Area Sport Fishing Reports
Anchorage

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 31, 2019

Week of May 30 - June 5

Freshwater Fishing

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.
    • King salmon fishing is slowly picking up! Both lures and bait have been catching fish. Your best luck would be trying around the high tides.
    • Remember Ship Creek is only open to fishing from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. through July 13.
  • In the Eagle River drainage from the Bailey Bridge on Fort Richardson upstream to ADF&G markers in the Alaska State Parks Eagle River Campground king salmon fishing is ONLY open on the following dates: June 1 - 3, June 8 - 10, and June 15 - 17. 
  • Chester and Campbell creeks will open to fishing on June 15 for non-salmon species.
    • Campbell Creek will be open for a youth-only king salmon fishery on June 29 and June 30 but remains closed to king salmon fishing at all other times. This creek will open for coho salmon fishing July 14.
    • Chester Creek is never open for salmon fishing.
  • Bird Creek will open on July 14 to fishing for all salmon, except king salmon. It is currently closed to ALL fishing. 

Rainbow Trout/Dolly Varden/Arctic Char

  • Chester and Campbell creeks will open to sportfishing for non-salmon species on June 15. Spawning closures are currently in place to protect spawning rainbow trout. Both creeks are annually closed April 15 - June 14 to protect these fish.
    • The closure on Chester Creek includes East and West Chester Lagoon and APU/University Lake.

Hooligan

  • The last day to dipnet for hooligan (smelt) in saltwater is May 31. Freshwaters remain open until June 15. This is a personal use fishery (which means for Alaska residents that have a 2019 sportfishing license) and there is no bag or possession limit.
  • The hooligan run at 20-mile River is winding down.
  • 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 2019 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet.

Local Lakes

  • Arctic grayling are back!
    • Alder Pond and Beach lakes were stocked with Arctic grayling last week. These are a fun fish to catch on a fly or lure.
  • Anchorage lakes are stocked with fish!
    • Cheney Lake was stocked with some nice sized rainbow trout on May 29! This is a great option to take the kids fishing with lots of space to run around. Flies, spinners, and bait under a bobber are all good options.
    • Little Campbell Lake was stocked earlier this week with some nice rainbow trout. This is also a great lake to target larger sized Arctic char. A canoe or raft is a good option to get around this very accessible lake.
    • Over 2,000 Arctic char were stocked in Sand Lake a couple of weeks ago. This lake should continue to fish well throughout the summer. Limited shore access makes this a better lake to get your canoe or kayak on.
    • Lakes on JBER that have been stocked with catchable rainbow trout including Green, Clunie, Hillberg, Spring, and Gwen.
  • Symphony Lake will open to fishing on July 1.
  • 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 and please contact the ADF&G Sport Fish Division immediately at 907-267-2218.

Emergency Orders

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

For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Anchorage Sport Fish Info Desk at (907) 267-2218.

Archives

Anchorage Area Archives for:
Sep 17, 2019 Sep 11, 2019 Sep 05, 2019 Aug 29, 2019 Aug 22, 2019 Aug 14, 2019 Aug 07, 2019 Jul 31, 2019
Jul 25, 2019 Jul 19, 2019 Jul 11, 2019 Jul 03, 2019 Jun 27, 2019 Jun 20, 2019 Jun 14, 2019 Jun 06, 2019
May 31, 2019 May 23, 2019 May 16, 2019 May 09, 2019 May 01, 2019