Alaska is rich in fishing opportunities. Each species has its own appeal as a food or sport fish. The following information profiles each fish as to its general description and availability to flyfishers. Chum, king, and silver salmon reach central Alaska by swimming up the Yukon and Tanana Rivers.
Arctic Grayling: The grayling (Thymallus arcticus)is a common fish to most waters of Alaska. Southeast Alaska is the only place you won't find this fish. The most remarkable feature of this fish is its large spotted dorsal fin. This fish lives only in cold, clear water; both rivers and lakes are home to this eager fish. Fly fisherman love the grayling because of its willingness to take most flies. This fish is slow-growing and spawns in April and May in interior Alaska. A twelve inch grayling is 5-6 years old and trophy grayling are eighteen inches long or more. Grayling can be usually be found in riffles or around structure (jumbled logs and trees). The state record record grayling is 4 pounds and 13 ounces. (Note: Fishing for grayling is catch-and-release on some Interior Alaska streams including the Chena River. This is part of an effort to restore and maintain healthy populations.)
Northern Pike: The northern pike (Esox lucius) of Alaska is no different than the pike of Canada and the northern United States. Many lakes in Alaska hold pike, and some specimens can reach 40 pounds. (SE Alaska is the only area of the state without northerns.) The pike has a long body and snout and possesses hundreds of sharp teeth. Any fish, mammal, or bird is prey to a hungry northern pike. Flyfishers can catch a pike using large poppers and other floating hair-based flies. The state record is 38 pounds and 8 ounces.
Rainbow Trout/Steelhead: Alaska possesses some of the best fishing in the world for rainbow trout. Alaska has North America's largest remaining wild populations of this beautiful salmonid. This fish is found in Southeast, Southcentral, and Southwest Alaska and the state and world record of 42 pounds and 2 ounces was caught in SE Alaska. Many Alaskan flyfishing lodges in the southwest region of the state showcase rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fishing opportunities to attract customers from around the world. The rainbow likes to follow schools of spawning salmon. (Note: The Alaska Department of Fish and Game plants hatchery grown rainbows in many lakes and a few streams in Southcentral and Interior Alaska.)
Lake Trout: This char family fish is the largest of all lake-dwelling salmonids. The lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) is extremely slow-growing and long-lived. A deeply-forked tail and irregular light spots distinguish the laker from other charr/trout. The state record lake trout is 47 pounds. Flyfisherman can catch this fish with sinking lines and minnow imitations. Early and late summer allow the best opportunities to catch a laker on a fly.
King Salmon: This is the monster of all salmon. Believe it or not, the king (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) can can grow to over 100 pounds! The state and world record is 97 pounds 4 ounces. There is a run of king salmon in the Chena and Salcha Rivers near Fairbanks. These fish have traveled more than 1000 miles to reach their spawning grounds. The best area in the state to catch a chinook is on the Kenai Peninsula, where thousands of fisherman try to hook up with this monster fish. Obviously, heavy equipment is needed to land this giant of all salmonids.
Pink Salmon: The pink salmon or humpy (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) is the smallest and most abundant salmon. They can be found in most Alaska river drainages and are great fun to catch on a fly rod. The male forms a prominent hump and hooked jaw during spawning. A typical pink is 3-5 pounds, but the state record is 12 pounds 9 ounces. The flesh is pink and the exterior of a non-spawning fish has a green back with a white belly and silver, spotted sides. Fairbanksans usually go to Valdez (Prince William Sound) to catch this willing fish.
Chum Salmon: Chums are nicknamed dog salmon. They have the widest distribution of all Alaskan salmon. They are medium-sized and develop red, green, and white vertical bars once they hit fresh water. Chums (Oncorhynchus keta) spawn in the Chena River after traveling over 1000 miles from the Bering Sea. Spawning males develop a distended jaw and teeth. Average size is 8-10 pounds with a state and world record of 32 pounds.
Silver Salmon: The silver salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) is a hard-fighting fish that averages 8-10 pounds in size. This fish is bright silver with a dark back. Silver salmon spawn in the Delta-Clearwater river near Delta Junction, but fishermen usually go to Valdez and Seward to hook up with these super jumpers. The state record silver (coho) is 26 pounds.
Red Salmon: The red salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) is considered by most to be the best-tasting salmon. The meat is a red-orange and this fish is a hard fighter. The red (sockeye) is normally silver, but changes to bright red when spawning. Tremendous runs of red salmon are found in the Bristol Bay area, the Kenai Peninsula, and the Coppper River. An average sockeye is 8-10 pounds with the state record being 16 pounds.
Sheefish: The sheefish (Stenodus leucichthys) is the world's largest whitefish. Some anglers think it looks similar to a tarpon. This fish fights very hard and has delicious white meat. The fish has no markings and is bright silver on its sides. Sheefish can be found in some Interior Alaska rivers, but its main stompimg grounds is in western Alaska. The Kobuk and Selawik river drainages are hot spots for this beautiful fish. The state and world record is 47 pounds. (Note: Whitefish are not included in this gamefish list, but they can sometimes be hooked with the right bottom-dredging nymph.)
Arctic Char and Dolly Varden: Arctic Char and Dolly Varden (Salvelinus alpinus/ malma) are found everywhere in Alaska. Their spawning colors are a spectacular change from their non-spawning silver exterior. These fish readily take flies and are fond of egg patterns during salmon spawning season. They are relatives to the trout and fight very hard when hooked. The state and world record for this abundant fish is 19 pounds and 12.5 ounces. Dollies once had a bounty on them because of their love of salmon eggs. You'll find schools of these fish following runs of salmon in many Alaskan waters.
Halibut: The Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) is the world's largest bottom fish. Alaska provides some tremendous opportunities to catch this giant. Homer, Alaska is known as a halibut center, but fisherman can catch this delicious fish in Southeast, Southcentral, and Southwest Alaska. The state and world record is 469 pounds! Halibut are white on the bottom and a mottled-green on top; this coloration is a perfect camouflage. The eyes of the adult are on the same side of the body. (The eyes "migrate" to one side when halibut are small.) These fish are gluttonous and swallow whole salmon. Small to medium-sized halibut can be caught on flies imitating flesh and injured bait fish. Ten weight rods (or more) and rope-like leaders are needed to lift this flatfish off the bottom.
This page was last modified on November 29, 2004
Return
to MSFC Home Page