I can still vividly remember my first Alaska fishing trip. I was hired on by a construction crew that won a bid to build a backcountry fly fishing lodge in a remote area of the Alaska wilderness. For the entire summer, I worked long, hard days, and fished even harder at night. The wonderful thing about Alaska in the summer is that it never really gets dark at night. As long as I had enough energy to fish, there was ample opportunity to do it. Alaska truly is a fly fishing paradise, and Alaska salmon fishing awaits you up north.
The deal with the crew boss was we could fish all we wanted, as long as it was during our off time. Nights and weekends were ours. My buddy and I spent every spare moment on the nearby river, casting our hand-tied flies to the rising trout. Throughout the early summer, there were epic salmon runs. We made home-made bucktails and streamers to cast to them, and certain patterns would land us many salmon a day, while others wouldn’t even incite a reactionary strike.
That summer was a blur of work and fishing, and it went by so fast. I was able to fly fish for different Alaskan trout and salmon species, and the fish were all huge compared to what I am used to catching close to my home in Utah. The fact is, everything in Alaska is bigger, especially the fish. Since my first experience fly fishing in Alaska, I have had the opportunity to return a few times. The difference with the return trips was that I went up there just to fish.
For any avid angler, Alaska is commonly known as ‘the promised land’ for fishing. It is a paradise of beauty and different fishing opportunities. The most popular fishing adventures to Alaska revolve around the salmon. There are 5 different species of salmon that spawn in Alaska’s rivers and streams. They spend most of their time off the coast fattening up on plentiful oceanic life, and then make their epic journey inland to spawn before passing away. Salmon fishing is Alaska fishing at its finest. Below, we will discuss tips to plan an unforgettable Alaska salmon fishing trip.
Planning Your Alaska Salmon Fishing Trip
If you are planning an Alaska salmon fishing vacation, there are a few things to keep in mind. You will first need to choose a time to go. The Alaska salmon fishing season is broken into different salmon runs, the first in early June, and the second in July, peaking in the last week of July and the first week of August. These times will be the most crowded as well, so plan on going a little more remote if at all possible. You will then need to choose a destination. There are tons of Alaska salmon fishing opportunities, especially if you stay close to the coast during the run. It is easy enough to charter a guide service to take you up a river into the heart of the fly fishing action. Your options will be more limited and more expensive the farther into the backcountry you want to stay.
Many Different Choices To Make
There are a lot of different considerations to keep in mind when choosing your destination, like local accommodations, amenities, shops, restaurants, and guide services. The options for Alaska salmon fishing lodges vary from area to area, depending on the proximity to developed areas. More developed areas will have more options with lodging, and more remote areas will have less (detached cabins or cabin-style tents). When planning an Alaska salmon fishing trip, keep these considerations in mind.
Consider Backcountry Fishing
Remember that you will have to compromise when planning a trip. The top Alaska salmon fishing trip locations will usually cost quite a bit more than more accessible options. These backcountry lodges offer the ability for a fly in Alaska salmon fishing trip, as well as the seclusion that the remote location offers. This is wonderful if the crowds are a turnoff to you while fishing.
These Alaska salmon fishing tips will help you plan your next vacation. One last tip to remember is to plan well in advance, especially if you want to go during the peak salmon run, as the guide services and lodging will fill up. Happy fishing!
