Written By Mike, Head Guide + Lodge Manager
The season always seems to fly by, here were are pushing in August already, with king season 2026 in the rearview mirror. With the changing seasons bring new species to our anglers, as we’ve started venturing upriver in search of dolly varden and leopard rainbow trout.
We had a family from Texas here last week, with most of them experiencing their first trip to Alaska, and first time fly fishing. And Alaska didn’t disappoint! We saw weather from 60 mph winds and rain to 5 mph and warm sunshine, they had the full experience for sure!
The chum run is still in full force, with more bright chums than anyone could ask for, ready to pounce on swung flies.
Besides the many chum salmon keeping everyone entertained, there were still a few king salmon hanging around and we were able to find a few to add some extra excitement to the melee.
Weather turned by the end of the week and we had some gorgeous summer days, perfect for the trip upriver to look for dollies and trout. The salmon have not quite started their spawn, but there were some dollies already there waiting for the eggs to drop. We picked them up with smolt pattern streamers behind the salmon getting ready to spawn.
Until the buffet of salmon eggs are dropping the trout are spread throughout the river system, and searching the river’s many banks and deeper buckets rewarded our anglers with some beautiful trout as well.
Big green or black streamers such as Dolly Lamas, proved effective as well as white flashy smolt pattern streamers. The trout this time of year are generally not picky when you find them, they attack any protein presented to them.
With so many chum salmon here, we started messing around and trying to get some on topwater, skating wogs slowly over pods of resting fish. They aren’t as aggressive on the surface as silver salmon, but many would chase the fly, and a few were angry enough to eat it. Takes some patience, but very rewarding and fun to watch them take flies off the surface!
With all the salmon in the river now, we are seeing our locals show up more and more lately.
Before we know it, the invasion of silver salmon will be hitting the river. Dig out all the pink flies and brace yourself for the mayhem and fun!!
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