Area Sport Fishing Reports
Anchorage

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 30, 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) has closed for the season.

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 and those fish should be acclimated and hungry. 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.
• Remember from May 15 - July 13 Ship Creek is only open to fishing between the hours of 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. each day.
• Anglers have reported good catches of king salmon at Ship Creek. Try soaking salmon roe on the bottom behind a spin-n-glow or casting spinners. King salmon are being caught throughout the tide cycle with better catch rates on the incoming (flood) tide and just as the tide begins to go out.
• Eagle River drainage is closed to king salmon fishing.
• Bird Creek is currently closed to salmon fishing. Bird Creek opens on July 14 to salmon fishing, except for king salmon. Bird Creek is always closed to king salmon fishing.

Saltwater Fishing

Hooligan

• Dipnetting for hooligan has closed for the season.

Local Lakes

• Lakes through the Anchorage management area have been stocked with more rainbow trout! A few of the recently stocked lakes were Sand, Jewel, Delong, and Campbell Point (aka Little Campbell).
• Fishing in local lakes continues to be good. Anglers have reported consistent catches of catchable-sized rainbow trout from shore and by boat. With the nice weather, the bite tends to be better early in the morning or late at night. Also, try fishing in the shade parts of the lake or the deeper parts that are cooler.
• Arctic char can be caught in local lakes by focusing efforts in slightly 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 opens to fishing on July 1. Fishing should be good. The bag and possession is five fish, of which only one fish may be greater than 12 inches. Casting flies or small spinners can be a fun and effective way to fish for grayling.
• Check out the stocking webpage to find out when your favorite lake was last stocked.
• 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.
  • There are currently no emergency orders for the Anchorage Management Area.

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.