Alagnak River

The Alagnak River is one of the top five salmon rivers in the world.  It originates from the mountains and streams of Katmai National Park. The famous Funnel Creek, Moraine Creek, Kulik lake and River all feed the mighty Alagnak River. These lakes and rivers eventually feed into two major lakes, the Nonvianuk and Kukaklek. It is from these two famous lakes, that the Nonvianuk and Kukaklek rivers flow. These two rivers eventually branch and form the Alagnak. The local name for the Alagnak River is the Branch River. A very mountainous area sits above the Alagnak.

This is where all the sockeye salmon spawn providing the entire base of the ecosystem. The spawning sockeye salmon also keep the healthiest population of Alaska trophy trout fed so that they can grow to such huge sizes. The immense egg drop that occurs every summer is responsible for feeding these Alaska rainbow trout. This is the only area in Alaska where there is a designated trophy trout area. Thanks to all the sockeye salmon that swim up the Alagnak River every summer from Bristol Bay, this incredible Alaska rainbow fishery is attainable.

The Alagnak River has all 5 species of Pacific salmon. The king salmon, silver salmon, chum salmon, and pink salmon also swim into the Alagnak River every summer. This only adds to millions of salmon that make there way up the Alagnak River every summer. All salmon start and end their life cycle here, and enter the Alagnak like clockwork starting the end of June. The pink salmon are the only species that does not come in the river every summer in peak numbers. The pink salmon run on even years only with their 2 year life cycle. There are some pinks that come up the Alagnak on odd years, but very few. This is thought to be due to the volcanic eruption that occurred in the area 100 years ago.

This is definitely one of the best salmon rivers in the world, and should be on the list of any serious angler wishing to catch salmon on a fly.

About the Author

​John Perry grew up in Michigan on an island called Grosse Ile, in the mouth of the Detroit River and Lake Erie. It was here, surrounded by great fishing and waterfowl hunting that John developed a passion for the outdoors. John moved to Colorado to chase trout in the summers and ski patrol in the winters. John had the privilege to start guiding for Angler’s Alibi with his fly fishing mentor TR Rafferty the second year it was in business. He left a head guide job in Colorado to pursue bigger and better fish.