Fly-Out Fly Fishing: The Best Way to Experience Juneau
Planning a trip to Juneau, Alaska, or anywhere in the State requires you to make some tough decisions. With limited time, and so much to see and do, it can be downright stressful deciding how to spend your precious vacation time in the Last Fontier! If you are looking for the absolute best way to experience Alaska, then a fly-out fly-fishing trip in the wilderness surrounding Juneau, Alaska might be for you! Hop aboard your iconic Alaskan Floatplane, and fly deep into the Tongass National Forest to fly fish for Wild Salmon, Trout and Char! Instead of crowds, share your fishing hole with Alaskan Brown Bears, Bald Eagles, Sitka Blacktail Deer and more! We have 30 years of experience making it happen for our guests!
Fly-Out Fishing: What’s it all about?
As we’ve written before, floatplanes are a way of life in Southeast, Alaska. With only about 20% of the State accessible by a road, aviation has been the lifeline for remote Alaska for decades, transporting residents and visitors alike to the most isolated corners. Fly-Out Fly-Fishing is all about travelling to the most epic and pristine fishing destinations that are otherwise inaccessible or require hours or days to reach by boat from Juneau. It’s arguably the best way to “do it all” as you can combine a jaw-dropping scenic flight, with worldclass fishing and wildlife, and still fly back to town in time for dinner!
Why take a floatplane to go fishing?
Well, floatplanes are freaking awesome! At least we think so! There’s something truly Alaskan about hoping into a floatplane and flying to the fish! It’s also the most efficient way to get you deep into the backcountry – quickly transporting you away from crowds – where the fish see little to no pressure, ever. From the moment you take off, you’ll see incredible views of the Mendenhall Glacier, the Juneau Icefield, the waters of the inside passage, and the vast forests of the Tongass. Keep your eyes peeled for Humpback Whale sightings, and Brown Bears roaming the beaches. Since we started Bear Creek Outfitters in 1996, we’ve partnered with Ward Air as our aviation partner. Their experience and aviation knowledge is unmatched, and there’s nobody we trust more with the safety of our guests and employees.
Access the Best Fishing in Alaska!
The biggest reason to go on a fly-out fly-fishing trip in Juneau is the fishing! The Tongass National Forest is also called “America’s Salmon Forest” due to the vast number of rivers and streams that providing spawning habitat for Wild Alaskan Salmon. It produces around 48 million salmon annually! The floatplanes and our permits with the Forest Service give us access to over 65 individual streams. Prolific runs of Pink Salmon, and robust populations of Dolly Varden represent the two biggest species for fly anglers. On top of that, you can fish for Coastall Cutthroat Trout, Coho (Silver) Salmon, Chum Salmon, Steelhead, and more! Most of these fish have never seen a fly in their life.
When to is the best time to fish in Alaska?
Our fishing season starts on May 1st, and runs through late September. The most popular months to fish in Juneau are July and August, when the fishing is at it’s absolute peak. Our fishing techniques and locations are vary in order to maintain an incredible fishing experience all summer long. In early season, we primarily target Dolly Varden as they feed on the out-migrating salmon fry – it’s a blast! We typically start catching the first pink salmon in late June/early July and that run lasts most of the summer – an absolute must for a fisherman! Coho salmon offer a more challenging angling experience and typically arrive mid-to-late August.
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