Alaska : Salmon float trips

  • Location
  • Alaska, USA
  • Type of fishery
  • Freshwater salmon & trout, fly fishing and light tackle
  • Season
  • June - September
  • Accommodation
  • Mobile tented camping, river rafting
  • Related articles
  • 62 Degrees North, 60 Degrees North

High in the northern hemisphere in the far reaches of North America, lies a rugged, watery wilderness that pays host to a phenomenal run of fish every spring and summer. Each year, as the snow begins to melt and the plants burst into bloom, huge numbers of Pacific salmon begin their annual migration from the ocean, over hundreds of miles and through a maze of rivers. They navigate unerringly to the stream in which they were born, until eventually they reach the spawning beds where one fascinating cycle of life ends and another begins. Sharing this dramatic environment with bears, beavers and numerous antelope we head into the wilds for a hardcore and unparalleled wilderness fishing adventure.

We travel out by floatplanes, landing on remote rivers where we offload our gear and rafts. The following days are spent floating back downstream, fishing from the boats and banks as we go. We set up a number of camps along the way where the fishing is at it's best, sleeping in tents and cooking over an open fire.

This is not a trip for the faint hearted - the rowing can be strenuous, the mosquitoes and bugs are a menace, the camping is uncomfortable at times and you are often wet and damp. But the fishing is superb and this is a once in a lifetime chance to venture into the truly 'great' outdoors, observe a pristine and completely unique part of the world and enjoy some of the last true and totally unspoiled salmon fishing on the planet.

The fishing

Prime target is salmon, of which there are 5 species - king (chinook), pink (humpback), silver (coho), red (sockeye) and chum (dog). These fish weigh anything from 5 - 50lbs and all can be taken on fly and light spinning gear. Following the salmon to the spawning beds are a variety of trout and other species such as rainbows, greyling, artic char, brook trout, bull trout and cutthroats. All can be taken on regular wet and dry trout flies, as well as egg and egg sucking leech patterns. These fish are exquisitely marked, and are as wild and beautiful as you will ever see.

The fishing for trout can be done on the drift, but most of the salmon fishing is done from the river banks when we stop at likely looking lies and stretches of river. This is truly wild fishing experience and one that will etch itself in your memory for a long time afterwards.

There is much more to do and see, and we invite you to contact us for further info.