Ship Creek
Fly fishing in Alaska · Beginner · Best seasons: Summer, Fall
Target Species
King Salmon, Silver Salmon
About This Water
Urban Alaska fishing in downtown Anchorage. King and silver salmon runs.
Fishing Recommendations
Welcome to one of the most unique fly fishing destinations in the world. As a guide, I often tell folks that Ship Creek is the only place where you can catch a 40-pound King Salmon, grab a gourmet espresso, and catch a flight at an international airport all within a two-mile radius.
Located in the heart of downtown Anchorage, Ship Creek is an urban fishery that defies the "wilderness" stereotype of Alaska, yet it offers some of the most productive salmon runs in the state.
🎣 Location Overview
Ship Creek is a terminal fishery, meaning the salmon returning here are mostly the result of hatchery efforts. It flows from the Chugach Mountains, through Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), and empties into the Knik Arm of the Cook Inlet.
What makes it special is the Urban/Industrial aesthetic. You’ll be casting under bridges and near industrial cranes with the Anchorage skyline behind you. The water is highly glacial and silty, resembling "chocolate milk." This lack of visibility dictates everything about how we fish here. It is also highly tidal; the landscape changes drastically every six hours as the massive Cook Inlet tides push in and out.
🐟 Target Species & Behavior
King Salmon (Chinook)
- Behavior: These are the heavyweights. They enter the creek looking for deep holes to rest in as they wait for the tide to recede. Because the water is murky, they rely on their lateral lines. They aren't "feeding," but they are highly territorial and will strike out of aggression.
- Holding: They hug the bottom. If you aren't ticking the floor of the creek, you aren't fishing for Kings.
Silver Salmon (Coho)
- Behavior: Silvers are more acrobatic and aggressive than Kings. They are known for their "snap" strikes. They tend to travel in pods and will move into shallower side-sloughs or the edges of the main current.
- Holding: While they also hold near the bottom, they are more willing to move a foot or two to chase a fly compared to a King.
📅 Best Times to Fish
The Seasons
- King Salmon: Late May through July 13th (The season usually closes for Kings in mid-July). Peak: Mid-June.
- Silver Salmon: Late July through early September. Peak: Mid-August.
The Tidal Window (Crucial!)
In Ship Creek, the tides are everything.
- Prime Window: 2 hours before high tide to 2 hours after high tide.
- The "Push": As the tide comes in, it pushes fresh, "bright" fish into the creek. This is when they are most aggressive. As the tide goes out, fish settle into the deep holes.
🪰 Recommended Flies & Techniques
Because of the zero-visibility water, "match the hatch" does not exist here. You need Vibration, Profile, and Color.
Top Fly Patterns
- The Comet: (Orange or Pink) A classic with a bead head and a long tail. Very effective for Kings.
- Bunny Leeches: (Chartreuse, Hot Pink, or "Electric" Blue) The movement of rabbit fur creates vibrations the fish can feel.
- Intruders/Squid Patterns: Large profiles that move a lot of water.
- Flash Flies: Anything with high-reflective tinsel or UV flash to catch what little light penetrates the silt.
Techniques
- The "Ship Creek Swing": Use a heavy sink-tip line (Type 6 or 7). Cast slightly upstream, let the fly sink rapidly, and swing it through the lower third of the water column.
- Short-Leashing: In high-density crowds, a localized "ticking" of the bottom with a weighted fly (similar to high-stick nymphing but with heavy gear) is common.
- Weight is your friend: If you aren't feeling the "tick-tick" of the rocks, add split shot.
💡 Pro Tips & Local Knowledge
- The "Wall of Steel": Be prepared for "Combat Fishing." During peak King season, anglers stand shoulder-to-shoulder near the bridge. Be polite, wait for an opening, and observe the "rotation" (cast, step downstream, repeat).
- The Mud is Dangerous: The banks of Ship Creek consist of silt/glacial flour that acts like quicksand. Never wander out onto the mudflats of the Knik Arm at low tide. Stay on the gravel or the established platforms.
- Sharp Hooks: Salmon have bony mouths. I recommend sharpening your hooks with a file right out of the package.
- Look for the "Roll": Even in silty water, salmon will "roll" on the surface. If you see a fish roll, they are likely stacked in that hole. Target that specific depth.
⚠️ Important Information
- Regulations: Ship Creek has very specific boundaries (usually from the mouth up to a certain point near the power plant). Read the ADF&G Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations carefully.
- Licenses: You need an Alaska Sport Fishing License. If you are targeting Kings, you MUST have a King Salmon Stamp.
- Hook Size: There are often "unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure" restrictions. Ensure your flies are tied on a single hook (no trebles).
- Gear:
- Kings: 9wt or 10wt rod. These fish are powerful and the current is strong.
- Silvers: 7wt or 8wt rod.
- Waders: Chest waders are essential, but again, watch your footing in the mud.
Tight lines! If you get tired of the crowds at the bridge, walk a little further upstream toward the dam—sometimes the fresh fish find a pocket of quiet water there before the crowds catch up.
Bug Hatches & Matching Flies
| Hatch | Type | Peak months | Time of day | Hook sizes | Matching flies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chironomids (Midges) Chironomidae | midge | March, April, May, September | All Day | #18-24 | Zebra Midge #18-22, Griffith's Gnat #20-22, Smoke Jumper #20 |
| Blue-Winged Olive (BWO) Baetis tricaudatus | mayfly | May, September, October | Afternoon | #16-20 | RS2 #18-20, Parachute Adams #16-18, Pheasant Tail Nymph #16-18 |
| Giant Salmonfly Pteronarcys californica | stonefly | June, July | Morning/Evening | #4-8 | Pats Rubber Legs #6-8, Chubby Chernobyl #6-10, Kaufmanns Stone #4-8 |
| American Grannom Brachycentrus occidentalis | caddis | May, June | Afternoon/Evening | #14-16 | Peacock Caddis #14-16, Deep Sparkle Pupa #14-16, Elk Hair Caddis #14-16 |
| Little Brown Stonefly Nemouridae | stonefly | April, May | Late Morning | #14-18 | Copper John #14-16, Early Brown Stone #16, Prince Nymph #14-18 |
| Spotted Sedge Hydropsyche | caddis | July, August | Evening | #12-16 | Hydropsyche Larva #12-14, LaFontaine Emerger #14-16, Godzilla Caddis #12 |
| Pale Morning Dun (PMD) Ephemerella | mayfly | July | Mid-day | #16-18 | PMD Sparkle Dun #16-18, Split Case PMD #16, Hares Ear Nymph #14-18 |
| Terrestrials (Ants/Beetles) Formicidae/Coleoptera | terrestrial | July, August | Afternoon | #12-18 | Black Foam Ant #14-18, Cinnamon Ant #16, Black Gurgler #12 |