Migratory Salmon
PERHAPS THE BEST SALMON FLY FISHING TRIPS IN THE WORLD! OUR LODGE OFFERS A SECLUDED SALMON FISHERY FOR AN AFFORDABLE ALASKAN FISHING TRIP OF A LIFETIME.
King (Chinook) Salmon Fly Fishing (25,000 – 40,000 fish)
King Salmon are the largest of the Pacific salmon and it is not rare to catch them in excess of the 35+ lbs range on the fly.
Alaskan King Salmon start to enter the Alagnak near the end of June and run through July 31st. Our prime slots for these monsters are the last two weeks in July but we can still target them earlier in the season. We love using double handed rods for these giants and will sight fish for them from the bank although because of their strength, we often need to get in the boat to chase them down river. We recommend at least a 9/10 wt. rod when targeting the Kings as the hook up to landing ratio, is low when the angler as under prepared for the inevitable battle which ensues when hooking into one these bad boys.
KING SALMON BOOK NOW MAIN FISHING PERIOD: WEEK 3–8 with Peak Weeks 7-8
Silver (Coho) Salmon Fly Fishing (120,000 – 150,000 fish)
Silver Salmon average around 8 to 10lbs.
and are by far the most acrobatic of the salmon species.
These spectacular game fish are well known for taking top water flies and leaping clear out of the water after being hooked. For these reasons they are personally my favourite salmon species to target on the fly. Silvers will start to show up in the last few days of July and gradually build in numbers through September. The best time to target the Silvers on our river is from the second week of August into the first few weeks of September. The Alagnak boasts a huge run of Silvers and is one of the top rivers to target them in Alaska. A 7-9 wt. rod with weight forward floating line is recommended for targeting the Silvers.
SILVER SALMON BOOK NOW MAIN FISHING PERIOD: Weeks 9-13
Sockeye (Red) Salmon Fly Fishing (1-2 million + fish)
Sockeye Salmon are well known for their taste and nutritional value, but what is overlooked is the fact that they are also amazing fighters.
They jump like crazy and can take anglers well into their backing with their ballistic runs, before finally coming to the net. With runs often hitting and surpassing the two million mark, it is no secret that when it comes to Sockeye salmon, it’s a ‘numbers game’. Averaging 7 to 9 lbs and getting up over 12 pounds, these salmon will give you a run for your money with a 7/8 wt. rod and by the end of the day you are sure to have a sore arm. Sockeye season (first -third weeks in July) is often our busiest time of year as many anglers will come to take boxes of this delicious fish back home to share with their loved ones. So book your place EARLY!
SOCKEYE SALMON BOOK NOW MAIN FISHING PERIOD: Weeks 4-7
Chum (Keta) Salmon Fly Fishing (600,000 - 800,000 fish)
Chum Salmon are one of the most underrated fish in Alaska. Probably because their meat is more suitable for dogs than humans. But being an angler, this doesn’t bother me as they are pound for pound the hardest fighting salmon in the pacific.
Chums start entering the river mid-July and continue in big numbers to mid-August. Chums average 9 to 12lbs., but can get over 16 lbs in weight. They are great fun to target on the fly due to their ferocious strikes and aggressive nature. They are quick to take a swung or striped fly and will sometimes even take flies off the surface as well! We use 8/9 wt. rods for these bruisers’ and are in no way over gunned.
CHUM SALMON BOOK NOW MAIN FISHING PERIOD: Weeks 5-9
Pink (Humpy) Salmon Fly Fishing (1 - 1.5 million fish on even years)
Pink Salmon run only in even years, but when they run, they run strong.
Although the Pinks average only 3 to 5lbs., they more than make up for it with sheer numbers. Being that they are so numerous and smaller in size, they make for a perfect fish for beginners and younger fisherman to learn how to hook, fight and land fish (this is a great time for families to come). Pink salmon enter the Alagnak late in July and continue into mid-August. During August our anglers will often average 20-40 Pinks landed a day as they are very aggressive to anything thrown at them. A 7 wt. rods and weight forward floating line is what we recommend for these small but feisty Salmon.
PINK SALMON BOOK NOW MAIN FISHING PERIOD: Weeks 7- 9
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