Area Sport Fishing Reports
Anchorage

July 31, 2026

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• Ship Creek
  • Ship Creek reopened to sport fishing on Tuesday, July 14. Anglers may target and retain all species of salmon, except for king salmon. Coho (silver) salmon fishing improved significantly this week as water conditions have improved and more fish are entering the creek. Anglers are still having to work for limits but plenty of coho are present. To target coho salmon, try fishing the incoming tide by drifting salmon roe or a jig tipped with shrimp under a slip bobber.
    • By emergency order, any king salmon that is caught may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
• Bird Creek
  • Campbell Creek opened sport fishing for coho salmon on July 14. All salmon species other than coho that are caught must be released immediately. While there have been few reports, conditions have improved for coho salmon fishing. Coho should be scattered throughout deep holes. Fish jigs or spinners through deep holes and bends until bait is allowed on August 1st. Once the creek has low water conditions, expect to have to wait for a rain event for more coho salmon to enter the creek.
• Campbell Creek
  • Campbell Creek opened sport fishing for coho salmon on July 14. All salmon species other than coho that are caught must be released immediately. Coho salmon fishing has been very slow with the flood-like conditions on Campbell Creek. Look for fishing to improve later into the month and as the water levels drop.
    • Reminder: By emergency order on Campbell Creek, only single hooks are allowed and bait may not be used through July 31st.

Rainbow Trout/Dolly Varden/Arctic Char

Fishing is open for Rainbow trout on Chester and Campbell Creeks as of June 15th. Many salmon are spawning in the upper reaches of the creeks, so the best approach is to fish egg imitation patterns or beads behind schools of spawning salmon to target rainbow trout and Dolly Varden.

• Reminder: By emergency order on Campbell Creek, only single hooks are allowed; no bait may be used through July 31st.

Local Lakes

• Stocked rainbow trout are well-distributed throughout many of the Anchorage lakes. Rainbow trout fishing will be better on lakes that receive less pressure or greater stocking numbers. Try slowly stripping a wet fly, casting small spinners or fishing small bait under a bobber to catch these freshly stocked fish.
  • Campbell Point, Jewel, Delong, Cheney, and Sand Lakes were recently stocked with larger broodstock (18+ inch) rainbow trout.
  • For those with canoes or small boats, Sand, Mirror, and Campbell Point Lakes are hot locations for some still water fishing.
  • Looking to branch out, try fishing Alder or Tangle Ponds in Portage Valley. These lakes can provide for excellent rainbow trout fishing with less fishing pressure and great scenery.
• Symphony Lake is open to sport fishing. Anglers have reported excellent catch rates of Arctic grayling and catching the occasional rainbow trout. For fly anglers, try stripping bead head nymphs or small streamers. For spin casters, size 0 or 1 spinners will do the trick.
• Fishing on base? Areas on Elmendorf and north of the Glenn Highway need a Department of Defense identification card (DoD ID) or to be accompanied by a person possessing a DoD ID. Additionally, you need to register and obtain a permit through RecAccess.

Special Species Information

Northern pike

Northern pike are not native to Anchorage area lakes. If you catch a pike in any Anchorage area lake, do not release it and immediately report it to the invasives reporting page here.

Emergency Orders

Please review the emergency orders and advisory announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip:

• Effective May 1, Emergency Order 2-KS-2-2-26 closes sport fishing for king salmon in the entire Eagle River drainage. In addition, sport fishing gear is limited to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure with a gap between the point and the shank of the hook that is half-inch or less when fishing in waters of Eagle River.
• Effective June 15, Emergency Order 2-KS-2-1-26 Only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used from June 15–July 31 in the Campell Creek drainage.

Don't forget to purchase your 2026 sport fishing license and king stamp! You can purchase and display your fishing license and king stamp, record your annual harvest (i.e. king salmon), access sport fishing regulations and locations, and so much more on your mobile device. Download the ADF&G Mobile App today. You can also purchase licenses through the ADF&G online store and print them off from the comfort of your own home.

Make sure to review emergency orders, advisory announcements, and the 2026 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.

For additional information, please contact the Anchorage Office at 907-267-2218.