Fishing Season: June 8 to October 1
June is excellent fishing for trophy rainbow trout on the Naknek River, especially in the rapids area just up from our riverfront cabins. The rainbow trout winter in the enormous Naknek Lake, which, on average, holds the state’s largest rainbow trout.
Salmon smolt are an important source of food for Alaska’s trout. Smolt and Fry patterns work well in June when fishing is frantic and the rainbows are hungry. During the first part of July, dry fly fishing is excellent, especially during the warm, sunny days when insects appear. Elk-hair caddis and stoneflies are some of our favorite fly patterns for trout fishing in this part of Alaska.
Around mid-August, rainbow trout move into the salmon spawning areas of the Naknek River. A prime location is the rapids, just upriver from Rainbow Bend Lodges. As salmon spawn, hungry rainbows hang tight behind them to feed on the eggs. Glo-Bugs and egg patterns work great during this time.
As the fishing season moves on into mid-September, the trophy rainbow trout action gets even better. Leeches, flesh flies, glo-bugs, olive wooly buggers, and sculpins are all favorite fly patterns for trophy trout in the fall. Deep drifting from boats can be exceptional for late fall rainbow trout, which are measured in pounds, not inches. Every fall we catch trophy rainbow trout over 30-inches, with some giant rainbows stretching the tape to over 35-inches. We practice a strict catch and release policy with these magnificent fish.
Arctic Char & Arctic Grayling
Arctic grayling are abundant on the Naknek River and the tributaries we frequently fly out to on bush planes. Catching an Arctic grayling in excess of the magic 20-inch mark is very attainable in some of the remote streams we fish. Arctic char range from 2-4 lbs, with fish caught every year in the 8- to 10-lb. class. Caddis and egg patterns are some of our favorite flyfishing options for grayling and char.