Alaska Salmon Fishing on the Alagnak River

​When you think about an Alaska fishing vacation, you think about catching your limits of salmon and trout, surrounded by dramatically beautiful scenery. Experience the serenity of nature with nothing around you except the people you came with, your fishing guide and all that peace and quiet that comes with being in the wild outdoors. Well, at least it’s quiet until an energetic salmon takes the line!

Bristol Bay, Alaska offers some of the best salmon fishing in the world. Depending on the time of year you visit, you can find all five species of salmon plus rainbow trout, Arctic char, Arctic grayling and Dolly Varden. Avid anglers travel here to visit remote fishing grounds and to catch their limits of these fish.

My family enjoying some fantastic silver salmon fly fishing on the Alagnak River

​Salmon Fishing the Alagnak River

​The Alagnak River in the Bristol Bay region is teaming with game fish. It runs for 64 miles, running from Kukaklek Lake and emptying into the Kvichak River. Angler’s Alibi is located on the tidewater section of the Alagnak River which means anglers can take advantage of the ocean feeding patterns of all five species of salmon, offering one of the best Alaska fly-fishing holidays in the region. You can cast your fly into schools of king, chum, silver, pink and sockeye salmon without even leaving their camp and their guides will take you up the river to world-class fly fishing waters along the mighty Alagnak River.

​Best Times to Book Your Alaska Salmon Fishing Vacation

In the summer months, it is possible to land all five species of salmon from Angler’s Alibi, but certain times of the season can be more productive than others depending on what you want to catch the most of.

King salmon fishing season runs strong during the month of July, peaking mid-month. Alaska king salmon average between 25 and 30 pounds on the Alagnak River.

Silver salmon fishing season start during the last few days of July and runs through the end of August. Silver salmon, also known as coho salmon, are the most popular species to target on the fly and average 8 to 10 pounds.

Sockeye salmon fishing is best from the end of June through mid-July when they are running in the tidewater. Nearly one million sockeye salmon will be swimming up the Alagnak River to spawn in their natal tributaries during this time, so landing your daily limits will not be an issue.

Chum salmon fishing in this region is best starting on the second week of July until mid-August. Though they average 8 to 10 pounds, chum salmon are fighters and will make you work for the catch!

Pink salmon fishing can only be done during even years on the Alagnak River as they only run every other year. On the year they’re running, you can catch pinks by the fourth week of July through the third week of August. Pink salmon are also a very aggressive fish to catch and average 3 to 5 pounds.

Come and experience an unforgettable Alaska fishing vacation, far from roads and crowds, surrounded by breathtaking scenery, a variety of wildlife and where you’ll find an abundance of pacific salmon. Learn more about Angler’s Alibi’s fishing program.

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.