creek: Coho salmon fishing success has been variable and highly dependent on precipitation. After rain events, the creek swells and fresh coho salmon enter the creek. Holding fish can be found in deep pools and slow turns. Drifting eggs under a float or slip bobber has been the technique of choice when fresh fish are on holding or on the move.

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

Trout/Dolly Varden

• Trout fishing should be good on Chester and Campbell creeks. Try fishing egg patterns behind spawning salmon. Small bright flies in silver and orange have also been working well for trout species.
• Be aware that habitat restoration work has been 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. Two great fishing platforms have been installed. One is below the Dimond Street Bridge and one is at Arctic Boulevard.

Lake Fishing

• Anchorage area lakes have begun to shift into fall fishing mode. Stocked trout become more active as the lakes start to slowly cool and arctic char begin to move into shallower. Black leeches and bead-head nymphs can produce great catch for fly fishers. Small spinners work especially well during the fall.
• The William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery is in the process of stocking this week. Lakes to check out include: Cheney, Jewel, and Delong. Freshly stocked rainbow trout tend to be in large school and not very picky. This is excellent opportunity to get young kids out to fish as catching can be steady at times. As a reminder, the bag limit for rainbow trout in stocked lakes is five per day and five in possession.
• Symphony Lake opened July 1. Excellent grayling fishing can be found in the lake. Stripping small streamers and nymphs will be the most productive method for catching fish, as grayling will be looking to feed subsurface as water temperatures begin to drop. Try fishing the lake inlet for the larger sized fish.

Fishing Tip: To improve your success in local stocked lakes review the lake bathymetric (bottom depth profile) map online. These maps can reveal structure and other locations where fish may likely 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. Try a mouse pattern for some fun action. If you catch a Northern Pike in the Anchorage area, please contact the ADF&G Sport Fish Division immediately at (907) 267-2218.

Hooligan

• Hooligan is closed in both salt and fresh waters.

**If you are successful and would like to report a catch please contact the Sport Fish Information Center at (907) 267-2218.