Alaska's Fish Species and the gear to reel them in…
Below you will find a description of the most popular game fish in Alaska and what types of fly rods I recommend. I also mention some reel and line types and a brief description of what flies to use. For a more detailed description of the flies and what they look like check here.
King (Chinook) Salmon:
This is the largest of the salmon species in Alaska. They spend an average of 4 to 6 years at sea before returning to their spawning ground. Kings range from 10 to 80 plus pounds with the majority of them in the 20 to 30 pound class. They start entering the streams in late May and can be found swimming about well into August.
The best rod to use for kings is one that is in the 10 to 12 weight class. Any 9ft rod in this class will be sufficient. There is nothing quite like a king on the end of a fly rod to get the adrenalin pumping. Match the reel to the weight of the rod. You have several choices in this arena, just find one that matches the rod and is in your price range. Reels form Tioga, Pflueger, Lamson, and Galvin will do nicely. When it comes to what line to use things can get a little complicated. A lot of it has to do with where you plan on fishing. If your plans are taking you to big water you will need a heavy fast sinking line in your weight class. For fishing the smaller rivers and streams get yourself a weight forward floating or light sinking line and a heavy fly. Rio has some variable tip lines that cover multiple situations.
As far as flies go, bright colored leaches and marabou style flies work great, so do black ones. Pink, fuchsia and chartreuse are good colors, depending on light conditions. Try flies like the Dolly Llama, The Intruder or the Popsicle style flies. Large egg patterns and egg sucking leeches work as well.
Chum (Dog) Salmon:
This is a much underrated salmon. It is the second largest of the 5 species of salmon we have in Alaska with some reaching 30 pounds. Most run in the 8 to 15 pound range. Chums are hard fighting fish. More than once I have had quite the battle with a large male chum. Their relatively easy to target as well, since they are very aggressive and will attack most flies. Chums turn rather quickly to their spawning cousins and are no longer much good for table fare. Find them just as they enter freshwater and they are as good as the rest of the salmon, especially smoked.
I recommend at least an 8wt for these brutes and of course a reel to match the rod, drag is a key issue here as well. Most chums will be caught in shallower streams then their bigger cousins so using a lighter sink tip line or a floating one with some split shot or weighted fly should suffice. As for the flies, any brightly colored ones due the trick. I have good success with purple and fuchsia colored bunny leeches and popsicles.
Silver (Coho) Salmon:
Generally considered the most acrobatic of the salmon, silvers are prolific in most streams starting in July and with some lasting through to the following February. Silvers generally weigh in around 8 to 12 pounds with some monsters into the 20’s. These fierce fighters require a rod in the 7 to 9wt class. Any of them in the 9ft range and a reel made by any of the reputable manufacturers will work, just match it to your rod and be sure it has a nice smooth drag. The same lines that you would use for the chum salmon will work here as well.
The best flies to use for silvers are bright colored flies for sunny days and darker flies for the darker days. An egg sucking leech drifted in the slower eddies of a river or stream works wonders, as well as flesh and egg patterns. Possible the most unique feature of this salmon is its top water action. Silvers will destroy a Pink Pollywog or other bright fuchsia fly that is skated across the surface of an estuary or slack water. At times you will have multiple takes from multiple fish on a single cast. Makes for some exciting and tiring fishing…
Sockeye (Red) Salmon:
The red salmon is probably the most fished for salmon in the state. Just their sheer numbers make them easier to catch. Pound for pound these just might be the hardest fighting salmon there is. Most of these fish are in the 6 to 8 pound range with some topping the scales at more than 15 pounds. For these hard fighters, I would recommend nothing smaller than a 7wt. Some rivers like the Kenai, an 8wt is a good choice. Once they get into the current, they have a good chance of never coming back. A reel with a good drag is a must here to avoid lost fish and line. Again line choice here really requires nothing special as your flies are usually weighted with split shot to get them down.
Most sockeyes run the banks of the rivers. So you are usually fishing in less the 4 or 5 feet of water. There are a few theories about what works best to catch this fish. Since red salmon are planktons eaters they don’t generally take flies as other salmon do. They will strike at a fly, but it is usually a territorial move. Although the most popular fly is the Russian River Fly, try something a little smaller and tied a lot sparser. Use flies that resemble small invertebrates work wonders and don’t spook the fish. I see so many fish swim out of the way using the bigger flies, make the switch and see what happens.
Pink (Humpy) Salmon:
The smallest of the 5 species of salmon that inhabit Alaskan waters is the Pink Salmon. Though they are the least desirable of the salmon, pinks are ferocious fighters and very aggressive. They are a blast to catch on light tackle and will provide entertainment all day long. They are a great fish to introduce children and beginner fly fishers to due to the large volumes and the ease of catching these fish. A 5wt would be sufficient to have, but with a 6wt being better since you there is a chance of hooking a silver or chum while fishing pinks. Match the reel to the rod and use a floating line with a 6 to 9 ft leader and you will be all set.
Pinks are generally not too picky when it comes to flies. Flesh flies, small streamers, woolly buggers, egg sucking leeches will all work nicely.
Steelhead:
A fish of a thousand casts they say. An elusive rainbow that lives most of their life at sea and comes back to freshwater to spawn in the spring, with a small number that will come back in the fall to over winter in freshwater and then spawn that next spring. Most steelhead in Alaska can be found in the Southeast coastal rivers. There are a few isolated runs on the Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak Island and out on the Aleutian Chain. Steelhead are unique in that there is no set timing on when they come back to spawn. It is when ever the urge hits them. Many come back to the same river that they were born in, but there has been tagged fish that have returned to spawn in a completely different water system some miles away. They have also documented one fish that had came back to spawn at least 4 times. Steelhead are fierce fighters and very acrobatic. They come alive in water over 40 degrees as well. A 7wt or 8wt rod is ideal for fighting steelhead. Get yourself a large arbor reel with a good drag, load it with 20lb backing and hang on. A 9ft rod is a good choice. A switch rod is also a good choice and gives you the opportunity to do a double hand cast if the situation arises. A weight forward floating line or a versi-tip line will cover most of your bases. Steelhead fishing in Alaska is usually in smaller logged choked streams so be prepared for lots of break offs. Nine foot leaders in 8 to 12 pound test should fit the bill.
Flies for steelhead don’t differ too much from the regular salmon fare. Dolly llamas, egg sucking leeches, egg patterns and streamers will all take steelhead. Beads are a favorite of some fisherman as well. Jigs drifted below a float are becoming increasing popular as well. They can be fished with spinning gear or a center-pin rig. Both are very effective in what they do.
Rainbow Trout:
This fish alone is probably the most sought out fish in the fly fishing world. Ranging from the tiniest 6” small stream trout to monsters of the Kenai and Bristol Bay, rainbows are everywhere. There are lodges that are devoted strictly to the catch and release of this magnificent fish. Rod sizes are almost as diverse as the places to catch them. From small streams to large river systems, the rods that are used are 3 and 4wt’s up to 8wt streamer throwing machines. The best thing to do in deciding which one to use is to narrow down where you may fish the most. Rods around in the 5 to 6wt class are perfect in 90% of the waters you will fish. If you plan on fishing big water like the Kenai or the Nushagak, I would recommend at least a 7wt if not an 8wt. Large streamers and mouse patterns are more easily thrown with the heavier rod. A rod with a minimum of 9ft is a wise choice with a 10ft being good for fishing from a boat or a float tube. A reel with a good drag is again recommended. Lines can vary depending where much of your fishing will be. As a rule, a sink tip, weight forward line or a floating line will work. Rio’s versi-tip is not a bad option. Scientific Angler’s Sharkskin floating line is also becoming quite popular. A leader of 8 to 10 pound test and in about 9ft of length should suffice in most conditions.
Fly diversity for rainbows is about as big as the places are there to catch them. From the small dry flies to big smolt and leech patterns to water splashing mouse patterns. Starting in early August we have a salmon egg hatch which slowly takes over the river systems and in some places it is all the rainbows will eat. So to increase the odds of our catching success, we have created the plastic bead. Decorated in several colors, textures, and sizes to accommodate every salmon egg imaginable, plastic beads are pegged 2 inches or less from the hook and your line weighted with some split shot. Each salmon’s egg is of a different size, from a 6mm sockeye egg to a large 12 mm King egg. Pick a size to match the current spawn and give it a whirl.
After the spawn comes the influx of dead salmon in the river and the fish start to feed on the remnants of the salmon in the way of flesh. Rabbit strip leeches tied in different colors will help. Muddler minnows, woolly buggers, smolt imitations are good bets in the spring as the salmon fry from year’s previous head out to sea.
Arctic Char/Dolly Varden:
This fish is one for some debate. Some folks don’t seem to think this fish deserves any respect. Overall it is a little easier to catch than a rainbow. Same principles apply to the dollies that apply to the rainbows as well so I won’t repeat myself. I think dollies are a very beautiful fish and are just as fun to catch as any other fish is. You will normally catch more dollies than rainbows in some systems because they are less leader shy and are slightly more aggressive than rainbows.
Arctic Grayling:
This is a crazy little fish. They eat any and every thing that resembles food and are a blast on light tackle. I fish them on anything from a 000wt to a 5wt. A 4wt is about perfect. A nice 8.5 to 9ft rod with a light duty reel and a floating line and you are all set. They can be found in almost every small clear water creek in the upper half of Alaska.
Almost any dry, wet, nymph or small streamer will work for grayling, like I said they are not picky eaters. Due to the small window of being ice free, grayling eat consistently to help them through the winter. I have actually caught them on size 8 muddler minnows while throwing flies for lake trout. They even take epoxy-style smolt patterns.
Lake Trout:
Although lakers are not a primary target for a lot of fly fishers, they can be taken with a fly rod. Spring time is the time to go after lakers with a fly. Use at least a 7wt rod, something you can toss a big fly with and a sinking line. Lake Trout move in to the shallow bays of lakes in early spring to search for food and to bask in the warmer water, generally right after ice out. Grab your pontoon boat or float tube and give it a whirl. Look for rock out-croppings in the fall as they get ready to spawn. Just toss out your presentation and strip it in. Any reel that matches the weight of your rod will be fine. You will have a fight on your hands.
Flies for lakers consist mainly of large streamers and leech imitations. During the smolt migration in the spring, try using a smolt pattern. It is highly effective at the outlet of lakes. Large nymph patterns work as well.
Northern Pike:
Considered by some to be a trash fish, northerns are great for top water action. For the purpose of tossing mouse and baby duck size patterns, I recommend at least a 7 or 8wt rod. 8wt would be slightly better in windy conditions. Use a floating line and a 9 to 10ft leader of 12 or so pound test. Be sure to use a tippet of wire so you don’t get a lot of break offs; pike have some crazy nasty teeth. There are several companies that offer that, Toothy Critter or a thin stainless wire that can be tied.
Any large mouse or floating type fly will work for pike. Bass style poppers work great as well. Very large diving type flies will get them as well when there not as active on the surface. They are generally not picky eaters. Spring time is the best opportunity to try for pike on the fly. They move into the shallows to spawn and warm up in the sun. Look for them to be hanging around trees, grass pockets or near any type of under water structure that provides a hiding spot for them to ambush some prey.
Below you will find a description of the most popular game fish in Alaska and what types of fly rods I recommend. I also mention some reel and line types and a brief description of what flies to use. For a more detailed description of the flies and what they look like check here.
King (Chinook) Salmon:
This is the largest of the salmon species in Alaska. They spend an average of 4 to 6 years at sea before returning to their spawning ground. Kings range from 10 to 80 plus pounds with the majority of them in the 20 to 30 pound class. They start entering the streams in late May and can be found swimming about well into August.
The best rod to use for kings is one that is in the 10 to 12 weight class. Any 9ft rod in this class will be sufficient. There is nothing quite like a king on the end of a fly rod to get the adrenalin pumping. Match the reel to the weight of the rod. You have several choices in this arena, just find one that matches the rod and is in your price range. Reels form Tioga, Pflueger, Lamson, and Galvin will do nicely. When it comes to what line to use things can get a little complicated. A lot of it has to do with where you plan on fishing. If your plans are taking you to big water you will need a heavy fast sinking line in your weight class. For fishing the smaller rivers and streams get yourself a weight forward floating or light sinking line and a heavy fly. Rio has some variable tip lines that cover multiple situations.
As far as flies go, bright colored leaches and marabou style flies work great, so do black ones. Pink, fuchsia and chartreuse are good colors, depending on light conditions. Try flies like the Dolly Llama, The Intruder or the Popsicle style flies. Large egg patterns and egg sucking leeches work as well.
Chum (Dog) Salmon:
This is a much underrated salmon. It is the second largest of the 5 species of salmon we have in Alaska with some reaching 30 pounds. Most run in the 8 to 15 pound range. Chums are hard fighting fish. More than once I have had quite the battle with a large male chum. Their relatively easy to target as well, since they are very aggressive and will attack most flies. Chums turn rather quickly to their spawning cousins and are no longer much good for table fare. Find them just as they enter freshwater and they are as good as the rest of the salmon, especially smoked.
I recommend at least an 8wt for these brutes and of course a reel to match the rod, drag is a key issue here as well. Most chums will be caught in shallower streams then their bigger cousins so using a lighter sink tip line or a floating one with some split shot or weighted fly should suffice. As for the flies, any brightly colored ones due the trick. I have good success with purple and fuchsia colored bunny leeches and popsicles.
Silver (Coho) Salmon:
Generally considered the most acrobatic of the salmon, silvers are prolific in most streams starting in July and with some lasting through to the following February. Silvers generally weigh in around 8 to 12 pounds with some monsters into the 20’s. These fierce fighters require a rod in the 7 to 9wt class. Any of them in the 9ft range and a reel made by any of the reputable manufacturers will work, just match it to your rod and be sure it has a nice smooth drag. The same lines that you would use for the chum salmon will work here as well.
The best flies to use for silvers are bright colored flies for sunny days and darker flies for the darker days. An egg sucking leech drifted in the slower eddies of a river or stream works wonders, as well as flesh and egg patterns. Possible the most unique feature of this salmon is its top water action. Silvers will destroy a Pink Pollywog or other bright fuchsia fly that is skated across the surface of an estuary or slack water. At times you will have multiple takes from multiple fish on a single cast. Makes for some exciting and tiring fishing…
Sockeye (Red) Salmon:
The red salmon is probably the most fished for salmon in the state. Just their sheer numbers make them easier to catch. Pound for pound these just might be the hardest fighting salmon there is. Most of these fish are in the 6 to 8 pound range with some topping the scales at more than 15 pounds. For these hard fighters, I would recommend nothing smaller than a 7wt. Some rivers like the Kenai, an 8wt is a good choice. Once they get into the current, they have a good chance of never coming back. A reel with a good drag is a must here to avoid lost fish and line. Again line choice here really requires nothing special as your flies are usually weighted with split shot to get them down.
Most sockeyes run the banks of the rivers. So you are usually fishing in less the 4 or 5 feet of water. There are a few theories about what works best to catch this fish. Since red salmon are planktons eaters they don’t generally take flies as other salmon do. They will strike at a fly, but it is usually a territorial move. Although the most popular fly is the Russian River Fly, try something a little smaller and tied a lot sparser. Use flies that resemble small invertebrates work wonders and don’t spook the fish. I see so many fish swim out of the way using the bigger flies, make the switch and see what happens.
Pink (Humpy) Salmon:
The smallest of the 5 species of salmon that inhabit Alaskan waters is the Pink Salmon. Though they are the least desirable of the salmon, pinks are ferocious fighters and very aggressive. They are a blast to catch on light tackle and will provide entertainment all day long. They are a great fish to introduce children and beginner fly fishers to due to the large volumes and the ease of catching these fish. A 5wt would be sufficient to have, but with a 6wt being better since you there is a chance of hooking a silver or chum while fishing pinks. Match the reel to the rod and use a floating line with a 6 to 9 ft leader and you will be all set.
Pinks are generally not too picky when it comes to flies. Flesh flies, small streamers, woolly buggers, egg sucking leeches will all work nicely.
Steelhead:
A fish of a thousand casts they say. An elusive rainbow that lives most of their life at sea and comes back to freshwater to spawn in the spring, with a small number that will come back in the fall to over winter in freshwater and then spawn that next spring. Most steelhead in Alaska can be found in the Southeast coastal rivers. There are a few isolated runs on the Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak Island and out on the Aleutian Chain. Steelhead are unique in that there is no set timing on when they come back to spawn. It is when ever the urge hits them. Many come back to the same river that they were born in, but there has been tagged fish that have returned to spawn in a completely different water system some miles away. They have also documented one fish that had came back to spawn at least 4 times. Steelhead are fierce fighters and very acrobatic. They come alive in water over 40 degrees as well. A 7wt or 8wt rod is ideal for fighting steelhead. Get yourself a large arbor reel with a good drag, load it with 20lb backing and hang on. A 9ft rod is a good choice. A switch rod is also a good choice and gives you the opportunity to do a double hand cast if the situation arises. A weight forward floating line or a versi-tip line will cover most of your bases. Steelhead fishing in Alaska is usually in smaller logged choked streams so be prepared for lots of break offs. Nine foot leaders in 8 to 12 pound test should fit the bill.
Flies for steelhead don’t differ too much from the regular salmon fare. Dolly llamas, egg sucking leeches, egg patterns and streamers will all take steelhead. Beads are a favorite of some fisherman as well. Jigs drifted below a float are becoming increasing popular as well. They can be fished with spinning gear or a center-pin rig. Both are very effective in what they do.
Rainbow Trout:
This fish alone is probably the most sought out fish in the fly fishing world. Ranging from the tiniest 6” small stream trout to monsters of the Kenai and Bristol Bay, rainbows are everywhere. There are lodges that are devoted strictly to the catch and release of this magnificent fish. Rod sizes are almost as diverse as the places to catch them. From small streams to large river systems, the rods that are used are 3 and 4wt’s up to 8wt streamer throwing machines. The best thing to do in deciding which one to use is to narrow down where you may fish the most. Rods around in the 5 to 6wt class are perfect in 90% of the waters you will fish. If you plan on fishing big water like the Kenai or the Nushagak, I would recommend at least a 7wt if not an 8wt. Large streamers and mouse patterns are more easily thrown with the heavier rod. A rod with a minimum of 9ft is a wise choice with a 10ft being good for fishing from a boat or a float tube. A reel with a good drag is again recommended. Lines can vary depending where much of your fishing will be. As a rule, a sink tip, weight forward line or a floating line will work. Rio’s versi-tip is not a bad option. Scientific Angler’s Sharkskin floating line is also becoming quite popular. A leader of 8 to 10 pound test and in about 9ft of length should suffice in most conditions.
Fly diversity for rainbows is about as big as the places are there to catch them. From the small dry flies to big smolt and leech patterns to water splashing mouse patterns. Starting in early August we have a salmon egg hatch which slowly takes over the river systems and in some places it is all the rainbows will eat. So to increase the odds of our catching success, we have created the plastic bead. Decorated in several colors, textures, and sizes to accommodate every salmon egg imaginable, plastic beads are pegged 2 inches or less from the hook and your line weighted with some split shot. Each salmon’s egg is of a different size, from a 6mm sockeye egg to a large 12 mm King egg. Pick a size to match the current spawn and give it a whirl.
After the spawn comes the influx of dead salmon in the river and the fish start to feed on the remnants of the salmon in the way of flesh. Rabbit strip leeches tied in different colors will help. Muddler minnows, woolly buggers, smolt imitations are good bets in the spring as the salmon fry from year’s previous head out to sea.
Arctic Char/Dolly Varden:
This fish is one for some debate. Some folks don’t seem to think this fish deserves any respect. Overall it is a little easier to catch than a rainbow. Same principles apply to the dollies that apply to the rainbows as well so I won’t repeat myself. I think dollies are a very beautiful fish and are just as fun to catch as any other fish is. You will normally catch more dollies than rainbows in some systems because they are less leader shy and are slightly more aggressive than rainbows.
Arctic Grayling:
This is a crazy little fish. They eat any and every thing that resembles food and are a blast on light tackle. I fish them on anything from a 000wt to a 5wt. A 4wt is about perfect. A nice 8.5 to 9ft rod with a light duty reel and a floating line and you are all set. They can be found in almost every small clear water creek in the upper half of Alaska.
Almost any dry, wet, nymph or small streamer will work for grayling, like I said they are not picky eaters. Due to the small window of being ice free, grayling eat consistently to help them through the winter. I have actually caught them on size 8 muddler minnows while throwing flies for lake trout. They even take epoxy-style smolt patterns.
Lake Trout:
Although lakers are not a primary target for a lot of fly fishers, they can be taken with a fly rod. Spring time is the time to go after lakers with a fly. Use at least a 7wt rod, something you can toss a big fly with and a sinking line. Lake Trout move in to the shallow bays of lakes in early spring to search for food and to bask in the warmer water, generally right after ice out. Grab your pontoon boat or float tube and give it a whirl. Look for rock out-croppings in the fall as they get ready to spawn. Just toss out your presentation and strip it in. Any reel that matches the weight of your rod will be fine. You will have a fight on your hands.
Flies for lakers consist mainly of large streamers and leech imitations. During the smolt migration in the spring, try using a smolt pattern. It is highly effective at the outlet of lakes. Large nymph patterns work as well.
Northern Pike:
Considered by some to be a trash fish, northerns are great for top water action. For the purpose of tossing mouse and baby duck size patterns, I recommend at least a 7 or 8wt rod. 8wt would be slightly better in windy conditions. Use a floating line and a 9 to 10ft leader of 12 or so pound test. Be sure to use a tippet of wire so you don’t get a lot of break offs; pike have some crazy nasty teeth. There are several companies that offer that, Toothy Critter or a thin stainless wire that can be tied.
Any large mouse or floating type fly will work for pike. Bass style poppers work great as well. Very large diving type flies will get them as well when there not as active on the surface. They are generally not picky eaters. Spring time is the best opportunity to try for pike on the fly. They move into the shallows to spawn and warm up in the sun. Look for them to be hanging around trees, grass pockets or near any type of under water structure that provides a hiding spot for them to ambush some prey.
