Area Sport Fishing Reports
Anchorage

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 13, 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. Rainbow trout fishing on Campbell Creek has been good. Fishing small spinners or drifting egg fly patterns are good options.

Salmon

• Ship Creek closes at 11PM on July 13 to all fishing and reopens at 12:01AM on July 14 to fishing for all species except king salmon. After July 14, king salmon may no longer be retained. Beginning July 14, Ship Creek is open to fishing 24 hours a day.
  • Coho (silver) salmon are being caught at Ship Creek in very small numbers and pink salmon are beginning to load up in the creek. Coho fishing has been slow but will improve in the coming weeks. Try casting medium-sized spinners or drifting salmon roe under a slip bobber from 3 hours before to 3 hours after the high tide.
  • On July 14, Bird Creek up to marker 500 yards upstream of its mouth, opens to fishing for all species except king salmon.
    • Coho (silver) salmon fishing is expected to start of slow. It will be at least a week before Coho (silver) salmon show up in good numbers. Anglers can expect slow to fair fishing for pinks and the occasional chum salmon. Casting spoons or drifting roe around the tide cycle are good methods for Bird Creek.
  • On July 14, portions of Campbell Creek will open to coho (silver) salmon fishing. Anglers may not target or retain other salmon species including king salmon.
    • Coho (silver) salmon fishing will be very slow to start. It will be a few weeks before these fish show up in catchable numbers.

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.
• At any stocked lake, 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.
• Sand Lake is a great producer of stocked fish during mid-summer. Sand Lake can easily be accessed with a canoe or kayak. Paddle around the lake and look for schooling rainbow trout and cast at them with a small spinner. Arctic char can also be caught by jigging in water deeper than 10 feet.
• Delong and Cheney lakes have great shoreline access. 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.