Best Locations

• Day fishing excursions near Anchorage are most rewarding when you have determined what you what to catch. The Deshka River is somewhat remote but offers some of the best fishing in the world for king salmon. The Little Susitan River in the historic Mat-su Valley is also renowned for producing daily limit hauls of salmon repeatedly. If you are in the mood for rainbow trout the best opportunities are at Jewel, Delong and Campbell Point Lakes for 10 to 12-inch prize fish.
  
  

Fishing Tips

• Avid anglers in the Anchorage area report the hot fishing spots in online publications such as the Alaska Outdoor Journal. The advantage to reading fishing reports is you get up to date news on the local conditions. Read the reports from several contributors to the journal to get a balanced overview. Studying water flows and water levels will also prove beneficial since the fish population will be affected directly by these conditions. This information can be found on the Untied States Geological Survey (USGS) website.
  
  

Considerations

• There are a few things to consider when preparing for a day trip on a river or lake in Anchorage. Weather is the first. Be prepared for rainy weather that brings in cooler temperatures. Bring extra layers and a raincoat. Mosquitoes can be annoying if you are sitting stationary in one spot for a while, so take along insect repellent. There is wildlife, such as bear, moose and wolves in the area that will share the water with you from time to time, but they are quite shy.
  
  

Fishing License

• You must have a fishing license with you before you can cast your line into the water. If you are not a resident of the state of Alaska you can purchase a short-term license for 7 days or 14 days. During king salmon season you are required to have a special stamp on your license for salmon. Anglers at the age of 16 or under do not need a license, but are required to have the stamp. A license can be obtained online at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
  
  

Size

• It will not take you long to fill your freezer with fresh salmon, halibut and trout from the lakes and rivers near Anchorage, mainly because the fish are so large. The seasonal limit on king salmon is only 5, but these fish weigh in at 20 to 85 pounds. You can take 3 to 6 red or silver salmon per day that weigh from 8 to 20 pounds. Rainbow and Dolly Varden trout average 12 pounds. A single halibut can weigh as much as 300 pounds.