It’s no exaggeration when we say that Salmon fishing in Alaska is unparalleled. Even though it’s called the Last Frontier, for passionate anglers, this is the land of infinite opportunities. Alyeska, also known as “The Great Land,” has more coastline than the whole of the US and millions of lakes. It is a beautiful place to fish for the biggest fish of your life.
What more could a traveling angler want than a place with five species of Pacific Salmon and a lot of good fishing?
Alaska’s waters are not only clean, they’re also gin-clear, aqua-blue, and so full of life it’s hard to imagine. You have to test them out yourself to fully understand just how addictive the fishing action here is. And Salmon fishing is the most exciting adventure of them all.
Some of the best fishing spots are in the wilderness, so hiring an experienced guide is essential. If you want to catch a certain kind of salmon, you can get help from a professional to find the best spot.
Now, a few words about your prey, your nemesis, your prize – the Pacific Salmon. Chinook, Coho, Pink, Sockeye, and Chum Salmon are all regular visitors of Alaska’s waters. Hunting each of them comes with its own set of advantages.
Chinook (aka King) Salmon is the ultimate catch in Alaska – the bigger, the better. Kings are so popular that there’s a place named after them on the west side of Naknek Lake.
Most of these fish weigh between 20 and 30 pounds, but you can easily find lunkers that weigh 50 pounds or more. You can go after Chinook at any time between June and late July, but keep in mind that when to go will depend on where you are.
Chum Salmon are seriously underestimated, but they’ll wow you when you get them on the line. On average, the fish you hook will weigh 10 pounds, but you can also find fish that are over 15 pounds. Coastal fishing for Chum in Alaska is superb, especially from late June to the end of August.
To experience some fast and furious action, Silver Salmon fishing is the name of your game. These wild guys are relentless and have the rep of the best fighters of the Salmon Five. They are the best acrobats among the Salmon, so you’ll get a great fight and a show at the same time. The best time of the year to go after Coho is from July all through September.
Alaska is known around the world for its incredible salmon fishing. With five species of Pacific salmon swarming its waters, it’s a dream destination for anglers. Catching these strong acrobatic fish is a thrilling experience. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to catch salmon in Alaska.
Getting Started
To catch salmon in Alaska, you’ll need the right gear. It is best to use a medium- to heavy-weight rod and reel set that can handle 20-pound test line. You’ll also need tackle like hooks, swivels, weights and leaders. Flies and lures should be large and brightly colored to attract salmon.
Many anglers prefer to use bait when salmon fishing. Good options include cured salmon eggs, herring, shrimp and sandlance. Using a net or cast net to catch live bait near where you’ll be fishing is best.
When you feel a salmon bite don’t immediately jerk the line. Give the fish a few seconds to take the bait fully into its mouth before setting the hook with a firm, steady motion. Use the reel to take up slack line as the fish makes its first run.
Where to Fish
With over 3,000 rivers and 50,000 lakes and streams, Alaska offers endless salmon fishing opportunities. Some top destinations include:
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Kenai River – Home to record-breaking king salmon up to 97 lbs. Prime fishing from May to October.
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Kasilof River – Known for great sockeye and silver salmon fishing from June to August.
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Copper River – Famous for its early king salmon run starting in May.
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Situk River – Silvers and pink salmon abound from July to September.
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Goodnews River – July and August see impressive king salmon exceeding 50 lbs.
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Unalakleet River – Mid-July through August offers excellent chum and pink salmon.
If you want to safely navigate Alaska’s remote waters, you should always hire a local guide with a lot of experience. They will show you where and when to catch each type of salmon best.
Techniques by Species
Each species of salmon in Alaska has a favorite place to live and a way of eating that determines the best way to catch them:
King (Chinook) Salmon
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Use heavy spinning or baitcasting tackle to reach deep pools and runs.
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Slow trolling with bait or casting large plugs and spoons triggers reaction strikes.
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Early and late season kings hit at first and last light.
Sockeye (Red) Salmon
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Float fishing with flies or small lures works well during summer runs.
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Target shallow riffles and be ready for lightning-fast takes.
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Flossing with line and weight gets bites from reluctant fish.
Silver (Coho) Salmon
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Aggressive lures like spinners, spoons and streamers get their attention.
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Cast into eddies, logjams and shore structure they use as ambush points.
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Nymphing under a strike indicator is deadly for targeting silvers in rivers.
Pink (Humpy) Salmon
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Drift fishing with flies or bait accounts for high numbers.
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Cover water and current seams in lower river sections.
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Twitching jigs and casting small spoons also works well.
Chum (Dog) Salmon
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Use salmon roe, shrimp or herring behind a flasher.
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Target slower water like sloughs and pools.
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Jigging large spoons on or near bottom is effective.
Regulations & Limits
An Alaska sport fishing license and king salmon stamp are required. Most rivers are catch and release, but limits exist where retention is allowed. Using guides familiar with local rules is wise.
Being prepared with the proper gear, techniques and guidance is the key to success when fishing for salmon in Alaska. Follow this blueprint and you’ll be hooked up with hard-fighting salmon on your Alaskan adventure. Just be ready for the most intense action of your angling life!
Pink (Humpback, Humpy) Salmon
Pinkies are the smallest of all Salmon. They usually average at 5 pounds, though you can easily stumble upon some bigger ones. You’ll be told that the most important thing to do is go after Pink Salmon on even-numbered years. This is because their life cycle lasts two years, so you can’t find them every year. When they do come to Alaska, they’re here in huge numbers. You can easily catch 50 or more fish on one trip, if you know where to go. Anytime from late July to the end of August is good for targeting Humpies.
Sockeye Salmon is the best fish to catch in Alaska if you want to fill your cooler with tasty fillets. Not only are they the tastiest of all Salmon, but they’re also the most abundant ones. They come to the prolific Alaskan waters by the millions. A lot of people love fly fishing for Sockeye, and this is where they come to compete in the ultimate face-off. These peculiar-looking fellas are abundant from mid-June to late July.
Alaska Salmon Fishing Spots
Now, this is a topic that deserves an entire book in itself. Alaska has millions of watersheds, so your main job will be to find the best place to fish. Your choice will heavily depend on how much time you have and how far you’re willing to go.
Let’s take a look at some of the premier honey holes you can explore in gorgeous Alaska.
If we’re talking about Salmon fishing, we must begin with the Kenai River. The Kenai is one of the most beautiful, productive, and fun places to fish. When you cast your line in this river, the clear blue water and beautiful snow-capped mountains will make you feel like you’re in a fairy tale. And when you hook that first big Salmon, you’ll find that fairytales can come true.
People know the Kenai River for its great Chinook and Sockeye runs, but you can find all five species of Salmon here. From May to October, thousands of Coho, Chinook, and Pink Salmon can be seen in the river. For Sockeye, the number of fish reaches millions.
This is, hands down, one of the best places to catch a monster King Salmon. The fact that the most IGFA world records in freshwater Salmon fishing were caught here speaks for itself. There are different times for each species, so you can plan your trip to the Kenai just right.
Brooks River is one of the harder places to get to because it is in the middle of Katmai National Park and Preserve, but the reward is well worth it. If you want to get to the best spots, chances are you’ll need a floatplane. There are charters who can take you there, but it will take longer, usually a couple of hours.
A huge number of salmon live in the Brooks River’s clear water, and Coho and Sockeye are the most common types. The best time to see the Sockeye summer run is at the beginning of July. Depending on the time of the year, you can enjoy strong action for your favorite Salmon fighter. This is also a prime spot for fly fishermen looking for a new adventure.
Like a lot of Alaska Salmon fishing, you have to release the fish you catch, but there are some spots in the river where you can keep them. One great thing about the Brooks River is that there are a lot of fishing lodges in easy-to-reach places. Pair all that with awe-inspiring nature and it’s a picture-perfect area for getting your fill of Alaska’s beauty.
Fishing on Kodiak Island can quickly turn into a treasure hunt. This is one of the favorite Alaskan fisheries, and for all the right reasons. Kodiak Island is known for both its great fishing and its brown bears, which will be your main opponents in the salmon hunt.
Even though it’s remote, there are frequent commercial flights that connect the island with Anchorage. Also, the island has very good roads that make it easy for anglers to get to different bodies of water. During the summer, many rivers and streams are the center of attention. The reason for this is, of course, the runs of four species of salmon.
You can catch 20-pound fish every day until the middle of July on the King, which starts at the beginning of June. After that, Sockeye take the lead and stay until the beginning of August. Pink Salmon come in close behind. Silver Salmon are on the menu from mid-August all the way through the end of September.
There are some great places to catch honey on Kodiak Island. They are Ayakkulik (Red) River, Sargent Creek, Buskin River, and Frazer Lake (also called the Dog Salmon Creek).
The Kasilof River starts at Tustamena Lake and is very close to the Kenai River. It is a unique place for salmon fishermen to fish. Because the Kasilof has strong currents, this is a drift-only river, which means you can’t use motor boats. But you don’t need to.
Depending on the month you’re here, you can catch Chinook, Sockeye, Coho, and Pink Salmon. King Salmon have early runs in late spring, which start the fishing season. They also have summer runs in July and August. During the late run, massive Kings that average 20–40 pounds are the norm.
Sockeye join the party in late June and stay until mid-July. Coho, who come in late but are well worth the wait, in mid-August. Kasilof Salmon are fun to catch, even though they are smaller than Kenai Salmon. This is because you can use live bait, which you can’t do in the Kenai. The Kasilof is the place to go if you want to relax on the water, take in the beautiful scenery, and catch big fish.
Chinook Salmon can be caught almost anywhere in Alaska, but the Nushagak River is where you should go to catch the biggest ones. Many people say that this river has the best King Salmon run in the world, with over tens of thousands of fish often being caught. On the Nushagak River, fishermen have caught some of the biggest salmon ever. You can tell when they come here to catch the biggest fish of their lives.
Kenai river Alaska Sockeye Salmon fishing rigging up for Beginners! How to catch more fish!
FAQ
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