Updates On Alaska Fishing Regulations

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

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

• Per Emergency Order No. 2-KS-2-26-17, effective 6:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 12, 2017, through 11:59 p.m.July 31, 2017, king salmon fishing season on Ship Creek has been extended to July 31, 2017 and the bag limit has been increased to two fish per day.
  • 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.
• Before you go fishing ALWAYS review the applicable 2017 Sport Fishing Regulations available online and at local vendors!
• Sport fishing licenses, King Stamps, Personal Use Dipnet, and Prince William Sound Shrimp Permits are available for purchase online at the ADF&G Online Store.
• Anglers can visit the ADF&G Hatcheries and Stocking webpage for more information regarding when and where fish are stocked. Most lakes in the Anchorage area have been stocked.
• Campbell Creek: select areas of Campbell Creek opened to fishing for fish species other than salmon on Thursday, June 15. Make sure you check the 2017 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulation Summary booklet for new fishing closures starting from the upstream side of Lake Otis Parkway Bridge. Beginning Friday July 14, Coho (silver) salmon is the only salmon species fishing allowed on Campbell Creek. No other salmon species may be targeted or retained on Campbell Creek.
• Chester Creek: select areas of the Chester Creek opened to fishing for fish species other than salmon on Thursday, June 15. NO SALMON FISHING IS ALLOWED ON CHESTER CREEK.
• Bird Creek opened to salmon fishing, EXCEPT king salmon on Friday, July 14. Salmon limits (except king salmon) are three per day, three in possession if 16 inches or greater. The bag limit for salmon less than 16 inches in length is ten per day, ten in possession.
• Symphony Lake opened to fishing on Saturday, July 1. Arctic Grayling limits are five per day, five in possession; only one fish may be greater than 12 inches in length.
• Eagle River (entire drainage) remains closed to king salmon fishing.

Stream Fishing

Salmon

• Fishing on Ship Creek is open from the mouth up to the cable crossing roughly 100 feet below the Chugach Power Plant dam. There are currently no fishing time restrictions on Ship Creek.
  • Very few king salmon are being caught in Ship Creek. Silver numbers continue to pick up daily.
  • Due to the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery having met its brood stock goals, king salmon can still be retained while fishing in the open fishery areas per Emergency Order No. 2-KS-2-26-17. In addition, the bag limit has been increased to two king salmon per angler. FISHING FOR KING SALMON IS VERY SLOW, THERE ARE NOT MANY FISH; however, if you catch a king salmon while targeting silver salmon, you will be able to retain it and continue fishing for silver salmon. If you harvest a second king salmon, you will need to quit fishing on the creek for the day regardless of whether you are targeting other fish species.
  • With the exception of downstream section of Ship Creek all waters in the Anchorage Management Area are currently closed to king salmon fishing.
• Fishing on Bird Creek on the opening day was slow but coho, chum, and pinks were being caught. Make sure you know how to identify your salmon. Retaining king salmon on Bird Creek is NOT ALLOWED. Please obey regulations and private property signs.
• If you are successful and would like to report a catch please contact the Sport Fish Information Center at 267-2218.

Fishing Tip: Brush up on your fish identification before you head out fishing. Test your fish identification knowledge with the new Pacific Salmon ID Quiz.

Trout/Dolly Varden

• Effective June 15, specific areas of Campbell Creek and Chester Creek opened to fishing for species other than salmon. On Campbell Creek, it remains CLOSED TO ALL FISHING below Dimond Boulevard and in the stretch of river from Shelikof Street to Piper Street. Above Piper Street is open to catch-and-release only effective June 15. Review the 2017 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for more specifics.
• Fishing for Dolly Varden and rainbow trout has been good on Campbell Creek. The creek is stocked with rainbow. Try fishing small spinners or bead-head nymphs in deep pools and along cutbanks.
• Be aware that habitat restoration work is being conducted on Campbell Creek. Please obey all signs and stay on designated trails in these areas to reduce damaging all the hard work. This habitat work is going to help improve fish habitat on the creek. A great new fishing platform has been installed above the Dimond Bridge!

Lake Fishing

General

• Anchorage area lakes were stocked with rainbow trout last week. Bait under a bobber and small spinners or flies are all good methods for targeting stocked trout. Fishing should be fun!
• APU/University Lake and West Chester Lagoon are in the Chester Creek drainage which opened to fishing for rainbow trout on June 15.
• Symphony Lake opened Saturday, July 1. Great grayling fishing can be found in the lake but no reports to date. Small spinners and flies (dry flies and nymphs) work well on these fish.

Fishing Tip: To improve your success in local stocked lakes review the lake bathymetric (bottom depth profile) map online. This will help you determine what type of fish you are fishing for and where they might be. Often a little walk or getting away from the pack will provide rewards.

Northern Pike

• There are very few opportunities for Northern Pike in Anchorage as they are not native to the region. ADF&G has taken steps to keep pike out of Anchorage lakes. Lower Fire Lake is the closest place to find Northern pike in the Anchorage Area. If you catch a Northern Pike in the Anchorage area, please contact the ADF&G Sport Fish Division immediately at 267-2218.

Hooligan

• Hooligan is closed in both salt and fresh waters.