A Guide to Alaska Fishing
and Fly Fishing Vacations
Do you dream of catching trophy rainbow trout on a stream so remote it doesn't even have a name? Does the thought of fly fishing for wild King salmon in grizzly territory make your eyes light up? Do the words "float plane" put an extra spring in your step?
Alaska fishing and fly fishing vacations are all about big adventure and epic wilderness experiences, and the beauty is that you don't have to be an expert angler to enjoy a trip like this.
With over 6,000 miles of coastline, more than 3,000 pristine rivers, and the largest wild salmon runs in the world, Alaska is a target-rich environment where even a beginner has a good chance of catching fish.
Aside from the abundance of clean waters and healthy fish populations, fly fishing Alaska offers long summer days to maximize your time on the water and excellent opportunities for wildlife watching and photography.
"To the lover of wilderness, Alaska is one of the most
wonderful countries in the world."
John Muir
A fly fishing trip in Alaska is perfect for beginners and experts alike.
Alaska Fishing and Fly Fishing Locations
Sport fishing of all types is big business in Alaska. Each year close to 500,000 anglers visit the state and spend an estimated $1.4 billion on fishing licenses, fishing charters, fly fishing lodges, fly fishing guides, and more.
The vast majority of visiting anglers fish in what the Alaska Division of Sport Fish calls South-central Alaska. That's the area that includes Bristol Bay, the Alaska Peninsula, Kodiak Island, Anchorage and Cook Inlet, the Kenai Peninsula, and areas along Prince William Sound.
View South-central Alaska in a larger map
Kenai Peninsula
If you want to stay close to civilization, the waters of the famed Kenai Peninsula are home to four species of salmon, rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, and steelhead trout. The Kenai River hosts the largest wild king and Coho salmon runs in the state and the Russian River sees the second largest runs of sockeye salmon every summer. The Kenai and the Russian also hold healthy rainbow trout populations.
Further south on the Kenai Peninsula, the towns of Seward and Homer offer a wealth of Alaska fishing fly fishing opportunities for multiple species of salmon and saltwater halibut.
The majority of the peninsula is easily accessible. It's drivable from Anchorage, the roads are paved, and there are a variety of lodging and restaurant options.
Be warned though, proximity to civilization means competition with other anglers. During the height of the summer season, the Kenai and Russian rivers can be packed with fishermen.
Bristol Bay and the Alaska Peninsula
If you are craving solitude while fly fishing in Alaska, leave the roads (and other fishermen) behind and head to the Alaska Bush. Fish for wild salmon and trophy rainbow trout on the pristine waters of Bristol Bay or experience the even more remote waters of the Alaska Peninsula. The towns used to access these areas are a bit rough and don't have many services, but they do offer a sense of remoteness that is hard to beat.
We've put together travel guides and fly fishing lodge information for:
- King Salmon, Alaska - Read about lodging, restaurants, nearby fly fishing lodges and more.
- Bristol Bay, Alaska - Learn about the massive Bristol Bay sockeye salmon run and the issues surrounding the proposed Pebble Mine.
- Bethel, Alaska - Find out about this remote town that offers access to Bristol Bay and the Yukon River Delta.
Best Times for Alaska Fishing Vacations
Fishing Season
The Alaska fishing fly fishing season runs roughly from mid-June through the end of September. This corresponds with the yearly salmon runs, starting with the king and sockeye salmon runs in June and ending with the Coho salmon run in September.
The exact timing of salmon fishing in any season depends on many factors, including where you are fishing and what species you are targeting, but the Alaska Department of Fish and Game offers estimates with their sport fish run timing charts.
On the Summer Solstice (June 21), Anchorage receives close to 20 hours of daylight, and each day after that the days shorten by 5 minutes. With that much daylight, you can fish until your arms give out all summer long.
Tourist Season
Temperatures drop and snow starts falling in late September or October each year, so even though the Coho may be still be around, many tourist spots close down after September 15th. We visited Seward and Homer the first week of September and a lot of the shops and fishing charter operations were starting to close down for the winter.
Getting Around Alaska
There are many ways of travelling around Alaska - float plane, helicopter, bush plane, train, RV, or simply renting a car.
If you are considering driving Alaska in an RV, we highly recommend it. We've put together some information about our Alaska RV rental experience.
What to Pack for Fly Fishing Alaska
If you are staying at one of the fly fishing lodges in Alaska or fishing with a guide, they will certainly provide a detailed list of what to bring, but we've put together this list to get you started:
- Polarized sunglasses - Amber lenses are good for cloudy Alaska days.
- Waders - We fished the Alaska Peninsula in mid-July wearing lightweight waders with fleece pants and long underwear underneath.
- Rubber-soled wading boots - Alaska has banned felt-sole wading boots due to concerns about invasive aquatic species. As of January 1, 2012 rubber-soled wading boots must be worn.
- Wading jacket or waterproof rain jacket
- Plenty of warm layers (fleece jacket, fleece vest, long underwear, etc.)
- Fleece pants
- Fleece fishing gloves
- Fleece hat, baseball cap
- Mosquito repellant (the strong stuff, with DEET) and/or head net
- Waterproof shoes for after fishing
Don't forget, whether you're going to Alaska fishing or fly fishing, you'll need to purchase an Alaska fishing license.
Other Things to Do in Alaska
If you are traveling to Alaska fishing, fly fishing isn't the only thing to do. Here are a few side trips to consider:
- Visit Denali National Park - Travel 237 miles north from Anchorage by car, bus, or train and you'll find the massive 6 million acre Denali National Park. The park's main attraction is Mt. McKinley, North America's highest peak at 20,320-feet. But it also offers the chance to see wolves, grizzly bears, caribou, and moose right from the park road.
- Drive the Denali Highway - Want to get away from it all? Drive this 135-mile stretch of gravel road from Cantwell to Paxson. Aside from a couple of roadhouses, it's just you and spectacular views of the Alaska Range. There are plenty of pull-offs to spend the night, plus access to hiking trails, Alaska fishing fly fishing spots, and hunting areas.
- Visit Kenai Fjords National Park - Go to Seward to take a day cruise or kayak tour of the park. You'll see glaciers and lots of wildlife - whales, sea lions, harbor seals, and maybe even puffins.
- Go to Katmai National Park - Katmai is home to some of the largest brown bears in the world. Visit Brooks Camp in mid-June to mid-July and you may see up to 50 brown bears feeding on salmon, or book a private wildlife viewing tour.
Read on for more information about Fly Fishing Alaska
Alaska Fishing and Fly Fishing License
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