Check out the latest magazine feature story by author, Scott Haugen, on the benefits and joys of fly-out fishing in Alaska. Many of the photos Scott took for this article were taken with us last August. Scott has been coming to fish with us at Rainbow Bend Lodges, on the Naknek River, for many years. Like Scott, many of our anglers at Rainbow Bend Lodges enjoy flying out to remote Alaskan destinations to experience a whole new level of fishing in Alaska, and we love taking you there!
Meet Alaska’s Silver Salmon
With king salmon runs struggling in many parts of Alaska, a growing number of anglers are seeking out silver salmon. At Rainbow Bend Lodges, on the banks of Alaska’s Naknek River, we have excellent silver salmon fishing right out our door. We also can hop in the boat and hit a number of nearby streams that hold solid numbers of silver salmon that can be caught by both fly anglers and gear fishermen.
Many anglers enjoy taking fly-out trips in bush planes to remote Alaskan streams where they can battle silver salmon, and this is something we arrange for guests once or twice a week during their stay with us. Because we have our own dock, float planes can pick you up at our lodge on the Naknek River, mere feet from your cabin.
So, what is it about silver salmon that make them so special? First, their run numbers are phenomenal in this part of Alaska, year after year. Second, you can catch a lot of silver salmon in a day. Some rivers we fish will find you battling multiple coho a day; some remote streams we fish can find experienced anglers hooking and releasing over 50 silver salmon a day. Anglers are allowed to keep 5 silver salmon a day in most rivers in our area, meaning you’ll have plenty of great eating meat to take home. Finally, coho can be fished many ways, and pound-for-pound, fight as hard as any of Alaska’s famed salmonids.
That said, many of our anglers like getting to know the fish species they pursue when fishing with us at Rainbow Bend Lodges. So, whether you’re fishing silver salmon on Alaska’s Naknek River with us, or going on a remote, small-stream fly-out fishing adventure, here are some things to know about this special salmon.
Among the five Pacific salmon species, the silver salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), or coho, ranks atop the list of fly anglers heading to Alaska. No other salmon attracts more people to the Last Frontier than the silver salmon. The action they provide on a fly rod, and the abundance of 10 to 12 pound fish that can be caught throughout most of the day, can be unlike anything a salmon angler ever dreamed possible.
Silvers will attack a multitude of bright, flashy flies, with Flash Flies, Leeches and Deer Hair Pollywogs being among the most common. Dark colored Woolly Buggers also perform well, as do pink and chartreuse colored streamers.
Because silver salmon can be tenacious fighters, a 9 or even 10 weight fly rod is a good choice. Strong, 12 pound leader (1X tippet) is the minimum many anglers will go with on these feisty fish. The fly line used depends on the waters being fished. Floating line is ideal for pulling silvers from shallow, slack water where migrating salmon stop to rest. A sinking line may be necessary in faster moving, deep water.
Silver salmon frequent a great deal of Alaska’s coastal rivers, from Point Hope all the way down through the Panhandle. The Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak Island are home to some of the state’s largest silvers, while the Ugashik, Egegik, Situk, Togiak, Alagnak, Kasilof and Kenai rivers–just to name a few–are also famous silver salmon fisheries. Countless silver salmon streams exist around the state, though the state record came from Southeast Alaska in 1976 and weighed in at 26 pounds.
The lifecycle of the coho is truly amazing. As adults enter rivers, their bright silver bodies with small black spots along the back and upper portion of the tail, help set them apart from chinook. The white gum lines of silver salmon, along with the absence of black spots on the lower lobe of the tail, help to further distinguish silvers from chinook. But as spawning approaches, both sexes of coho develop dark backs with deep reddish hues along their sides. The bucks develop the distinctive kype and large teeth indicative of salmon.
From mid-July all the way into November, coho salmon make their way into rivers, with water temperature at the spawning grounds dictating when the fish arrive at the precise spot in which they were born. Adults will typically reside in pools until their biological clock moves them on to the spawning beds. Here, the female (hen) digs a nest and deposits up to 4,500 eggs, which are then fertilized by the male (buck).
Over winter the eggs develop, ready to hatch early in the spring. Once the yolk sac has been depleted, fry emerge from the gravel around May and June. As the fry grow, they take up residence in protected, shallow stream fringes, ponds, pools and sloughs. As they grow, young silver salmon even display territoriality toward other salmonids. This innate act of aggression is what makes adult silvers so popular among fishing fraternities.
Young silver salmon spend one to three winters in streams, thriving in habitats void of main channel floods. In lake systems, silver salmon smolt may spend up to five years prior too migrating to sea. Most silver salmon remain in the ocean for one to three years before returning to rivers as healthy adults.
The lifecycle of the silver salmon is amazing…as is fishing them in the beautiful, remote wilderness of Alaska.
VIDEO: A DAY IN THE LIFE OF QUIZZ
There’s no doubt, folks love meeting Quizz when they come to Rainbow Bend Lodges on Alaska’s Naknek River. Quizz has been with us for many summers, and she loves the Alaska life. Quizz likes hanging out at the cabins, meeting people, watching the river from the comfort of the gear shed, and greeting boats as they come in. Quizz often rests during the morning fishing outing, then joins us for an afternoon on the river. Here’s a look at what a typical day is like at Rainbow Bend Lodges, from Quizz’s perspective.
Rainbow Bend Lodges Fly Out Fishing In Alaska
Fly out trips to remote fishing destinations in Alaska offer the ultimate experience many anglers dream of. Ever since we took over Rainbow Bend Lodges, fly out fishing trips have been a big part of what we have to offer anglers from around the world. Because we have our own personal dock, float planes can pick you up right outside the front door of your cabin. And due to our location so close to town, we can offer these fly out fishing adventures at reduced rates compared to other high end lodges in this part of Alaska.
If you really want to get lost in nature, a fly out fishing adventure to remote corners of Alaska will allow you to do just that. You’ll be out of cell range and in touch with nature, the way it used to be. You’ll not get that feeling by staying at a fancy lodge or hanging out on rivers near the road system.
Once you touch foot in remote Alaska, you often get an instantaneous jolt of reality as to just where you are. On a fly out trip last August with four of our clients at Rainbow Bend Lodges, we stepped out of the float plane, walked on the pontoon to reach the sandy shore, looked down and saw it was covered in fresh brown bear tracks. We knew we were in remote Alaska, and everyone loved it.
As if the stunning scenery–both in flight and on foot–isn’t enough, there’s the fish. If yearning to experience truly world-class fishing for more, bigger, and less pressured fish, then a fly out fishing trips to remote Alaska are for you.
If looking to pursue exotic species like Arctic char, Arctic grayling, and salmon that have never seen another angler, fly outs are the best way to find such action. Will fly outs always produce big, beautiful fish? No, but they will provide an experience you can’t get any other way.
The best part about fly out fishing trips in Alaska, could be the unforeseen opportunities they afford. Yes, we’d all like to catch big fish and spend an entire day without bumping into other anglers. Those are often givens when it comes to fly outs to remote rivers and streams in Alaska. But where fly outs really shine, are in the bonuses they offer. Nowhere can you encounter Alaska’s wildlife like on a fly out. Big brown bears, moose, caribou, and the rich bird life is what makes these remote fly out fishing adventures so special.
The feeling of solitude one gets from a fly out is the best therapy there is. From the wide open spaces on sunny days, to feelings of confinement emanating from spending an entire day tightly wrapped in rain gear, hood snugged to the face, allow your mind to run free. Your level of self-sufficiency on these journeys takes the experience of fishing to another level.
Some streams are technical, and the fish, finicky, causing you to think deeper in order to find success. Getting lost in those thoughts are memorable, especially when your goals are achieved.
At day’s end, the feelings you get when you hear the whining engine of an approaching bush plane are difficult to explain to someone who has never been on a remote fly out. The approaching plane marks the end of a glorious day which can be a let down because you don’t want it to end.
Admiring Alaska’s beauty as you fly away from the stream you just fished all day, you realize how truly special the time was. The only way to fully appreciate what an Alaska fly out fishing adventure is all about, is to go experience it for yourself, and that’s why we’re here. At Rainbow Bend Lodges, we can arrange fly outs to over 50 remote destinations in our area, and we offer special trips to Brooks Falls for what many consider the best brown bear viewing in Alaska.
At Rainbow Bend Lodges, we’re here to serve your needs and interests, and having done this for so many years, rest assured, fly outs are what make people want to come back, year after year. That’s because there’s always some place new to discover, some place new to fish, in this remote section of Alaska.
Planning Your Alaska Fishing Adventure
At Rainbow Bend Lodges, we get to talk to a lot of people from around the world, all wanting to get the most of their Alaskan fishing adventure. As such, we field a lot of questions about what it takes to plan a fishing trip to Alaska.
While we here at Rainbow Bend Lodge have the boats, lodging, fishing gear, and access to some of Alaska best fishing, you still must plan ahead in order to get exactly what you’re hoping for, from your trip. Just because you’re going to Alaska, don’t expect to catch fish with mindless effort on every cast. It’s important to plan all aspects of the trip well in advance. The key is knowing the questions you want answered, and addressing those, directly.
Of course, the common goal when heading to Alaska is to catch fish, no matter where you go. To achieve this, you must go where the fish are. This means you have to decide first and foremost, on what species it is you’re wanting to catch. Coming to fish the Naknek River for sockeye salmon happens at a different time than our silver salmon, for instance, and if you want to catch trophy class rainbow trout with us at Rainbow Bend Lodges, late spring and early fall are top times. Once you’ve decided on what species you want to target, it’s a must to determine their run timings. From there, you can start planning the rest of your trip.
Last year saw one of the most dismal seasons on record for king salmon in much of the state. If catching a king salmon is high on your priority list, then devote serious time to learning where the fish might be this season. On the other hand, the silver salmon and sockeye salmon fishing was red-hot in the Bristol Bay area last year, so if planning a trip to Alaska, mid to late summer in this area might be better suited for providing the opportunities you’re looking for.
Once you’ve decided on the fish species you want to catch, figure out your schedule so you can be fishing at the peak of the run. Nothing is more frustrating than being on a river, pursuing a fish that’s going to be impossible to catch because there are none running at the time.
Next, figure out what gear is needed to be successful. While we at Rainbow Bend Lodges offer a selection of gear, including waders and wading boots, many anglers like bringing their own gear. Know that traveling with 3- and 4-piece rods are easier than 2-piece rods, if you’re looking to do some fly outs to remote waters in bush planes.
When selecting gear for a specific species or fishery, be sure you know the rules and regulations of the water being fished. For instance, fishing with bait such as cured salmon eggs, is not allowed on the Naknek River, but is allowed in some surrounding rivers. Note that these rules can change from year to year. Seasons may even experience emergency closures, something that’s out of your control.
Prior to leaving for Alaska, monitor weather conditions in the area you’ll be fishing. Think ahead and make sure you bring the right gear, and be willing to accept the fact you might be sitting in a cabin to wait out a storm or heavy fog. Even in summer, Alaska’s weather can throw a curve ball.
In order to maximize your Alaska fishing adventure, plan ahead. If fishing remote destinations, there is no going back to grab forgotten gear. Know the regulations, run timings and diversify your approach. By knowing exactly what you’re getting in to, and being able to apply multiple techniques, hopefully that Alaska fishing experience will surpass even your wildest dreams.
Then again, that’s why we’re here at Rainbow Bend Lodges…to help make
your Alaskan fishing trip of a lifetime, one you won’t soon forget. There’s a reason we’re fortunate to have a high number of friends returning to fish with us every summer.
Jig Fishing For Salmon
At Rainbow Bend Lodges on Alaska’s Naknek River, we get to see a lot of anglers from around the world. Many of our guests are die-hard fly anglers, while others like tossing spinners. In some of the remote rivers we fly out to, bait can be used when targeting salmon. But one of the most effective approaches for fishing multiple salmon species just about anywhere in Alaska, is fishing a bobber and jig,
Jig fishing is one of the best methods for beginning anglers because hangups are few and a lot of water can be covered easily. Even veteran anglers love fishing a jig beneath a float, as it optimizes the amount of time the terminal gear is in the water, whereby allowing you to catch more fish.
This year on the Naknek River–and surrounding rivers and streams in the areas we fish–it’s a pink salmon year. Pink salmon, or humpies, love jigs, and if you’re not a fly angler, fishing jigs can be a fun way to go. Jigs also work very well on silver salmon and chum salmon, which we’ll also have a lot of this summer.
Fishing with a bobber and jig is easy and will work in a wide-range of settings, from small creeks to big rivers. Be it fast water, deep currents, slow currents, the edges of seams and anywhere there’s a slight flow, fishing jigs will work. For coho salmon use pink colored jigs. Orange/chartreuse, red, and green, along with a selection of black, purple and blue jigs for those overcast days, where a silhouette can be cast, will round out the arsenal. Yakima Bait’s Maxi Jigs are good choices because they have bead bodies which reflect light, adding to the attraction of the colored marabou.
A floating mainline, like Berkley’s FireLine in 20 pound test, is tough to beat. This diameter line floats well in heavy water and will withstand the punishment of any silver, chum or pink salmon.
The setup is simple. First, thread a bobber stop (nylon nail knot) on to the mainline followed by a 3mm bead then a float. The bobber stop serves as a depthregulator which can be slid up and down the mainline to achieve desired depth. The bead keeps the bobber stop from slipping through the float. A 1/8- or 1/4-ounce inline float is best, like ones made by Pline, Thill or Beau Mac. Tie the mainline to a size 7 barrel swivel and a two-foot leader to the other end of the swivel, then pick your jig of choice.
When jig fishing with a sliding bobber setup in big rivers, a 10’6” rod with a moderate action, supporting 10-20 pound test line and weights of 3/8-1 1/2 ounces, is a good choice. Paired with a good spinning reel, this is a very efficient setup.
Cast upstream, close the bail of the spinning reel and take up the slack as the float moves toward you. As it passes by, open the bail, letting the current pull the line out, free-spooling its way downstream. Mend the line as needed to keep the mainline on the upstream side of the float to ensure a natural float. With the jig staying off the bottom six to 12-inches, hangups are few, time spent actually fishing is high, and catch rates will rise.
So, if you’re looking for a fun, easy way to fish for salmon in Alaska, this is it, a bobber and jig. Good luck on the water.