The Bait Shack

One of the places to rent fishing gear. 90 dollars per day which does not include baits. The bait is salmon eggs. The ship creek where fishing is carried out is next to the shop. In high tide there are a lot of fish swimming around. The bank to the creek is muddy swamp. There is no parking in the area as it belongs to the establishment adjacent. The staff has boys which work for tips. They fillet the caught fish and vaccum bag them.

The most fun I’ve had in Anchorage and I didn’t even catch anything! I stayed at the Wingate Hotel right next to the creek and saw everyone fishing because it coincided with the start of the King Salmon run. The locals suggested this place for rentals and I filled all the extra hours I had in Anchorage before a flight home to NC fishing (well, trying to). Everyone is really friendly and gives all sorts of advice. The shack has everything you will need and people are coming and going getting bait and such. Dustin gave us Ship Creek virgins a bunch of tips before we set out. To maximize the rentals, fish in the evening and then again in the early morning. Awesome place, very convenient. Hope to be back!

Dustin, the owner who is a military veteran, is absolutely amazing. He always goes above and beyond to help others and the community. Their shop offers rentals in case you don't have a rod/reel. Of course, they offer the best bait in town! You won't regret stopping by the bait shack.

I am in anchorage for work, did some research and brought a travel rod and other gear to try my hand at some Silvers. My first day I talked to a guy on the river (later learned his name was Deven and he worked at the bait shack). He recommended a spot for me to try the spinner I had tied on. That afternoon I caught 4 nice keepers and missed quite a few more. On my way out I ran into Deven again. He mentioned he worked for the bait shack and they would filet and vacuum seal my catch for tips. Ended up doing that multiple days and will be leaving with a full cooler. The guys at the bait shack were all super friendly, knowledgeable, and made this out of towner feel welcome. While I didnt rent gear through them, I would recommend stopping by for their services. Can't beat catching salmon steps from downtown anchorage. Thanks guys

Ice Fishing was my favorite part of our trip. We did a lot of fun things on our trip to Alaska and ice fishing was by far my favorite. My husband may disagree but that's only because I caught more fish than him... Dustin is the shop owner and an all-around cool guy. He had a great set up for us before we even got to the location - a heated shelter, cameras so we could see below the ice, and rods all ready to go. We enjoyed chatting with him about his experiences fishing all over the world (he won't brag...but he's kind of famous). We're always looking to support Veteran-owned businesses and we're glad to have found The Bait Shack! Don't worry, all of the big Char went back into the water to swim another day. But man was it fun! It was so exhilarating to watch these fish come up from the ice. Dustin also made sure they were handled gently and watched for any signs of distress from the fish as we were sending them home. We're fully committed to a summer trip so we can fish out a few Kings with Dustin and his crew. If you're looking for a fishing adventure near Anchorage, call The Bait Shack!

We didn't end up fishing, but we had been in contact with them leaving up to the trip. They were honest about the creek starting to run dry. I fully appreciate the honesty and they left the decision ultimately up to us. Thank you!

We loved it so much we went twice! The first time we fished with bait and the second time we fished by flossing and caught 3! We had to let 2 go because they were pink salmon but the other one was a silver and Haines filleted, and vacuum sealed it for us really nicely. It was such a memorable experience and honestly time flies because it’s just so much fun. An amazing experience for our family and for any family.

Had a great day fishing for silver salmon. Dustin and Dillon from the bait shack were terrific guides and everyone caught fish. I asked a few questions about fishing on Ship Creek and they had answers. After fishing, they filleted my limit of 3 and vacuum bagged the fish and prepared it for the trip to California. I am definitely returning for a day of Ship Creek salmon fishing with the crew from The Bait Shack.

What a great first ice fishing experience! Dustin put us on plenty of fish and we caught fish all day. Dustin made everything super easy and made sure we had everything we needed for our first experience. We did the DIY package, and we were catching fish within a few minutes of fishing. Would definitely come back again- highly recommended and a great genuine guy.

Ice Fishing was my favorite part of our trip. We did a lot of fun things on our trip to Alaska and ice fishing was by far my favorite. My husband may disagree but that's only because I caught more fish than him... Dustin is the shop owner and an all-around cool guy. He had a great set up for us before we even got to the location - a heated shelter, cameras so we could see below the ice, and rods all ready to go. We enjoyed chatting with him about his experiences fishing all over the world (he won't brag...but he's kind of famous). We're always looking to support Veteran-owned businesses and we're glad to have found The Bait Shack! Don't worry, all of the big char went back into the water to swim another day. But man was it fun! It was so exhilarating to watch these fish come up from the ice. Dustin also made sure they were handled gently and watched for any signs of distress from the fish as we were sending them home. We're fully committed to a summer trip so we can fish out a few Kings with Dustin and his crew. If you're looking for a fishing adventure near Anchorage, call The Bait Shack!

The biggest small business I've ever seen. Prime location and good fishing packages. Definitely a stop worth making money f you're ever in the area.

Finally, after years of living in Alaska...I'm a true Alaskan. I got a fishing license. The Bait Shack is a shack, with bait. The one-man-band that works here has great advice about any and all things fishing. His hours? Whenever the fishing is best. (which means LATE in the summer during the peak run) I am a complete newb/idiot when it comes to fishing, and he didn't treat me like one. He went over all the rules & regs regarding fishing in Alaska, as well as some tips for a beginning fisherman such as myself. The Ship Creek area that this is located in is very unique. The only real urban fishing spot in the US! (Bridge is a great place to eat in the summer, you can stuff your face with food while you watch anglers below!)

Dustin and Andy are the best! Waders, poles, licenses heck everything. They leaped over the bank into the mud to get the fish and they kept the group fishing, having a great time. My wife was unsure of Salmon fishing and the reel. Both guys spent the time and made her day. They even made her feel better telling her she caught the bigger fish. You ain't fishing if the guide ain't lying! Get with these guys and you'll be happy fishing in Anchorage. Don't call Andy "bait dude"! He got all whiney lol. He is the "master baiter"! We're coming back!

Stopped by the Bait Shack on a busy Wednesday night just to ask questions and learn more about the experience. Jake was there and really knowledgeable and got us booked for a guided fishing trip the next night. When we got there the next night Jake and Dylan were ready and excited to get going (despite being out in the water for 12 hours already). The excitement level of both Jake and Dylan made the fishing experience a 10! We are thankful for the knowledge they taught us and an for amazing experience on the creek. One of the highlights of our trip. Just wish we both would have caught one early so Jake and Dylan could have earned a much deserved early night off. Thanks Bait Shack - Thanks Jake and Dylan.

This Bait Shack is right on Ship Creek, Anchorages most prestigious fishing for Salmon; Kings, Silvers and Reds. The owner Dustin is amazing! He helps anyone with anything, new fishers to seasoned pros. He basically has anything you need and will fix everything with your pole so your odds of going home with tons of meat are increased. He's a family man with great prices, ensuring everyone enjoys their time. We ended up trading our flight in to fish for a day to a whole week because he taught us so much we got hooked!!! Thanks again Bait Shack!

Great spot to fish and great instructors to help you fish, didn't really get to work with Dustin the owner but his worker Jake did everything he could to make sure we got us a silver, great experience and great people, taught me different effective tips on fishing and more definitely coming back in the future thank you guys!!!

Evey time I think of The Bait Shack the B-52's start running through my mind, like an ear worm. What I considered a busy day turned out to be a low demand day for the staff event though they were scrambling to find gear. So get there early to secure your spot. They open at 10 a.m. We rented our gear for an hour during the high tide rolling in, but wish we had rented it for longer since I felt my son was just getting into the groove once our time was up. The staff there seemed a little gruff at first, but they actually were just really nice once they get everyone taken care of during the first rental of the day. Just realize they are trying to make 10+ plus parties happy all at once, keep everyone socially distanced since the shack is a small space, and answer questions all at the same time. But after the half hour of intense demand for their attention, they start to relax and smile. Be sure to share a smile back too. Customer service is a rough biz these days.

We came back to try and fish twice....the owner/manager was so rude...we came from South Africa to Alaska...my three kids were so disappointed with the way he treated us....eventually telling us if we wanted to hire equipment we would have to return it within an hour....we will never be back

Dustin is one of the best guys you'll ever meet... maybe a little gruff on the outside but truly a heart of gold. He will try to do anything he can to make sure you achieve your goal. I had poor luck fishing on the Kasilof. The type that keeps you up at night. So I emailed Dustin at 5am eager to get back to fishing. He responded in an hour and followed through with his "I'll see if we can make some magic happen" by helping us hook 2 King Salmons in 2 days at Ship Creek (both within 15 minutes of starting to fish). Not only did he help us achieve our goal but he vacuum packed, froze, and gave us packing materials to bring our salmon home. Amazing person through and through. Prices are definitely reasonable, and he puts all your gear together making it very easy to fish. Looking forward to going back to The Bait Shack the next time we're in Anchorage.

This place is the best. Dustin ( the owner) is super, super nice and AWSOME! I would definitely recommend coming here for buying some bait or buying some other fishing stuff. He also has fishing poles , hip waders, and nets to rent to people. He also knows so much about fishing, so if you have a question he can answer it. Also he vacuum packed and filleted our fish so we could take it back home.

I'm sure this review won't have much impact given the location but after 18 years living in Alaska, 8 in Anchorage, never have I had a worse experience. I came here asking for advice as this was my first time fishing this way or In this spot. I was made fun of by someone there and got hit on by another employee. The employee offered me bait from the back of his truck and then offered to let me borrow his rod as I had the wrong kind, also the reason the other man interrupted our conversation to butt in and rudely make fun of me for several minutes. Not sure if the employee offers all the men there his special bait or lets everyone borrow his rod, but this felt very uncomfortable. In the end i left because of these 2 inappropriate men. As i said I doubt this review will have any impact but as an 18 year Alaskan i will be telling everyone I know to steer clear of this business.

Really cool experience. This was a great way to spend our afternoon. Make sure you go when the tide is coming in.

This place does NOT show up on GPS and is extremely hard to find. Not helped by the complete lack of signage. After FINALLY finding it just by being stubborn, it was in an industrial just north of downtown area with NO parking. The lot next to it was for employees of a next door business and tow trucks were parked outside waiting to yank any unsuspecting customer at a second's notice. The lot across the street was PAY only for a full day, so if you just wanted to drop in and buy something and get some local tips, IF a spot was open, you pay for the day. No spots were open and The Bait Shack has no customer parking. Dejected, I just drove off. Less than worthless.

Surprised my dad with a trip to Anchorage and had stumbled upon The Bait Shack when I was looking for things to do in Ak. Last minute hit Dustin up and he replied promptly and got my dad and I out on the ice for some fishing. Dustin is truly a great dude, he is extremely knowledgeable and fun to be around. We caught a nice amount of Rainbow Trout and Char, Dustin even took them home with him cut them up and packaged them for us to take back to Michigan with us. We met up with Dustin to get the fish a day later and we got some hats, stickers and bags from his plus some extra salmon! My dad will talk about this everyday for the next 2 years, I would highly recommend him for all of your Alaska fishing needs and will most definitely be back to visit him in the future. I love to support small business and especially veteran owned ones and this one is top notch. Check out Dustin at the Bait Shack, it's for sure to be one of the the highlights of your trip to AK.

I am very glad I went to the Bait Shack and would go there again. I wholeheartedly recommend it. Dustin is great. He has everything you need for great fishing. I had a guide and for salmon fishing you really need one. Joel was fantastic. Couldn't have done it without his help. I landed a nice big King Salmon, which made my trip perfect. If you want to fish is Alaska, check out The Bait Shack. It's right in Anchorage. I'm glad I did.

What a wonderful place. My wife and I ate dinner nearby at Bridge Seafood and after our meal spent well over an hour watching the fisherman angling for King Salmon near the Bait Shack.. We struck up a conversation with the owner who is such a friendly, genuine, down to Earth person. We had a blast watching him masterfully filet the fish people caught as well as learning from him about local salmon fishing. We checked out the interior of the Shack and were pleasantly surprised at how favorable pricing was. In addition to selling and renting supplies and filleting fish, the owner also appears to be willing to assist inexperienced fisherman get started. We found the Bait Shack too late this trip to take advantage, but will definitely be a customer next time in Anchorage - hopefully not in the too distant future.

I have lived in Alaska for 3 years. I started fishing down at Ship Creek 2 years ago. That is where I met Dustin. This company is amazing. Not only does Dustin have all the supplies, and knowledge to get you started, but to my knowledge he is the only walking fishing guide on Ship Creek. His prices are equal to or less than anybody else in town. I do all my fishing business with The Bait Shack, and always will. Steve

Dustin is AWESOME!!! I brought my family to Anchorage just to see what we could see. We found The Bait Shack and Dustin took us out on the river a few days later. Everyone caught a fish. My youngest (8 years old) caught three fish including the biggest of the day. It was an amazing experience. Dustin filleted the fish and vacuum sealed them so we could take them back to LA. He was so nice to our family. You will not find a better fishing experience then Dustin and The Bait Shack.

Wanted gear to take on a fishing trip, flew in and out from ANC. Searched and read a lot of suggestions...then found this: pole, tackle, net and waders all for $125 for a whole week. Met him at 10 am, everything was ready to go! Had waders for my 12 year-old son! Rather then package everything on a plane, this is the way to go; save the checked luggage for the fish.

Wow, What a place if you want to do some salmon fishing downtown. So maybe you didn't get time to make one of the awesome guided trips to fish one of the regional rivers/streams, or you did not want to spend a small fortune to do the same. This little shack has everything you need. From your license, to waders, rods, lures, nets-everything, INCLUDING the river out back. And you are still basically downtown!!! My son fished for about 2 hours but we had to leave early before the tide started coming in. Many fish were caught on either side of him, a lot of stringer fulls. We definitely fish differently in central and coastal Texas, so there was a learning curve. The staff were helpful and friendly. They instructed the new-to-us technique very patiently and thoroughly. The muddy river sides can be slippery and messy. Thanks for the waders. The river bottom was solid. Medium sized kids could do well with a parent fishing nearby. What a deal, is so many ways! Their little establishment is a gold mine. I really love quality entrepreneurial endeavors that are not only successful but that also provide an awesome product! [catching up on our early August 2014 vacation postings]

This is the only spot in town you should be buying your bait from! There is a reason their cured salmon eggs sell out so fast! They have what you need when fishing the Anchorage bowl and beyond. The staff is top notch and know what they're talking about.

I have been continually disappointed by this place. Inconvenient hours and overpriced. They were closed at 10:35 on a Monday?! And to let you know they are "closed" they write some excuse for being closed up on their white board that hangs on the front door, and leave it there for days on end. They are helpful to those who are new to fishing however.