Alaska salmon fishing; five Species of Pacific salmon run the local rivers by the millions and they are thus available in prolific numbers. One or two species of salmon are available in peak configuration during most weeks of the season. Some weeks in July offer four or all five species of salmon to be caught.  A reasonable expectation for salmon availability can be made as follows:

• Mid-to-late June: king and chum salmon. Catch, keep, and taking fish home is possible.

• Late June to mid-July: king, chum, and sockeye salmon. Catch, keep, and taking fish home is possible.

• Mid-to-late July: king, chum, and pink salmon. Catch, keep, and taking fish home is possible.

• August: silver salmon and pink salmon. Catch, keep, and taking fish home is possible.

• September: silver salmon are abundant this month and taking fish home is possible.

These five salmon are available on fishing trips throughout the season Chum, sockeye, pink, and silver salmon are caught by spin or fly fishing on the Naknek River or while wading one of several rivers within 75 miles flying radius of the lodge. Some of Alaska’s finest wild salmon rivers are within easy reach of the lodge and we have developed an exceptional guided salmon fishing program to help you catch them.

Sockeye Salmon average 6-8 pounds with larger fish to 11-plus pounds. Sockeye are the most numerous of the salmon, with numbers in some rivers running in the millions. Sockeye salmon are best caught on a fly and pound-for-found is the hardest fighting of the salmon. Their firm, red meat is the finest for eating. We fish for sockeye from late June through late July and they are available at several different rivers. Some of the best fishing is had on the Naknek River. The best season for sockeye salmon fishing: late June through mid-July.

Chum Salmon average 7-9 pounds, with larger fish to 15-plus pounds. Chums are taken on spinning or casting tackle. These hard-fighting fish migrate and hold in large groups. Chum salmon are easily caught while wading in shallow water and can make for very fast action on medium-weight fishing tackle. Chums are an extremely underrated sport fish. They fight pound for pound like a silver salmon and take the fly voraciously. The Alaska Peninsula and some of the best small stream coastal chum salmon fishing in the world. The best season for chum salmon fishing: late June through late August.

King Salmon are the largest of the Pacific Salmon, averaging 15-30 pounds, with larger fish up to 50-plus pounds. Kings are fished most effectively with spinning or casting tackle, fishing either the Nushagak or Naknek Rivers. The Nushagak is only 35 miles west of the lodge, and the Nushagak run of kings is the largest wild king run in the world, with an annual average of 100,000 fish in that river alone. The best season for king salmon fishing: Mid-June to Late July.

Pink Salmon average 3-5 pounds with larger fish to 6-plus pounds. Due to a two-year life cycle, their most prolific runs occur on even-numbered years. Pink salmon or humpy salmon as they are sometimes called, are aggressive strikers that can be caught on light spinning or fly fishing tackle in large numbers. It’s not unusual to catch 50-100 five-pound fish for a day’s effort. The best season for pink salmon fishing: late July through late August.

Silver Salmon average 7-9 pounds with larger fish to 15-plus pounds. Fishing for silvers in Alaska is pure excitement. Once you’ve set the hook, hold on and get ready for a wild ride. They run in shallow water, hold in large groups and readily take the proper fly or lure. Silver salmon run strong and leap high in the air when hooked. The best season for silver salmon fishing: late July through late September.

Keeping salmon and taking them home

The keeping of salmon is encouraged for those who desire to do so subject to the State of Alaska daily and total possession limits.

While not mandatory we do encourage the catch and release of female salmon for conservation reasons and the fact that the male salmon have better quality meat and a higher yield of meat per pound. Your guide will assist with the identification and the harvest of the best quality salmon.

Guest salmon will be carefully cleaned, vacuum packaged, and frozen for shipment home. An airline-approved seafood shipping container is provided for the travel of fish as checked baggage.

Due to the high probability of spoilage, we do not ship salmon on behalf of guests. If guests desire their salmon to be smoked we will refer, arrange then ship their salmon to a reputable processing facility in Anchorage. Please inquire for further details.

Commercially caught and professionally processed sockeye salmon fillets are available to any guest at any time of the season in virtually any quantity desired at local wholesale prices if ordered in advance. Please inquire for details.