Salmon Fishing

Salmon runs of Alaska, Canada, Europe, and even the Lower 48 are of such legendary proportions that it’s even been said they become so thick in the rivers that people can walk across their backs. These spectacular fish fight hard, grow to large sizes and supply everything an angler wants in a fish. Understanding when salmon are “running” is critical to determining the best time for getting out to the water. If you time it right, it will be the best fishing you’ve ever had! We can help!

Atlantic Salmon

Atlantic Salmon are found in cold water fisheries of the United State, Canada, Iceland, England, Scotland, and Norway. They have been proven addictive for anglers across the world.

Pacific Salmon

The Pacific salmon fishing in Alaska and Canada is legendary. King salmon, sockeye, coho, pink and chum salmon runs are truly awe inspiring in the best areas.

We have partnered with some great salmon fishing guides and outfitters.

We work with wide variety of salmon fishing guides and outfitters in all of the major areas. So if you’re looking for a great fishing trip, get in touch. We think you’ll love working with us.

We caught the end of the King run, and hit the peak of the chums, which are a blast to catch as well as had some big Rainbows thrown in. Over all, the lodge has my unreserved recommendation.

Mark Slobodian
Angler
This Alaskan fishing adventure is the reason we create our bucket lists in the first place. After taking this trip I can say I highly recommend it as one of my all time favorite weeks in my lifetime.

Christoper Claunch
Fisherman, Sporting Goods Owner
We caught limits of salmon each day of the trip. I have worked with countless guides in the past. None of them handled themselves in such a efficient, professional manner. It was great trip.

Brady Eudy
Fisherman
The guys at Outdoors International set my brother and I up with a fishing trip in Alaska that blew our minds! It was exactly what we were looking for, and we slayed the salmon. We are customers for life.

ADRIAN B.
Fisherman

King Salmon

Understanding this life cycle and when the salmon are “running” is critical to determining the best time for getting out to the water.

The Chinook or King Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) has been a long sought after sport fish for many anglers and for good reason. Kings are a challenge to catch, they fight hard and they can grow to enormous size.

The current world record is 97 pounds 4 ounces caught in Alaska in 1985 by Les Anderson! The largest recorded commercial catch was a 126 lb. King in 1949 in Alaska. Although in recent years there has not been a serious record contender 60-70 pound Kings are caught each year. A more realistic goal is an average 30-50 pound fish that still feel like you’re trying to stop a freight train and prove to be a real challenge. It won’t matter if you’re fishing conventional or fly. June – July is the best time of year to go to Alaska if you want to target Kings, as this is the height of the spawning migration for most Alaskan rivers and streams.

Here is some interesting information on the King salmon lifecycle.

Fertilized egg stage – Every Alaskan King salmon starts out as an egg in a gravel bed in a freshwater river or creek. These eggs will “incubate” for a certain amount of time typically 90 -120 days depending on the temperature of the water. During this process, the salmon inside the egg develops its eyes, spine and tail. Once this process is complete, the egg will hatch and the salmon begins its life. A female salmon will lay anywhere from 3,000 – 17,000 eggs depending on her size. Only 20 of 100 eggs survive to become fry.
Alevin stage – Once the egg hatches, the salmon enters the alevin stage. These fish are still quite small and remain in the gravel beds safe from predators. Salmon in the alevin stage have a noticeable orange yolk sac attached to their bodies that provide nutrients. As the nutrients in the yolk sac are depleted toward the end of this stage, the salmon develop their mouths and small oval-shapes on their sides. After this process, the fish start to move away from the gravel beds to look for food.
Fry stage – This stage begins once the salmon leaves the gravel beds where they were born. They are only 1” long when they emerge from the gravel and dark in color with noticeable “parr” marks that help to hide the fish from predators such as trout and birds. They typically stay in slow waters and protected areas or well-vegetated stream banks feeding on plankton and insect larvae. These fry will stay in the river for up to a year. Only 10 of 100 fry find adequate habitat.
Smolt stage – Once the “parr” marks start wearing away and the salmon starts moving toward saltwater, it enters the smolt stage. Fish in this stage are growing quite rapidly and are 3-5”. They typically stay in the brackish waters at the mouth of a river to adapt to the salt water before moving off to sea. Once the salmon reaches a certain size, they are ready to migrate into the open ocean and begin their adult life.
Adult stage – Salmon are considered “adults” when they complete the migration from freshwater to saltwater. Kings reach sexual maturity in 3-7 years. They will feed in the open-ocean on herring, pilchards, sand lance, squid and crustaceans. At this stage, King salmon grow incredibly fast and can double their weight in a single summer. Kings can stay in the ocean for up to 6 years before returning to the same river they were born to spawn, most return within 4 years.
Spawner stage – This is when the salmon will begin migrating back to freshwater where they enter the spawner stage. Salmon in this stage undergo tremendous physical changes, including their color. King salmon change from a silvery grey color to maroon or red. The jaws of male salmon will also change to a hook shape, which is known as a “kype.” This is to help protect the spawning territory. Salmon stop feeding once they enter freshwater, but they will attack your fly or lure out of natural aggression. They are able to travel many miles to spawning grounds by using the stored energy from their ocean residence. Interestingly, all pacific salmon will migrate back to almost the same exact spot where they were born. A salmon can detect one drop of water from its home stream mixed up in 250 gallons of seawater. Salmon will follow this faint scent trail, with the aid of other methods back to their home stream to spawn. Once a female salmon selects a spawning site, she rapidly pumps her tail to wash out a depression in the stream gravel. After the eggs are laid, the female uses the same tail movements to completely cover the eggs with gravel while the male or males fertilize the eggs with “milt”. These gravel nests in which the salmon deposit their eggs are known as redds. Over several days, females may lay several more redds in a line upstream.
Post-spawn – If a salmon makes it to the spawning grounds without getting caught or eaten by a predator, they will complete the breeding process as described. If three fish return for every parent fish to complete this process it would be considered a good production. Once this process is over, the adult salmon die off and therefore completes the life cycle.

If you time it right, it will be the best fishing you’ve ever had!

Understanding this life cycle and when the salmon are “running” is critical to determining the best time for getting out to the water. Factors such as water levels, air temperature, and tides play a crucial factor to determine the peak of the run for any given year. The salmon life cycle is an incredibly important part of the ecosystem. After the salmon spawn and die they give back nutrients to the river, fertilize the riverbanks, and offer food for bears and other animals.

The spawning run or migration occurs during the summer months in May-July and provides the best fishing opportunities. In most Alaskan rivers, the King salmon arrive first; they will stay in the river in “staging areas” before spawning in Late July-August. Once they begin spawning it is best to leave them alone for many reasons. The first being they are actively trying to reproduce for the future, they don’t fight much at this time as all energy is expelled on spawning activities, they do not taste good at this time as their nutrients are depleted from spawning. Most rivers will have special restrictions during these crucial spawning times.

It’s simply amazing how strong a King salmon must be throughout their lifecycle. They must endure many obstacles to survive from starting out as eggs and eventually returning to spawn as adults. They have a myriad of predators and only the strong or sometimes lucky will survive to recreate.

Alaska Ocean Fishing Gear List

Suggested Gear List for Halibut, Salmon, Lingcod and Rockfish in Alaska.

Be sure to talk to your guide about any specific gear that you should bring, but this list should cover you.

Personal Items

Passport (if needed), and copy of Passport
Airline tickets, Credit cards, Wallet, Cash, Cell Phone/Charger
Ball-point pen and Sharpie
Reading material
Headphones
Travel Insurance Documentation
Travel toothbrush, toothpaste
Bar of soap in a zip lock bag, shampoo
Travel Kleenex tissues, packet of wet wipes
Shaving and grooming articles
Eye drops. Contact lens wearers should bring extra glasses (in case of irritation)
3M Nexcare waterproof bandages
Nuskin
Moleskin with travel scissors (essential)
Neosporin ointment
Anti-diarrhea medicine (e.g. Imodium AD)
Lomotil
Cipro
Tylenol or Advil and throat lozenges
Motion sickness pills
Antacid (e.g. Pepto-Bismol tablets)
Gold Bond medicated powder
Sunscreen, at least 30 SPF, (bring extra)
After-sun aloe-vera lotion
Packets to mix with bottled water (e.g. Mio, Crystal Light)
Insect repellent spray, Benadryl 2% cream (bugs are seldom a problem)
Prescription medicine (2 week – ample supply)
(Bring any medication that you’re already taking and any that you think you might need on the trip.)
For Airport Security, carry copies of the Doctor Rx or the actual Prescription bottles.

General Items

Polarized sunglasses, (at least 2)
Optical cloth cleaner or solution
Small flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries
Travel alarm clock
Extra luggage ID tags
Gallon zip-lock bags for waterproofing and ice
Small roll of Gorilla tape and zap a gap
Snacks
Ear Plugs

Clothing

Personal clothes for climate, long underwear / wool or polar fleece socks / dinner clothes (casual nice)
Warm sweater or Hooded coat for under rain gear.
Layers of clothing for fishing. Including windbreaker.
Hat
Gloves
Hiking shoes + second pair of shoes.
Sandals and shoes to wear around the lodge.
Sunscreen
Lip balm
Bug spray for mosquitoes and some no-seeums

General Fishing Gear

…
Hook file
Fishing pliers and/or hemostats
Line clippers, pocket knife
Small boat towel, sunglass wipe-cleaners
Small first aid kit
Waterproof bag for camera equipment etc.
Panatone marking pens: orange, pink, yellow

Alaska Fly Fishing Gear List

Knowing what to bring with you on a fishing trip can be stressful, so we’ve put together this suggested packing list for fly fishing in Alaska.

*Be sure to talk to your guide about any specific gear that you should bring, but this list should cover you.

Clothing, Accessories and Personal Items

This is not about needing everything under the sun:

Good forceps with scissors, a good nipper on a zinger, leader material from 4X up through 0X, indicators, and non-toxic split shot (it is doubtful you’ll be fishing alone and without a guide who will have all of the terminal tackle rigged and ready, but it doesn’t hurt to have some backup).
If you want to carry a lightweight net, then carry one. Chances are the guide will land the fish.
A wading staff is excellent if you’re going to be out of the boat.
Polarized sunglasses – As in every other style of fishing, sunglasses are critical. Take three pair; a backup for your backup. Wear croakies to keep them from falling off and floating down river. Make sure your main pair are superior polarized lenses to cut the glare and allow you to see the bottom as well as the fish. Your backups can be lesser and there are some great less expensive fishing glasses out there.
High-quality breathable raincoat in good condition
High-quality breathable waders in good condition, with repair kit
Stout, felt soled wading boots with good ankle support.
Studded boots are optional but not needed.
Headgear, i.e. hat with a brim, and a beanie for cooler weather.
Long sleeved shirt
Lightweight and fleece long underwear
Fleece sweater or jacket
Packs – Fly-fishing packs are the best way to carry what you need for a day in the Alaskan wilderness. Waterproof packs are even better. Essentially you want a larger pack to carry extra layers and then a fishing pack such as a sling pack or a hip pack to carry flies, leaders, and other accessories. This can actually be transported to the river inside the larger pack and you are not going to need every accessory and every box of flies you own. Your guide will tell you what you need and generally you will be fishing the same species during the course of the day. Take what you need in the smaller pack, and pack what you think you need in the larger pack, which can stay on the shore, in the boat, or on the plane.
Casual clothing for wearing around the lodge.
Swimsuit for the hot tub (if there is one at the lodge), or the river if you like!
Insect repellent
Sunscreen
Waterproof boat bag
Water bottle
Camera (bring extra film or cards, batteries, chargers)
Video cameras (bring extra discs, tapes, batteries, chargers, there are plugs in the rooms for chargers)
Binoculars for eco-trips and sightseeing
Basic toiletries
Passport

You’ll want to dress in layers while you’re out on the water.

We recommend starting off with a polypropylene or Merino wool base layer next to your skin to wick moisture away from your body.
Your second layer or alternative layer could be a medium to heavy-weight fleece, Merino wool or polypropylene shirt, sweater or pullover.
Your third layer, if even needed, can be a fleece or wool jacket.
Your final layer is the jacket that you choose to protect you from both wind, and rain.
Anglers should also bring a few pair of heavy wool socks. We recommend that you try on your socks with your waders in your wading boots before coming to the lodge to insure that you have plenty of room to move your toes. Being unable to move your toes and the cramping of your feet in your boots are the biggest reasons for numb toes and cold feet.

Fishing Rods, Reels and Flies

At the height of the season, most of the action will be for silver salmon mixed with good numbers of 2 ½ to 5-lb. rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, with the odd grayling thrown in for variety.

For salmon, 8-weight rods are easier on the fish and the angler. For trout and grayling, 4- to 6-weight rods are good, but essentially these fish are feeding on eggs and flesh and the flies are heavy, often fished with sinkers to get the egg patterns down, so a sturdier trout rod such as a 6-weight is perfect for the job. You can in certain times of the year fish dry flies particularly for grayling, so having a lighter rod along for that can be fun.

Large arbor reels are a big help here for their retrieval rate which helps land salmon, rainbows, and Dolly Varden faster and is better for the fish. A light trout reel for the dry fly rod works well as grayling are not going to run far. You should have a reel with a spool for each of the larger rods with a floating line and a sink-tip line. The dry fly reel is obviously rigged with a floating trout line.

The Best Alaska Flies

Inevitably your guide is going to rig up what is working, but going on a fishing trip without your own flies is heresy.

It’s like showing up to the prom with no corsage. Flashy streamer patterns such as the egg sucking leech, a purple and pink marabou concoction locally called a popsicle, fuchsia bunny flies, woolly buggers, flesh flies, salmon egg patterns, and just plain glo bug yarn are all effective. Other patterns commonly used are muddlers in various shades of black and brown, woolly worms, Mickey Finns, but probably 90%-plus of the silver salmon are caught on egg sucking leeches and popsicles.

Fly Fishing Gear for King Salmon

If you prefer swinging streamers with a Spey rod, the King Salmon may become your new favorite species.

Single hand rods – 9′ 10-12 wt.
Reels – Large, high capacity fly reels capable of holding at least 200 yards of 30 pound backing with very sturdy drags.
Lines – changeable tip sinking lines with tip sink rates from 150gr-500gr. Weight forward floating lines for anglers interested in indicator fishing.
Two Hand Rods/Spey – 12’6″-14′ 8-9 wt.
Reels – Large, high capacity fly reels capable of holding at least 200yd of 30lb backing with very sturdy drags. Reels should be larger than what is recommended for the rod’s line weight to accommodate large diameter spey heads.
Lines – Skagit style spey heads matched to your rod. Running lines should be at least 30lb. and 100′-150′ in length. Rio Slick Shooter or S/A Sharkskin are recommended for running lines.
Leaders – 4-8 ft. of 15-25lb.

Fly Basics for King Salmon

Unweighted anadromous flies with a large profile. Weight is not needed when fishing with sinking lines and affects casting. Tube flies are preferred but not necessary. Flies tied from Marabou or spun Craft Fur are most common. Flies tied with rabbit are very effective but are more difficult to cast with a double hand rod. Colors that work best are Chartreuse, Flo. Red, Flo. Orange, Hot Pink, Cerise, Black, Kingfisher Blue and Purple – in solid colors or in combination. Hooks should be a minimum of sz. 1/0. For both tube flies and articulated patterns we recommend the following hooks: Gamakatsu Octopus, Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap or Owner SSW.

OUTDOORS INTERNATIONAL anglers with a huge Bristol Bay chum salmon.

Chum Salmon

We recommend having a spare rod along as more rods are broken on chums than any other salmon species in Alaska due to their large size.

Rods – 9′ 8-9wt.
Reels – Large arbor reel with a good drag that balances the rod and holds at least 100 yards of 20lb. backing.
Lines – Weight Forward Floating. Rio Cold Water Clouser or S/A Tapered GPX are recommended.
Leaders – 8-9ft. Tapered leaders with a heavy butt section ending in 20lb. tippet.

Fly Basics for Chum Salmon

Hot Pink, Cerise, Flo Orange, Flo Red or Chartreuse flies tied with Rabbit Strips, Craft Fur or Marabou – in solid colors or in combination. Flies should have heavy dumbbell eyes and be tied on a sz.1/0-sz.2 heavy salmon hook.

Silver Salmon

Swinging switch rods and spey rods is an effective technique for Coho’s.

Rods – 9′ 8-9wt.
Reels – Large arbor reel with a good drag that balances the rod and holds at least 100 yards of 20lb. backing.
Lines – Weight Forward Floating. Rio Cold Water Clouser or S/A Tapered GPX are recommended.
Leaders – 8-9ft. Tapered leaders with a heavy butt section ending in 20lb. tippet.

Fly Basics for Silver Salmon

Hot Pink, Cerise, Flo Orange, Flo Red, Chartreuse, Purple or Black, solid or in combination flies tied with Rabbit Strips, Craft Fur or Marabou in solid colors or in combination. Flies tied with heavy dumbbell eyes and tied on a sz.1/0-sz.2 heavy salmon hook work great. Hot pink poppers are great for taking Silvers on the surface. Foam bodies with Marabou and Rabbit tails, tied on heavy salmon hooks are most common.

Sockeye Salmon

Effectively fishing for sockeye means putting the fly right on their nose.

Rods – 9′ 8-9wt.
Reels – Large arbor reel with a good drag that balances the rod and holds at least 100 yards of 20lb. backing.
Lines – Weight Forward Floating. Rio Cold Water Clouser or S/A Tapered GPX are recommended.
Leaders – 8-9ft. Tapered leaders with a heavy butt section ending in 20lb. tippet.

Fly Basics for Sockeye Salmon

You’ll need unweighted, sparsely tied creations tied on sz.1 heavy, short shank hooks. Depending upon the method of presentation, fly line choices include sinking tip fly lines or a weight forward floating line with a long leader and plenty of split shot.

Pink Salmon

Scrappy fighters, the pink salmon can be successfully pursued with rods in the 6 to 8 weight class.

Rods – 9′ 6-8wt.
Reels – Large arbor reel with a good drag that balances the rod and holds at least 100 yards of 20lb. backing.
Lines – Weight Forward Floating. Rio Cold Water Clouser or S/A Tapered GPX are recommended.
Leaders – 8-9ft. Tapered leaders with a heavy butt section ending in 15-20lb. tippet.

Fly Basics for Pink Salmon

Hot Pink, Cerise, Flo Orange, Flo Red or Chartreuse flies tied with Rabbit Strips, Craft Fur or Marabou – in solid colors or in combination. Flies tied with heavy dumbbell eyes and be tied on a sz.1-sz.4 heavy salmon hook work great. Hot pink poppers are great for pinks on the surface. Foam bodies with Marabou or Rabbit tails, tied on heavy salmon hooks are most common.

Rainbow Trout and Dolly Varden

Dolly Varden are voracious eaters, but they can be picky about flies.

Rods – Depending on the size of the fish you expect to encounter, fly rods can vary from ultralight to heavy. For still waters, 3, 4, and 5 weight rods are good choices, and for river and stream fishing, 5, 6, and 7 weight are the tool of choice.
Reels – Large arbor reel with a good drag that balances the rod and holds at least 60 yards of 20lb. backing.
Lines – Weight Forward Floating. Rio Coldwater Clouser or S/A Tapered GPX are recommended.
Leaders – 8-9ft. Tapered leaders with a heavy butt section ending in 10-15lb. tippet. 1525lb. for Mouse fishing.

Fly Basics for Alaska Trout and Dolly Varden Fishing

Sculpin patterns, smolt patterns, flesh flies, beads, glo-bugs, bead head, rubber legged nymph patterns. Dry flies like royal wulffs, caddis, stimulators, green drakes, and adams work well in larger sizes like size 10 through 14.

For those wanting to try some specialized angling, fishing with deer hair mouse patterns (tied with stinger style hooks only – no fixed hooks) and a floating fly line in the low light of evening can be a very exciting way to take rainbows on topwater.

Grayling

Alaska grayling are finicky eaters, but they provide great sport for the angler equipped with a 3, 4, or 5 weight rod and reel.

Rods – 9′ 5-6 wt.
Reels – Large arbor reel with a good drag that balances the rod and holds at least 60 yards of 20lb. backing.
Lines – By far the most common fly line choice for grayling is a weight forward floating line. Rio Grand or S/A Tapered GPX are recommended.
Leaders – 8-9ft. Tapered leaders with a heavy butt section ending in 8-12lb. tippet.

Fly Basics for Grayling Fishing

Grayling can be caught readily on dry flies. The Adams is probably the best pattern. Black gnats, mosquito, royal coachman, and other common patterns like, bead head nymphs, elk hair caddis, bushy attractor patterns, mini mice also work well.