Hunting Fishing Online

If you’re thinking of fishing in Alaska, you should recognize the fish species in the area, understand their preferred flies and know what to expect. So, read on for a general overview of the fish species during your next fishing vacation in Alaska.

Pacific Salmon Varieties

The four most populous Pacific salmon varieties in Alaska are: silver salmon, reds or sockeyes, pinks, and Chinook or king salmons. Overall, the Pacific salmon is a great game fish that can put up a fantastic fight and pose an incredible challenge.

It’s important to note that while Pacific salmon won’t eat after returning to fresh waters, they will still strike subsurface and surface flies. However, fly fishers need to be ready to take in what are a large and aggressive fish species. The king salmon in Alaska can weigh close to or over one hundred pounds.

Steelhead Trout

The steelhead trout is a unique rainbow trout that can swim in the open sea or large lake environment, but does spawn in connecting rivers. After their spawning, they’ll return to a large lake or ocean.

The steelhead is strong, large, high-leaping and long-running, making it highly prized among experience fly fishers. It’s also a great catch for the dinner table and an overall tasty fish. The fish averages between 4 and 12 pounds, but can often exceed 20 pounds, particularly in Alaska.

Grayling

The grayling trout is a rare, beautiful and delicate fish found in cold waters - and for fly fishing, Alaska graylings are probably the most prized fish. To survive, the fish needs pure, cold and clear lake or stream water, meaning Alaska is likely the best place in the world to find the grayling.

Graylings mostly feed on live and active insects, but will sometimes eat crustaceans or small minnows. The most effective flies tend to be smaller or dry flies.

An Alaskan grayling will typically grow to about 4 pounds, but they’re a tasty catch and well suited to the dinner table.

Arctic Char

As a trout, the Arctic char lives for the pure and cold waters of Alaskan lakes and streams. The fish makes a great catch that’s lively and strong, though willing to fall for more flies and slightly easier to trick than the rainbow trout. For fly fishing, Alaskan arctic char is an easy lure, but a fantastic catch on any fishing trip.

Not everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the majesty of the Alaskan coastland while going after some of the best fish in the world. If you are able to squeeze in the time, don’t miss out.

Share This

For an exciting overview of some of Alaska’s most popular lodges and fishing tours, read on.

The Ultima Thule Lodge in Wrangell-St. Elias (ultimathulelodge.com)

Remote and pristine, the Ultima Thule Lodge is situated in the middle of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, the country’s largest, and has been listed by National Geographic as the area’s premiere luxury Alaska fly fishing trips company.

The lodge can arrange almost any type of day trip, but a lot of their focus is on fly fishing in Moose Valley. However, if your interest is fishing experiences, make sure you book in advance to get there during the peak salmon migration period.

The company sets itself apart from other fishing lodges by offering a range of activities, making it a great choice for an extended stay, family fishing trip or corporate adventure. Side trips include glacier stops, white water rafting, skiing, or wilderness hikes.

However, if you and your group want a more rustic or self-catered experience, you may want to look elsewhere. Ultima Thule is known for luxury, not wilderness expeditions.

Sadie Cove Wilderness Lodge (sadiecove.com)

Featured on ESPN, the Discovery Channel, the Environmental Magazine, “E”, The Travel Channel, National Geographic and Forbes’ magazine, Sadie Cove is widely known as one of the continent’s best eco-lodges. The lodge is run completely off the grid on a non-polluting wind, solar and hydro energy system.

Rates are fairly reasonable at Sadie Cove, however they do charge extra for privately chartered or fly-in Alaska fly fishing trips. That said, their peak summer rate of four hundred dollars per day includes all your daily meals, use of all the lodge facilities (like the sauna), fishing equipment, housekeeping, wireless Internet and even an on-site pool.

Drifter’s Lodge on the Kenai River (907-595-5555)

If you’re looking for a more rustic experience that centers it attention almost exclusively on fly fishing, Drifter’s Lodge is a great choice. The lodge offers a more down-to-earth Alaskan experience and has been featured in National Geographic, the Lonely Planet and Time magazine. For fly fishing, their draw is on the fall season when the trout are at their peak.

The lodge employs expert, local guides who know the best spots on the Kenai River and the perfect flies and casting techniques. Their catches and trips include Alaska salmon, Dolly Varden trout and, of course, rainbow trout. With on-site lessons and guided expeditions, some of the best Alaska fly fishing trips can be found right here.

Share This