TROPHY RAINBOW TROUT

BRISTOL BAY TROPHY RAINBOW TROUT FISHING

The Bristol Bay region of Alaska is without a doubt the most consistent location for trophy rainbow trout fishing on the planet. The rivers and lakes of Bristol Bay create the perfect scenario for growing huge trout.

As millions of sockeye salmon migrate upstream, through the wild lakes of Bristol Bay, rainbow trout take notice. These salmon are carrying a protein rich food source that trout love and crave, their eggs, and rainbows will risk everything to eat them. After the salmon spawn, and eventually die, trout feed on their flesh, providing yet another protein rich food. On many of the lake system rivers and creeks, anglers can expect to catch rainbow trout that range from 18”-26”, a trophy trout by any standard.

Though it is the largest lakes in the region, Naknek and Illiamna, that provide an opportunity to target rainbow trout that reach truly impressive size. Trout in these lakes exhibit an allacustrine movement pattern. They move downstream from Naknek and Illiamna to spawn from early April through May, and they migrate upstream into the lake after spawning. In the fall, after a summer of feeding in the lake, they move downstream again, and this is when we target them.

Fishing for trophy rainbow trout on the Naknek and Kvichak is not for anglers looking to catch fish on every cast (we have places for that!), yet they are places where anglers can expect a few chances per day at something massive.

The number of downstream migrating rainbow trout is relatively small, and the water where they live is big. So we fish accordingly, swinging flies from shore and drifting from a rowed boat, covering as much water as we can. The takes are heart stopping, fights are violent, and if all goes well, you may land the fish of your life.