Area Sport Fishing Reports
Anchorage
Archived Sport Fishing Report
July 06, 2023
Freshwater Fishing
Rainbow Trout/Dolly Varden/Arctic Char
Portions of Campbell and Chester creeks opened on June 15 to fishing for rainbow trout and Dolly Varden. Water levels are coming down on Campbell Creek and the water is clearing up. Fishing small spinners or drifting egg fly patterns are good options.
Salmon
- Ship Creek is open to king salmon fishing. As a reminder, fishing is allowed on the open section of Ship Creek from 6AM to 11PM. King salmon fishing at Ship Creek has been fair over the last week and it has improved since the water has come down. Peak timing has passed for king salmon in the creek, but fish will continue to trickle through the remainder of the season, which ends at 11PM on July 13th.
- Try bait such as salmon roe or mackerel behind a spin-n-glow during the rising or falling tide or during slack high tide, try casting large spinners or plugs when the creek is flooded with tidewater.
- No other flowing waters in the Anchorage Bowl are open to salmon fishing.
- Bird Creek is currently closed to fishing.
Local Lakes
- All Anchorage management area lakes have been stocked with catchable rainbow trout and some with Arctic char. Check out the stocking webpage to find out when your favorite lake was last stocked.
- Try slowly stripping a wet fly to entice a bite from a fish cruising the lake’s edge in search of food or a dry fly on a warm, calm evening. Small bait or jigs under a bobber are always good options when fish are schooled-up.
- Delong, Beach and Mirror lakes are the lakes most recently stocked with rainbow trout. Delong has great shoreline access, whereas Beach and Mirror lakes are best fished from a canoe or kayak. Dry flies on calm evenings or early mornings are a good option in addition to small spinners or bait under a bobber.
- Wanting to try fishing for something besides rainbow trout? Symphony Lake opened to fishing on July 1. Fishing in Symphony Lake for Arctic grayling with flies can be incredible this time of year. Symphony Lake is located 5.5-miles up the South Fork Eagle River trail.
- Looking for information on Anchorage stocked lakes? Check out the Anchorage Stocked Lakes publication with bathymetric maps and how to access locations.
- Fishing on the military base? Just a reminder, you need to register with isportsman and check with base personnel prior to fishing on JBER.
Northern Pike
- Northern pike are not native to Anchorage area lakes. Lower Fire Lake was treated for pike in the fall of 2022, and all pike were eradicated. Lower Fire Lake has now been stocked with ~3,000 catchable rainbow trout.
- If you catch a pike in any Anchorage area lake, do not release it and immediately report it here.
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 2023 sport fishing license and king stamp! You can purchase your 2023 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, advisory announcements, and the 2023 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing in before you head out.
For additional information, please contact the Anchorage Area Office at (907) 267-2218.