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| Fishing Areas in Alaska |
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| Copper River |
| The Copper River is almost 300 miles in length and empties into Prince William Sound at the town of Cordova. Salmon that originate in these pristine waters are challenged by the river's length and strong, chill rapids. Consequently, Copper River salmon are strong, robust creatures with a healthy store of natural oils and body fat. These qualities make the salmon among the richest, tastiest fish in the world. One taste of this firm red fish, with its rich and nutty flavor, and you will understand why food lovers relish the three to four weeks that fresh Copper River salmon is available each year. Fatty Copper River salmon is loaded with Omega-3 oils. |
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| Kasilof River |
| The Kasilof River is a powerful glacial lake-fed rinver draining Tustumena Lake, the Keinai Peninsula's largest lake. These waters journey down to the Cook Inlet providing a rich home and passage to Alaska's King and Silver Salmon. One of the most productive king salmon bank fishing can be found at the confluence of Crooked Creek and the Kasilof River. |
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| Kenai River |
| The Kenai River winds over 85 miles across the Kenai Peninsula. From its start at the Snow Glacier it empties into Kenai Lake. The section from Kenai Lake to Skilak Lake, the "upper" river, winds past the little town of Cooper Landing, and into the pristine landscape of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. The river exits Skilak Lake and becomes the "lower" river. Winding through the towns of Soldotna and Kenai, the river exits into Cook Inlet and the Gulf of Alaska. Glacial silt is what gives the Kenai its unique emerald color, and this beautiful river, back-dropped with the spectacular Kenai Mountains, is a treat for the eye year round. The King Salmon that come into the Kenai River are the largest in the world. The record King weighed in at over 97 pounds! Many catch fish in the 30- to 40-pound range, and 50- to 60-pound Kings are not unusual. |
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| Katchemak Bay / Cook Inlet |
| The waters of Lower Cook Inlet and the Kachemack Bay produce one of the worlds most productive marine environments and are therefore one of Alaska's most popular spots for halibut fishing, with catches often weighing 100 - 200 lbs. Whether in direct contact with it - Halibut on the line - or viewing sea otters, puffins, eagles, porpoises, and whales, its a the highlight to any trip. |
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| Prince William Sound / Montague Island |
| The 15,000 square miles of Prince William Sound are full of glacially-carved fjords over 1,000 feet deep and mountains that thrust out of the sea to their highest point on Mt. Marcus Baker at 13,250 feet. Waters of the Sound are protected by a series of islands which provide a protective barrier to the ocean swells. They vary in sizes, with the largest being 50-mile-long Montague Island. Prince William Sound has one of the richer salmon fisheries in the world. Five salmon fish hatcheries add to already bounteous runs of sockeye, pink salmon, coho, chino, and chum salmon. Other fisheries include halibut, cod, snapper and shrimp. |
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| Kenai Fjords National Park |
| The Kenai Fjords National Park with Resurrection Bay, at the western entrance of Prince William Sound, is a fisherman's paradise. The area's currents and bottom structure create a confluence of nutrient-rich water and unparalleled habitat for all species of fish and wildlife that frequent this part of Alaska. These waters are teeming with trophy halibut, lingcod, rockfish, and in season, hundreds of thousands of Coho salmon. The Seward Silver Salmon Derby takes place every August. It draws anglers from around the world who try their luck at catching silvers and winning prizes totaling over $150,000. |
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| Bristol Bay Area - Lake Iliamna, Kvichak River, Copper River |
| The clear Kvichak River drains Lake Iliamna and flows 50 miles into the Bering Sea. A couple of miles downriver it changes character and braids out into a maze of streams. Although the Kvichak gets runs of all five salmon species, it's the sockeye salmon that makes this river so special. There is an average of 4 million (some years have seen in excess of 10 million) red salmon that enter the river each year. Many of these fish continue into and beyond Lake Iliamna, but countless salmon zero in on the prime spawning grounds found in the solid gravel bottom of the "Braids" of the Kvichak. The salmon are important because they influence the trout. The giant trout of Iliamna have adapted to the life and death cycle of the Salmon. In late summer the trout position themselves downstream of spawning salmon and eat the drifting egg. In the fall, the trout feed on the flesh of thousands of dead and decomposing salmon. |
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| Lake Clark National Park and Preserve |
| The wilderness that comprises Lake Clark National Park is a composite of ecosystems and covers four million acres. The spectacular scenery stretches from the shores of Cook Inlet, across the Chigmit Mountains, to the tundra covered hills of the western interior. The park includes some of the most pristine fishery habitats in the National Park System. The northern area of the park includes such major resources as Two Lakes, Twin Lakes, Telaquana, and Turquoise Lake. Lake Clark itself is fished for grayling, lake trout, Dolly Varden, northern pike, and red salmon. Other lakes that provide opportunities for recreational fishing include Kontrashibuna, Crescent, Portage, Lachbuna, Kijik, Fishtrap, and Tazimina Lakes, in addition to many smaller lakes. Two of the three wild and scenic rivers, the Mulchatna and the Chilikadrotna, provide exceptional floating experiences and the opportunity to fish for red and king salmon, grayling, Dolly Varden, and rainbow trout. The lower Chulitna River, with its non-glacial waters flowing through tundra and marshes, has northern pike. |
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| Interior - Lake Creek, Susitna River Drainage |
| The Lake Creek moves through the lateral moraine of Kahiltna Glacier as it flows off Mt. McKinley. Chelatna Lake has a filtering effect on Lake Creek, so it's almost always clear. Gravel beds combined with such a constant supply of clear water make it an excellent resource for salmon spawning. The second half the river flows swiftly through a gorgeous canyon covered with class II and III rapids. The Susitna River drainage, which runs north of Cook Inlet in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, is the spawning territory of hundreds of thousands of salmon of all species. The Little Susitna rushes from headwaters at Mint Glacier in the Talkeetna Mountains, then slows and bends across the lowlands. From the air, the stream looks like a snake, with twisting hairpin turns that nearly double back. Those bends create deep, slow water where fish like to rest and anglers can concentrate their efforts. The number of fishing holes is anything but limited. |
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| Katmai National Park - Kulik River, Naknek Lake, Brooks River |
| Near the end of the Alaska Peninsula and along the crest of the Pacific Rim of fire, Katmai is today mostly known as the largest spawning grounds of millions of sockeye salmon and the world's premier rainbow trout fishing area. The Brooks River and Naknek Lake offer excellent fishing opportunities for rainbow trout, arctic grayling, lake trout, and sockeye salmon. Naknek lake is so clear fishermen can clearly spot lost lures in twenty to thirty feet of water. The fishing is excellent as the lake supports several varieties of fish all swelling to proportions that will quicken the hearts of fishermen. The Bay of Islands located in the northern arm of Naknek lake is unparalleled for its natural beauty. Superb fishing is available on the Kulik River and on the Kulik and Novianuk Lakes. The Kulik River is the epitome of a rainbow and trout stream. Its gin clear water, gravel bottom and plentiful food supply provide an ideal habitat for the large population of native rainbow trout. |
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