Planning a fishing trip to Alaska is a lot of work! The two biggest questions to answer are usually Where and When? Alaska offers a diverse list of worldclass angling opportunities all over the State, but it’s hard to beat Southeast, Alaska and the Tongass National Forest. As we wrote here, the Tongass is considered “America’s Salmon Forest” and is placed among the top angling destinations in Alaska and the World. If you’re interested in fishing here, the next question is When? As you’ll find below, the summer fishing season spans from May until September, and each month offers it’s own mix of angling opportunities.
July and August: The Best Time to Fish.
No Need to bury the headline! The peak season for fishing in Southeast Alaska is July and August. Those months comprise the height of summer, when the seasonal explosion of life is in full swing. Southeast Alaska is home to all 5 species of Pacific Salmon, but the most abundant is Pink Salmon. If you want to catch your first salmon on a fly rod, this is the time and place to do it! While salmon run size and timing varies slightly year-to-year, the Pink Salmon fishing in July and August is incredibly reliable.
Photo: Brian Grossenbacher for Simms Fishing
May and June
To call May and June “early season” tends to give people the wrong impression that there aren’t quality fishing opportunities – there are plenty. In fact, May and June offer some of the best fishing opportunities of the season for Steelhead, Char and Trout. While the first Pink Salmon arrive near the end of June/early July, the first Steelhead often arrive in April and runs into May. Wild steelhead are one of the most highly coveted sportfish in the world, and for good reason – these incredibly powerful and resilient fish are difficult to find and even more difficult to catch.
For those looking for a less-challenging angling prize, May and June offers excellent fishing for Dolly Varden Char and Coastal Cutthroat Trout. The Dollies and Trout feed on out-migrating salmon fry (baby salmon) as the fry make the journey from the freshwater streams out to the tidal estuaries. These predatory fish often go into a feeding frenzy as they chase the relatively helpless fry around. Towards the end of June, many of these fish move back into the freshwater creeks and stage for the arrival of the salmon.
Late August and September
The end of the summer fishing season offers some of the best fishing of the year for Coho (Silver) Salmon and Dolly Varden. Coho salmon are considered by many to be the best salmon species to target on a fly rod. Coho salmon are relatively abundant (compared to King Salmon or Steelhead), make decent table fare, and usually put up a thrilling fight when hooked. Coho are commonly found in slower/deeper water, so local knowledge can play a bigger role in finding the hot spots.
This time of year also offers some of the best fishing for Dolly Varden and Coastal Cutthroat Trout as those fish gorge themselves on salmon eggs. If you’re looking to catch a lot of fish, and the occasional trophy Dolly Varden, this is a great time of year to fish. While approachable for beginner anglers, matching your tackle to the color of the salmon eggs and perfecting your drift and hookset technique offers a fun challenge for experienced fly anglers.
One thing to keep in mind – weather! As we approach September, we tend to experience more frequent heavy rain events. This is a delicate dance as increasing water levels can entice new salmon to move into the streams, and free up food, but too much water can cause flooding and poor fishing conditions. Some extra patience and flexibility can serve you well in September especially.
Anytime is a good time to fish in Juneau, Alaska!
As we mentioned above, July and August is generally considered peak seaon in Southeast, Alaska. However, if you’ve read this far, you’ve learned there are exciting angling opportunities all summer long – from May to September. If you have any questions, or want to chat with one of our local fly fishing guides, please reach out at info@juneauflyfishing.com or call us at 907-723-2683. See you on the water!
Feel free to contact us today and we can help you plan your ultimate Alaska Fishing Adventure! Email: info@juneauflyfishing.com or Phone: 907-723-2683