Anchorage Area Fishing Report

The following is courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:

Fall Fishing Report 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 is closed.
• Rainbow Trout/Dolly Varden/Arctic Char
  • Rainbow trout and Dolly Varden fishing is open on many parts of the Campbell Creek and Chester Creek drainages. 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 a few fish are still moving through. Try drifting salmon roe under a slip bobber or casting spinners.
    • 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.
    • Keep any coho salmon you intend to release in the water until you can safely remove the hook and release the fish.
  • Bird Creek (lower portion) is open to fishing, except for king salmon. Bird Creek is always closed to king salmon fishing. The coho salmon season is pretty much wrapped up but an occasional fish is still getting picked up.
    • Check out this ADF&G Reel Deal YouTube video about Bird Creek.
  • Portions of Campbell Creek opened to fishing for coho salmon on July 14 and remain open until September 30. If you accidently 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 is typically your best option for the remainder of the month with the turbid water.
  • Interested 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 especially because nearly all Anchorage area lakes were stocked over the last two 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.
• Make sure to keep an eye on the stocking page in October. Local lakes will be stocked with catchable sized king salmon. These fish will be fun to catch all winter long in many local lakes!
• 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.
  • Check out this ADF&G Reel Deal YouTube video about 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 are 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.