Salmon Fishing in Alaska
Salmon Fishing in Alaska is done in both freshwater and saltwater. When Alaska Salmon Fishing with a Salmon Fishing Guides, your could use everything from cut herring for salmon bait, to lures, spoons, spinners, and flies to catch a giant Wild Alaskan King Salmon. Below you can find all kinds of information on Fishing for Salmon in Alaska.
Freshwater Salmon Fishing and Fly Fishing for Salmon
Salmon Fishing in Alaska is best from Spring through Fall when there is usually at least one species of Salmon Spawning into local rivers and streams. Salmon can be targeted during this time and can sometimes be so thick in certain rivers that you would be able to catch them with your bare hands. Many people like Fly Fishing for Salmon, but others prefer to use spinning gear.
If you are near the coast you can watch tides to get a good idea of when the Salmon will start heading up the river. Often Salmon will school up and wait at the mouth of a river until a high tide, when they make their way up stream.
If you are farther inland the State of Alaska has set up a number of counting stations and issue regular reports on rivers. They use these numbers to decide how much commercial fishing should be permitted in a specific area. This management plan helps to protect the valuable salmon runs from overfishing. This also serves as a great service to sports fishermen by letting anglers know how many fish have recently passed by a specific point in the river in a given period of time.
Saltwater Salmon Fishing, Salmon Fishing Guide Techniques, and Tips.
In salt water many Salmon Fishing Guide services target Coho and King Salmon for their clients. Both can be fished by trolling herring, spoons, or other baits behind the boat at various depths.
Because Coho Salmon have a habit of schooling in shallow water, they can be targeted from the beach when Coho Salmon Fishing, if the conditions are right. Guides will typically park over schools of Coho when Silver Salmon Fishing and let their clients know what depth the fish are at. This technique can produce AMAZING results as Coho are voracious predators and will often seemingly attack anything that is presented to them in this type of situation.
Trolling for King Salmon often produces slower action, and you are limited to a smaller number of fish, but when you do get a King on the line you better be ready. King Salmon Fishing is exciting because they can grow to very large sizes, and typical catches can be had in the 15-35 pound range. King Salmon are great fighters and will often make long, reel smoking, runs.
Many Alaska residents say that the only thing better than a King Salmon on the line is a King Salmon on the Grill. Chinook Salmon have a fantastic texture and flavor and are one of the most desired food fish in Alaska. The King Salmon is so revered, that some Native groups hold it in religious reverence. Some Native groups even hold elaborate celebrations to commemorate the beginning of King Salmon Season.
One of the most productive ways to target King Salmon is to troll with multiple baits at various depths behind the boat. King Salmon are caught at many different depths, sometimes right near the surface and other times a considerable depth below. Placing baits at multiple depths increases your chances of success considerably.
Fishing for Salmon? Here are the 5 Salmon Types:
There are five different species of Pacific Salmon that you will have a chance to target on your Alaska Fishing Adventure. Sockeye Salmon, Pink Salmon, Silverbrite Salmon, Coho Salmon, and the mighty King Salmon all call Alaska's coastal waters, rivers, and streams home.
We have made a special page with general information dedicated to each of the five types of Salmon you may find.
Good Salmon Fishing can be had in both fresh water and salt water depending on the seasons.