Anchorage Fishing Report From ADFG

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

Anchorage Fishing Report

July 20, 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 poor due to the high water from the recent rain. While the water remains high, try fishing small chunks of roe or single eggs on a hook under a bobber.

Salmon

• Ship Creek is now closed to the retention of king salmon and the creek is open to fishing 24 hours a day.
• Coho (silver) salmon are being caught at Ship Creek in small numbers. A few coho are being picked up each tide and many anglers are catching pink salmon. 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, opened to fishing for all species except king salmon.
  • Coho (silver) salmon fishing has been slow to fair for silvers with a few anglers reporting catches during the rising tide. Casting spoons or drifting roe around the tide cycle are good methods for Bird Creek. Pink salmon are plentiful in the creek now and anglers may encounter the occasional Chum.
• On July 14, portions of Campbell Creek opened to coho (silver) salmon fishing. Anglers may not target or retain other salmon species including king salmon.
• Coho (silver) salmon fishing is very slow on Campbell Creek. The high water has made fishing difficult and with it being early in the run, fishing will remain slow for at least another week.

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.
• 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? Anglers have recently reported good catches of Arctic Char in Campbell Point Lake.
• Looking for information on Anchorage stocked lakes? Check out the Anchorage Stocked Lakes publicationwith 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 around 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.