KING SALMON

KING SALMON FISHING IN BRISTOL BAY

The most legendary Alaskan fish, the king salmon or Chinook salmon, is coveted by anglers worldwide. Their extraordinary size (15-35 lbs in Bristol Bay rivers) often makes them the largest fish most anglers have ever wrestled. They challenge the sportsman by fighting hard with powerful runs, cartwheeling jumps, and immense power to break line or even straighten hooks. We fish for king salmon on the Naknek, Nushagak and Alagnak River. Our season begins in mid-June on the Nushagak and moves to the Naknek and Alagnak during the month of July.

Fishing on the Nushagak and Alagnak requires a short fly-out from King Salmon Lodge. On the Nushagak we have a tent camp, where guides live on the river and our boats are located at camp. On the Alagnak river, we position our boats just above the reach of tide and use them to fish the most productive waters. Trips to the Alagnak in July typically include some of the best fishing for fresh chum Salmon anywhere in Alaska. 

Fishing for king salmon on the Naknek during July begins a few steps from your room at King Salmon Lodge. Our boats are moored on the King Salmon Lodge dock and fishing can take place literally minutes from here. Fishing the Naknek for king salmon is typically done by trolling plugs and spinners, along with a few additional methods we have fine-tuned over the years. Along with king salmon, the Naknek also has a huge run of sockeye salmon, so a combination day of sockeye and king fishing is possible.

Fly Fishing for king salmon is also one of our favorite methods. Fly fishing for king salmon can be done with spey and single hand rods, from the shore as well as from a boat anchored on a productive pool. Our guides know where to find king salmon on the fly at all of our locations.

For all of our king salmon destinations, ice is on-board to chill your catch. The weather during king salmon season can vary dramatically, from temps in the 40’s to close to 80 degrees. Because of this, we feel that icing your catch is critical to maintaining the best quality meat for you to enjoy back at home.