As it is with so many other species of fish, Alaska is one of the best destinations in the world for catching trout. You can fish on world-class waterways for ravenous rainbow trout or opt for a fly-in trip where you can navigate miles of lonely streams and rivers and see more bears than people for days. This amount of space and free water also make Alaska trout fishing particularly conducive to fly fishermen of all types and sizes.
Trout fishing season in Alaska runs from mid-June through the end of September. However, the exact days change every year, so make sure to check with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for the right dates. While it is legal to fish within these days, this is no guarantee that the fish will be biting. While you’re over at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game also make sure to check out their run charts so you know the peak times for fishing to make the most out of your trip.
Of all the innumberable rivers in Alaska, one stands out above all the rest, the Alagnak River. The Alagnak runs for seventy nine miles from Kukakek Lake into Bristol Bay. In addition to massive rainbow trout, the river also draws massive amounts of salmon during spawning season, which draws lots of bears to the banks of the river. Moose are also seen along the Alagnak throughout the year, along with caribou in the winter. You can canoe along most of the river throughout the year, but there are several larger rapids that can be dangerous in high water.
The best area of the river for fishing is upstream where the river splits into several different braided channels over a gravel streambed. The river changes its course yearly up in this section of the river and the meandering braids are a great spawning area for several different species of fish. They are also home to voracious rainbow trout, waiting to feed on the newly laid salmon eggs. Up in this area of the river there are numerous opportunities for wading and fly fishing of all sorts.
If you are serious about getting the absolute best Alaska trout fishing trip you can, you should definitely consider hiring a guide. A guide will provide you with equipment, so that you don’t have to lug it in the plane, and also provide you with invaluable expertise. He will know the best places to fish, know the rivers, and know what the fish will jump at on what types of days. The extra money you pay for a guide may well be worth it in the extra excitement and fish that you get.
Whatever your age or fishing style, fishing for Alaskan trout is an opportunity that no serious angler can pass up.
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