Alaska: Rainbow Trout And Char

Especially amongst fly fisherman, Alaska is becoming well known for big trout. Alaskan rainbow trout are much bigger than most of the lower 48 strains of rainbow trout and they can be found in astounding numbers. Alaskan char, whether they are landlocked artic char or sea run Dolly Varden, can also reach prodigious size and numbers. Both species can provide great fishing for long periods of time in one location. From trout opener in early June through early October is the window for most tourists. The Mecca’s for big rainbow trout are Bristol Bay and the Kenai River. Larger rivers such as the Kenai, Naknek or Kvichiak hold the most fish in the 30 to 36 inch range. And, there are numerous smaller rivers and even creeks in Bristol Bay that hold lots of trout in the 18 to 28 inch range. The most important questions to ask yourself is what type of fishing do you want to do and how big of fish do you want to target. The first question has to do with timing and the size of rivers. In June most all fishing is done by swinging leeches or fishing fry and smolt fly patterns. This is a great time for spey fisherman who like to swing flies or for fisherman who like to fish poppers. I think the most exiting fishing you can have for Alaska rainbows is during the smolt run on the Naknek or Kvichiak and casting poppers to 20 to 27 inch trout. If you are interested in swinging as well as dry fly fishing with mouse patterns or classic dry fly and dropper rigs then early July is prime time. By late July through early September fishing is almost exclusively done by nymphing with egg patterns. This is when the big fish really start to make an appearance. Although popper fishing is very exiting my favorite time of year for rainbows is late September through mid October because on rivers like the Naknek, Kvichiak or Kenai the grande trout in the 10 to 20 pound range really move out from the lakes and into the rivers. Bead fishing is very effective but just as effective and maybe more so is swinging flesh flies, leeches and sculpins. The other fish that is often overlooked is the Artic Char and Dolly Varden which are almost genetically identical. These fish inhabit many of the same rivers as the rainbow trout and are caught using the same methods (for the most part.) So, if you are catching rainbow trout you will be catching char too. However, there are areas where there are few to no rainbow trout and many char. As a rule of thumb, most everything south of the Naknek River on the Alaska Peninsula is mostly char and grayling. Many bacheroff system streams hold char in the 20 to 30 inch range and the famous Ugashik Narrows holds some really monster char and a lot of big grayling. Grayling in this region can be caught up to 4 plus pounds and this region may very well be the best spot in the North America for grayling. The mid Northern part of Alaska around Kotzebue is the char Mecca with fish up to 20 pounds in streams that are void of rainbow trout and huge salmon numbers. I have traveled all over Alaska in search of rainbow trout and char and these are top recommendations. My number one spot would be the Naknek River in the fall because of the large trout and they are the hardest fighting rainbows I’ve ever encountered. The Kenai River in the fall is a great option because it can be a very cost effective trip and the rainbow trout may be the fattest in the state. Popper fishing the Naknek in the spring is incredible. Floating the American River in Bristol Bay, which in my opinion happens to be the most charismatic river in the state. Fishing the Ugashik Narrows for huge char and grayling and brooks in October for big trout is spectacular. This is just a small list as there are many other rivers that have great fishing opportunities. Whether you spend all your time on one large river or visit a fly out lodge and fly and fish many small river I can guarantee you will not be disappointed.