Alaska Salmon Fly Fishing

​Catching Alaska salmon while fly fishing is something that has been done for generations in this great state.  The pure act of intercepting these magnificent fish on there way up river from the salt is very addicting.  Salmon fly fishing is similar in many ways to fishing for steelhead trout.  The main difference is that there are many more salmon than there are steelhead trout.  The other major difference is that the steelhead go back to the ocean, where the salmon end their life cycle after spawning.

​The king salmon is most like the steelhead trout in regards to numbers and the methods used to catch them.  The king salmon really like the swing of a fly as it goes by their nose. This presentation is the main method used to catch king salmon on the Alagnak River with Angler’s Alibi. We are fortunate to also catch kings on the strip….yes STRIP! This is not a common way to catch them on almost all Alaska rivers, but on the Alagnak River, the kings can be very aggressive, especially on the tides. It is at these times that the strip can really be a fun way to latch on to a 40 pound silver rocket as it decides to try and jump it’s way back to the ocean! This is what Alaska salmon fly fishing is all about!

The silver salmon are another species that will hit on the strip, but much more numerous and willing to hit on the strip. We at times will have our guests cast a fly out to the bank, let it sink, then strip as fast as possible. This is at times the most effective way to entice the silvers into biting the fly.

At Angler’s Alibi, Alaska salmon fly fishing is what we do daily, and what we specialize in. We also specialize in fly-out fishing for rainbow trout in nearby Katmai National Park. These two pursuits are not only our favorite things to do, but what makes Angler’s Alibi.

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.