Alaska Fishing Spots
We put a lot of work into researching, visiting, and curating these fishing spots (over 500 in all!), so you can spend your time filling the freezer, not searching for fish. Alaska has over 800 marked fishing spots on the road system alone, and unearthing the best ones was a labor of love.
When choosing these spots, we considered popularity, accessibility, and how much is known about the location. Places like the Russian River see a lot of anglers, while other places are seldom-visited; for both, we’ll tell you what makes the location unique how to fish it. But we also go beyond the usual information, offering knowledge that can only be acquired by visiting—like water clarity, soil type, and other insights specific to the location.
A lot of work, too, has gone into mapping these fishing locations. Most were mapped to their respective parking areas, which often required an on-location GPS reading. Other locations were mapped using digital satellite imagery, and this also required careful planning to ensure they were properly marked.
If you need gear, talk to our friends at Alaska Outdoor Gear Outfitters & Rentals. They'll equip you with all the necessary rods, waders, tackle and more.
Enjoy our guide, and happy fishing!
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Ship Creek (Lower)
Alaska's most productive king salmon sportfishery is located right in downtown Anchorage! Fish for salmon at Ship Creek even if you have only two hours. During the summertime derbies, specially tagged fish bring in $100-$10,000. Buy your tickets ($7-35) from the Derby Cabin next to Comfort Inn at Ship Creek and warm up your muscles-in 2002, a 41-pounder took grand prize! The More...
Willow Creek Confluence
This confluence is one of the most popular fisheries in South Central Alaska. Located about 60 miles north of Anchorage on the Parks Highway, it offers excellent fishing for four of the major salmon species: kings, silvers, chums and pinks. It also features big rainbows (up to 30 inches) and Dolly Varden, as well as Arctic Grayling. You’ll also find, in small numbers, burbot and whitefish.
Kenai Riverside Campground, RV Park, & B&B
The six-room B&B, in a log building, is strictly no-frills, but you’ll find clean, comfortable rooms with one double bed and one twin bed. While they may be basic, you won’t find more affordable lodging in the area—there’s even a continental breakfast. It’s the perfect choice for hardcore fishermen and adventurers who want a warm, clean, affordable room to return to in the evening.
Dip Netting on the Kenai (& Elsewhere)
Each head of household is allowed to keep 25 sockeye salmon per year, and every additional member of the family is entitled to 10 fish.
Soldotna River Walk
Soldotna Park, in downtown Soldotna, offers all Kenai River species—but most people are here for the sockeye. That means it can get crowded during peak sockeye season, but it's also a good place to learn how to fish for sockeye. The combination of easy accessibility, hard-packed gravel and a shallow grade make the fishing enjoyable.
Eklutna Tailrace
This unique fishery, about 25 miles north of Anchorage, is comprised of a small, artificial eddy of water that comes down from a power plant and connects to the main stem, Knik River. The glacial-fed water looks murky and blue-gray, and there’s very little current. While you won’t find much solitude here, you can usually find a spot to set up a lawn chair for some lazy fishing. There’s abundant parking, too, as well as restrooms.
Fishing at Quartz Creek Campground
This tributary of the Kenai River flows alongside the Sterling Highway, just north of Cooper Landing (from milepost 40-45). There are plenty of designated pull-offs along the highway—like Quartz Creek Road, which leads to Kenai Lake, as well as the popular access point at the Quartz Creek Bridge.
Homer Spit Fishing
This is one of the few spots along the road system where you might catch halibut from the shore. Check out the beach, which surrounds the Land’s End Hotel, on the Homer Spit. Here, you’ll find a small parking lot, and the water's only about 100 feet away.
Williwaw Creek Fish Viewing Platform
Crystal-clear Williwaw Creek and its bank-side trail system in Portage Valley at the head of Turnagain Arm offers exceptionally good conditions for watching spawning in action. Coho, sockeye and chum salmon converge on the creek as it winds through the brushy flats beginning in mid-August, with some late-arriving fish still present after first frost in the fall.
Kenai River - Moose Meadows
This spot is particularly good for anyone who's mobility impaired, since you access the river by a flat, metal boardwalk—and the actual fishing area is also from the boardwalk. This makes Moose Meadows one of a very few places where anglers can fish for sockeye without having to be in the water—you can do excellent even from a wheel chair.
Fishing the Kenai River - Moose River Confluence
This spot in Sterling—at milepost 82.3 at the Isaak Walton Campground—is where the Moose River meets the Kenai River, and the two rivers’ differing paces are drastic. The Moose River is very slow and wide, with almost no current—so much so that it feels more like a lake. The Kenai River, on the other hand, flows fairly swiftly in comparison, and the confluence can play strange tricks on your tackle.
Kenai River - Bing’s Landing
This spot, just north of Sterling, is primarily a boat launch, but it also offers excellent sockeye fishing. It’s located at the end of Bing’s Landing Road: There’s a parking lot, but when the fishing is hot, you can expect to park alongside the road, up to half a mile away from the boat launch site. (Another reason you might park on the road: The lot near the boat launch has a fee.)
Spawning Salmon of Indian Creek
Thousands of pink salmon converge on Indian Creek each July and August, just about filling this shallow, easy-flowing stream south of Anchorage along Turnagain Arm from bank-to-bank. This amazing natural spectacle occurs in one of the easiest places to view spawning salmon in the region: No steep banks, crystal clear water and fish so close they could almost be touched.
Kenai River - Cunningham Park
Located down Beaver Loop Road, just outside of Kenai, Cunningham Park is a great, easy-access location for sockeye and silver salmon. The shoreline here is a mix of gravel and mud, with the mud being more prevalent below the tidal zone. That said, this spot is very tidal dependent, so you’ll have to continually adjust your bait setup as the water rises or falls.
Campbell Creek (Upper)
This fish-filled creek rushes out from Far North Bicentennial Park and through the center of town. Cast for rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, or silver salmon-all within walking distance of your car. Throw on a pair of hip-waders and head up the creek or angle from the shoreline trail.
Directions: Park at one of the lots on Campbell Airstrip Rd. to access the creek from Far North More...
The Fish Cam
An underwater video camera has been set up in Steep Creek to film salmon, trout, and charr entering the creek from Mendenhall Lake. Summertime visitors can watch live footage of this fishy environment in the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center's pavilion.
Fishcam images can also be viewed at:
The Pasagshak River
This river flows past a primitive campsite (first-come basis, free) and empties into the bay. Only three miles long, the river is fed by Lake Rose Tead, which is a prime spawning area for sockeye salmon. The river also has runs of pink, chum, and silver salmon, as well as Dolly Varden. Fly fishermen love the challenge of fishing in the tidally-influenced lower stretch of the river; but More...
Deep Creek
King salmon enter Deep Creek during late May and early June and continue to spawn into early July. Watch for their dark red bodies in the riffles and deeper holes. A very limited fishing season is provided during the early summer for kings and steelheads.
Mill Bay Beach Park
One of the easiest beaches to access from town, this park has a nice overlook and excellent waterfront with picnic sites. In late July through September, you can fish from the beach for silver and pink salmon. Wander down the beach to a small creek (on the left side) that is filled with salmon in late summer. Surfers ride storm waves here, and some locals even scuba dive in the cove More...
Silver & Van Lake Access
Walk in public fishing access to Silver Lake and Van Lake; you’ll find wonderful scenery and good rainbow trout fishing in both lakes.
Kenai Lake (Trail River)
Milepost 17.7, Seward Highway
Kenai Lake offered a flat treeless path to travel in winter. This trail was one of two overland routes to Sunrise and Hope. (The other overland route was through Portage Pass.) Miners traveled by dogsled from Seward to Snow River and on to Kenai Lake. At the other end of the 17 mile lake, travelers would follow Quartz Creek north through Turnagain More...
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Buskin River State Recreation Site
Whether you’re looking for a campsite or fishing hole, glassing for birds, watching for bears, or beachcombing, this recreation site is a great spot to experience the wonders of Kodiak Island without traveling too far. There are camping sites for everything from tents to large RVs, which are given on a first-come, first-served basis with prices from $10-$28. There are also More...
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Dupont Trail
Drive to the end of Thane road and park at the dead end, where a nice waterfall sets the mood for this three-mile hike through a beautiful rain forest. Mud and exposed roots make for difficult footing, but the trail is flat—a rarity around here. Fish for dollies where fresh water enters the channel. If hiking in early summer, look for big chunks missing from the huge, unfurling More...
Ninilchik River
King salmon enter during late-May and early-June and there are always some fish spawning in areas near the highway during early-July. Wear polarized glasses if you have them and watch for dark red kings in the riffles and deeper holes. A very limited fishing season is available on these streams during the early summer for both salmon and steelhead.
Silver Lake
At mile 10.7 McCarthy Road, there is foot access to Silver Lake where you can enjoy a relaxing afternoon fishing for trout.
Fish Ship Creek’s Mouth
If you like to fish for Silvers and Kings with a bobber and eggs, Ship Creek's mouth is a great option. Though you may have to deal with a little bit more mud along the banks, bring a packable chair, and once you're about 100 meters north of the road, you can claim a grassy area to settle in.
Hasselborg Lake
A two-hour kayak ride up Mitchell Bay toward Hasselborg Lake takes you through a serene, pristine wilderness. You’ll share the area with water birds, eagles, salmon and of course, brown bear. Portage at a U.S. Forest Service cabins to stay awhile and take in more of the incredible Tongass National Forest.
Long Lake: Salmon Viewing Hotspot (mi 45.2 McCarthy Rd)
Stop at Long Lake, at mile 45.2, to see a popular spot for sockeye salmon to spawn. Every year, 18,000 sockeye salmon swim up the Chitina and Copper Rivers to spawn in Long Lake. This is a very unique run, salmon begin entering the lake as late as September and spawn until April.
Bear Lake
A beautiful, 2-mile-long lake that’s a popular place to come for activities year-round. In summer, you’ll find kayakers, canoers, and paddle boarders, as well as the Kenai Cruisers Rowing Club, which uses the lake for daily practices and a yearly rowing regatta.
Bishop Creek Trail & Picnic Area
There is parking at the trailhead for passenger vehicles and one or two campers. The trail is half a mile long and takes you through a mature birch forest that is carpeted with devil's club and watermelon berry plants. It's an easy walking, ideal for small children, and ends at a small camping area on a slight bluff that overlooks Bishop's Beach and Bishop Creek. There is More...
Meridian and Grayling Lakes
These popular trails lead to two beautiful, pristine lakes. Even better, they’re both easy hikes, which makes them perfect for people of all ages. Bring a fishing pole and angle for stocked trout in Meridian Lake or grayling in Grayling Lake.
Daves Creek Salmon Viewing
Stretch your legs at this picturesque stream and perhaps drop in a line. At Daves Creek you'll find good fishing for dolly varden and rainbow trout. Salmon can be seen spawning here in mid-July through September.
Caribou Lake
Ever gone ice fishing? Caribou lake is a great place to enjoy this cold and unique experience. You can spend a quiet day to yourself, fishing for Dolly Varden and Kokanee. Or if you're feeling more competitive, you can participate in the Snomad's (Homer's snow machine club) annual ice fishing contest. (Either way, dress in warm layers and be prepared to sit or stand in the cold!)
River Access
On the north side of the bridge is a turn out with good access to Caribou Creek Bridge. It’s a good spot to stretch your legs, let the kids skip rocks, or contemplate flow. As Thoreau said “He who hears the rippling of rivers utterly despairs of nothing!” If you’re a river runner, this is the launch for the Lion’s Head whitewater run. Class III and Class More...
Pasagshak State Recreation Site
The Pasagshak State Park provides a spectacular setting for anglers, beachcombers, hikers, and explorers. There is developed camping for both tent and RV campers, a boat launch, two modern pit toilets, and numerous picnic sites.
Emerald Hills Park
This 64.3 acre park has lots to offer with open fields, skijoring trails, a sledding hill, one soccer field, fishing during designated seasons, and a fish viewing platform that is best during the mid to late summer.
