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Area Sport Fishing Reports
Anchorage

September 9, 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

Rainbow Trout/Dolly Varden/Arctic Char

  • Rainbow trout and Dolly Varden fishing are opened on many parts of the Campbell Creek and Chester Creek drainages. Campbell and Chester creeks have both been stocked with rainbow trout. 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. Effective July 14, Ship Creek is open to fishing 24 hours a day. Fishing for coho salmon in Ship Creek has slowed but fish are still being picked up. Try drifting salmon roe under a slip bobber or casting spinners. Both methods have produced fish depending on the stage of the tide. On August 19, 2021, by emergency order, the bag and possession limit was increased for coho salmon to six fish. See the emergency order below for more info.
  • Bird Creek is open to fishing, except for king salmon. Bird Creek is always closed to king salmon fishing. Fishing for coho salmon has slowed but a few fish are still being picked up.
  • Portions of Campbell Creek opened to fishing for coho salmon on July 14 and remain open until September 30. If you accidentally catch another species of salmon be sure to keep it in the water and release it quickly. Fishing for coho salmon has slowed down. Fishing salmon roe under a slip bobber or casting spinners is a good option.
  • Interest in learning how to use a slip-bobber on Campbell Creek? Check out the ADF&G YouTube video!
  • Chester Creek is closed to salmon fishing.

Local Lakes

  • Fishing in local lakes continues to be good due to nearly all Anchorage area lakes being stocked over the last week with more rainbow trout!
  • Arctic char can be caught in local lakes by focusing efforts in deeper water in those lakes that are stocked with these fish.
    • Check out the stocking webpage to find out when your favorite lake was last stocked and what species are in there!
  • 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 is open to fishing. It’s almost 7 miles to get to the lake but Arctic grayling fishing has been good. The bag and possession is five fish, of which only one fish may be greater than 12 inches. Casting flies or small spinners work well to catch Arctic grayling in Symphony Lake.
  • 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.

  • Emergency Order 2-SS-2-58-21 increases the coho salmon bag and possession limit to six fish in Ship Creek effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, August 19 through 11:59 p.m. Friday, December 31, 2021.

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.

Archives

Anchorage Area Archives for:
Sep 09, 2021 Sep 01, 2021 Aug 26, 2021 Aug 18, 2021 Aug 11, 2021 Aug 04, 2021 Jul 28, 2021 Jul 21, 2021
Jul 14, 2021 Jul 07, 2021 Jun 30, 2021 Jun 24, 2021 Jun 17, 2021 Jun 10, 2021 Jun 02, 2021 May 27, 2021
May 19, 2021 May 12, 2021 May 05, 2021 Apr 28, 2021 Apr 14, 2021