Area Sport Fishing Reports
Anchorage

Archived Sport Fishing Report

April 14, 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 (smelt) opened April 1 and will remain open until June 15 (in freshwaters). There is no bag or possession limit.
• This is a personal use fishery and only Alaska residents can participate. No permit is required, but you do need a valid 2021 Alaska resident sport fishing license or ADF&G Permanent fishing license ID card with you.
• Hooligan run timing is highly variable. There is still a lot of ice at Twentymile River and no reports have been received about successful catches.
• 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. There is a new parking lot 0.7 miles before the Twentymile River parking lot.
• For additional information on dipnetting for hooligan see the 2021 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations summary booklet.

Rainbow Trout/Dolly Varden/Arctic Char:

• Spawning closures are in place for Campbell and Chester creeks. Both creeks closed to all sport fishing April 15 and will remain closed through June 14 to protect spawning rainbow trout.

Salmon

• Ship Creek is open to king salmon fishing but it’s a bit too early to catch any kings. It will likely be mid-May when the first fish is caught.

Saltwater Fishing

Hooligan

• Dipnetting for hooligan opened April 1 and will remain open until May 31 (in saltwaters).

Local Lakes

• Anchorage Bowl lakes still have a lot of ice on them. Anglers might have a little bit of time left to catch fish through the ice, but most reports are that it takes some patience and time to catch anything. Warmer weather is in the forecast so make sure to use caution as ice will begin to become unsafe.
• Cheney Lake has been fishing well. This lake was stocked in January with larger rainbow trout and in October with landlocked Chinook salmon. It will be stocked with rainbow trout in early to mid-May.
• Delong and Jewel lakes were both stocked with landlocked Chinook salmon in early February. This was the most recent stocking for Anchorage area lakes.
• Local lake stockings will begin in May. Check out the stocking webpage to find out where you’re most likely to be successful.

Emergency Orders

• Please review the Emergency Orders and News Releases below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.
  • There are currently no Emergency Orders for the Anchorage Management Area.

Don’t forget to bring your 2021 sport fishing license and king stamp with you! 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.