Alaska Star Fishing Report

 

ANCHORAGE

 

Campbell Creek

Only unbaited artificial lures may be used for the remainder of the year. Also, rainbow trout may not be retained in Campbell Creek. Coho fishing in Campbell Creek remains fair. Try small orange or bright-red Corkies for hard-fighting Campbell Creek coho.

 

Ship Creek

The coho fishery on Ship Creek should be fair this week and is the place to go in Anchorage. 

 

Bird Creek

This fishery continues to produce some good pink salmon catches and a few bright coho. Coho fishing in streams at the head of Turnagain Arm should be good as long as water conditions remain stable.

 

KENAI PENINSULA

 

Anglers are reminded that, as of August 20, retention of sockeye salmon is prohibited in the Russian River and Upper Kenai River from the confluence of the Russian River downstream to the power line.

 

Kenai River

Coho salmon have arrived in the Lower Kenai River, with anglers reporting good to excellent catches this past week. Catch rates have also been good upstream of the Soldotna bridge to below Skilak Lake. Anglers are reminded that the daily bag/possession limit for coho salmon in the Kenai River for the month of August is two per day.

 

Kasilof River

Coho salmon fishing has been good. Coho will be entering the Kasilof River through September.

 

Anchor River, Deep Creek and Ninilchik River

Anglers can expect fair to good catches of Dolly Varden. Water levels on these streams are low even with recent rains. The limit on these streams for Dolly Varden is two per day and two in possession.

Pink salmon fishing is fair to good.

Anglers fishing the lower sections of the Anchor River and Deep Creek report fair to good catches of coho  salmon, especially during high tide. Silvers will be available through Labor Day.

Steelhead trout are starting to enter the rivers. Because steelhead runs are not large, the rainbow/steelhead fishery is catch-and-release only. Please familiarize yourself with the differences between silver salmon and steelhead trout.

 

Salt waters

Halibut fishing continues to be good in Lower Cook Inlet. Most anglers are catching their bag limits with most halibut harvested weighing 15-20 pounds. Fishing near Bluff Point, Point Pogibshi and Flat Island has been productive.

King salmon trolling success is fair in Lower Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay and slow north of Bluff Point.

Silver salmon fishing is slow at the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon. Silvers will be available in the lagoon into September.

Outside the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon area, the daily bag and possession limit for silver salmon is three.

Silvers are also being caught in the Point Pogibshi/Flat Island areas.

 

RESURRECTION BAY

 

Halibut fishing has been fair to good with the highest catch rates occurring at low slack and for about two hours into the flood.

Some very nice silver salmon catches were seen last week hanging near Seward’s cleaning stations. Silver fishing continues to be fair to good with silvers dispersed throughout the bay. Try fishing in a variety of locations to maximize your catch.

Anglers trolling herring pick up kings throughout the summer. Be sure to examine your catch closely and identify what you have.

Rockfish are easy to catch and have a conservative bag limit. They do not survive release well, so once you have your limit, fish for something else.

 

MAT-SU AREA

 

Susitna Drainage

Silver salmon fishing across all Susitna drainage and Knik Arm streams should remain good through the week. Remember, if you don’t find silvers at one spot, try another. Chances are you will find some to take home.

 

Eklutna Tailrace

Fishing at the Eklutna Tailrace for silver salmon is good. Try fishing early in the day.

 

Jim Creek

Silver fishing at Jim Creek is good.

 

Deshka River

Silver fishing on the Deshka River has been good.

 

Yetna River

Yentna River sloughs and tributaries are producing a good number of silvers. Lake Creek and the Talachulitna River should provide good fishing this week.

 

Parks Highway Streams

Good numbers of silver salmon are being caught along the Parks Highway streams of Willow, Little Willow, Sheep, Goose, Caswell, and Montana creeks.

Chum, pink and silver fishing in the Talkeetna River drainage is good to excellent, with limits of salmon being reported caught at the mouth of Clear Creek.

Fishing at the mouth of Cottonwood Creek and at Wasilla (Rabbit Slough) and Fish creeks is expected to be good this weekend.