Alaska Fishing
The state of Alaska has 21
recognized species of sport fish in its
streams, lakes and oceans. Alaska offers some
of the most spectacular fly-fishing, saltwater
fishing, freshwater fishing, and even ice
fishing in the world. It can be as easy as
pulling off the side of the road at the Kenai
River and casting a line. Or you can charter a
boat or float plane to whisk you off to a
secluded fishing hole where you can reel in one
of the more than 27 species that inhabit the
Alaskan waters. With over 3 million lakes,
3,000 rivers and countless fish-filled streams,
you can see the challenge isn't catching fish,
but deciding what kind to catch and where!
Fish and Game Dept.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has a
great website for areas to fish, regulations,
and loads of maps.
Alaska Dept. Fish & Game
Website
Where to Start:
From Anchorage - The famous Kenai River is just
a couple hours south of town. Halibut and other
saltwater fishing is within a three hours drive
of Anchorage. Prince William Sound (Whittier)
is just over an hour away; Resurrection Bay
(Seward) is 2.5 hours; and Kachemak Bay (Homer)
is 5 hours south. (There are quick commuter
flights to both Seward and Homer.)
Fishing Denali:
The lakes along the Denali Highway are Arctic
Grayling territory. These cousins of the trout
typically mature to 13 ounces, though the
Alaska state record tips the scales at 4 pounds
higher. They are easily fished from May to
September and have a reputation for hitting
just about anything, bait, lures or flies. The
BLM recommends ten spots along the highway for
grayling: Ten Mile Lake (mile 10), Tangle Lakes
(mile 23), Landmark Gap Lake (mile 25), Rock
Creek (mile 25), Fiftymile Lake (mile 50),
Glacier Lake (mile 31), Sevenmile Lake (mile
40), Crooked Creek (mile 47), and Brushkana
Creek ( mile 105).
Ten Mile, Tangle, Landmark Gap, Glacier and
Sevenmile Lakes, along with Big and Little
Swede Lakes at mile 25, also have lake trout.
Burbot, a freshwater cod with a whisker-like
barbel at the tip of the chin, are found in Ten
Mile, Tangle and Big Swede. Mature Burbot in
Alaska range from 18 to 45 inches and from 1 to
18 pounds. The Alaskan record is a monster 24
pounder.
Fishing Katmai National Park:
Sport fishing in Katmai is world-class - jumbo
rainbow trout pulled from the local waters put
the park on the map in the 1950s. On the
Algagnek and Naknek Rivers, you can reel in
rainbow trout, char, grayling, pike, and five
species of Pacific salmon. The northern pike,
which goes by a slew of monikers - including
water wolf, devilfish, jackfish, and snake - is
renowned for its barracuda-like savagery when
feeding; its powerful jaws are lined with 700
razor-sharp teeth. Definitely pack a
fisherman's hemostat to remove your hook!
Southeast Alaska:
The diversity of fish and shellfish in this
productive oceanic near-shore environment is
great. The main fish pursued by Southeast
Alaska fishermen are the five species of
Pacific salmon and the Pacific halibut.
Rainbow, cutthroat, brook and steelhead trout
are also available in some freshwater stream
systems. Grayling, kokanee and Dolly Varden are
also locally available. Various bottom fish are
caught by sport and commercial fishermen. Crab
are also available.
Southcentral Alaska:
Southcentral Alaska offers the widest variety
of saltwater fishing and inland fishing in the
state. The Bristol Bay area is famous for
exceptional rainbow trout. Lake trout grow
large in some lakes in the region. Arctic char
and Dolly Varden are found in many of the
waters of the region. Salmon runs are
spectacular in some areas, and include king or
Chinook salmon, sockeye or red salmon, chum
salmon, coho or silver salmon, and pink salmon.
Halibut are seasonally abundant in Gulf of
Alaska, Cook Inlet and Prince William Sound
waters, as are various species of bottom fish.
Grayling and burbot are found in some streams,
and lake trout and pike are commonly found in
southcentral lakes.
Interior Alaska:
Anglers enjoy a great variety of fish and
outdoor opportunities in the interior of
Alaska. This enormous area of Alaska offers all
five species of Pacific salmon in its rivers as
well as some of the most sought after fish in
the Arctic in its many, many lakes and streams.
Northern pike are abundant in the rivers and
lakes and some of largest sheefish in the world
can be caught in this vast region. There are
plenty of opportunities to fish for trophy
Arctic char, lake trout, Dolly Varden, and
grayling. The Alaska Department of Fish and
Game operates an active stocking program for
rainbows and land-locked salmon in lakes
accessible by road. Interior rivers also
provide excellent habitat for burbot, sometimes
referred to as Alaska lobster.
Far North Alaska:
The Kuskokwim and Yukon rivers drain most of
Interior, Arctic and Western AK. Western and
Arctic AK is sparsely tree covered. Except for
alpine and sub-alpine areas, most of the
Interior is covered by trees. Distinct mountain
ranges, rolling hills and wide river valleys
and flats are the dominant landscape features.
Summers along the coast are cool, and warm in
the Interior. Salmon make long distance
migrations up the Kuskokwim and Yukon rivers.
Grayling are perhaps most widespread, but
trout, pike, burbot, char, and sheefish are
widely distributed.
Fishing in Bear Country:
You are responsible for your own safety in bear
country. In any outdoor activity —
fishing, wildlife viewing, hiking, hunting,
picnicking, berry picking, even going to work
— you may encounter bears. Be aware of
your surroundings and conditions, especially in
times of low light and areas of low visibility.
Look up and around every few minutes. Check the
immediate area for fresh bear signs. Consider
moving to a different spot if such signs are
encountered. Make plenty of noise. Go out with
a friend or a group of friends. Let someone
know your trip plans.
Don’t make it easy for bears to find food
— garbage, birdseed, picnics, fish, or
game, for example. When you catch a fish you
intend to harvest, immediately kill your fish,
then bleed it into the water. Bleeding into the
water quickly clears the blood from the fish,
thus improving quality. It also reduces the
chance that blood, which may attract the
attention of bears, will get onto clothing or
the stream bank.
If you see a
bear:
When you are fishing and you see a bear, and if
the bear approaches you, give the bear plenty
of room to move on. If the bear continues to
approach, stop fishing and move away. Give a
splashing fish slack, or cut the line. Take
your equipment and fish so bear does not
associate angling activity with
food.
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