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Fishing for Leopard Rainbow Trout on the Kanektok and Goodnews Rivers

Posted on October 19, 2023March 7, 2025 by guides@akrainbow.com

Fishing for leopard rainbow trout on the Kanektok and Goodnews Rivers in Alaska is a popular and rewarding angling experience for many enthusiasts. These rivers are known for their pristine wilderness and excellent rainbow trout fishing opportunities. Here are some critical points about fishing for leopard rainbow trout on these rivers.

The Rainbow trout are known for their distinctive and beautiful patterns, which resemble leopard spots, from where they get their name. They fight hard, and their unique markings make them spectacular to admire when brought to hand and highly sought after by anglers.

The Kanektok and Goodnews Rivers are located in remote areas of western Alaska, offering a wilderness fishing experience unlike any other. Access on our trips involves flying by float plane into a remote lake, floating, camping in deluxe camps, and fishing for a week to ten days in this remote, untouched environment.


The timing can vary, but leopard rainbows are available from June through September. Some say earlier in the season is better before the salmon arrive, and others later as they have had time to fatten up over a bountiful summer. Either way, the summer is productive, which is why many anglers fish the Goodnews and Kanektok rivers with us.

We practice a strict catch-and-release philosophy when targeting all rainbow trout in these rivers to preserve the fishery and protect the population. Call it job security and the desire to have this resource available for generations to come.


While Fly fishing is the preferred method for targeting rainbow trout in these rivers, we occasionally get the angler using terminal tackle. The challenging nature of fly fishing and the ability to present flies naturally often yield excellent results, and we gladly help novice fly anglers learn the basics and have them catching in no time.

Besides the fishing, the Kanektok and Goodnews Rivers offer stunning natural beauty, with opportunities to observe wildlife and enjoy the Alaskan wilderness.

Fishing for leopard rainbow trout on the Kanektok and Goodnews Rivers offers a thrilling and unforgettable experience in a pristine and remote Alaskan wilderness. Planning and preparing for your trip early is essential to get the best dates available for your schedule and have a successful and enjoyable angling adventure. Be sure to visit our website at www.akrainbow.com for schedule and rate information!

Category: Alaska Float Fishing Trips

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About Us

Step into the current with Alaska Rainbow Adventures and you're stepping into the real Alaska — not the polished lodge version, not the brochure fantasy. For more than three decades, we've run rivers the way they're meant to be run: the Kanektok, Goodnews, Alagnak, Moraine, Arolik, and Togiak. Wild water. Wild fish. Country that doesn't bend for anyone.

This whole thing started with one guide, Paul Hansen, chasing the kind of days that get under your skin and stay there. A mouse‑eat in the half‑light. A bend in the river no one else will see that day. A rainbow flashing in the sun like it owns the place. Those moments hit you in the ribs and remind you why you came north. That feeling is the reason we're still out here.

Our trips are built the way Alaska demands: small groups, real wilderness, and gear that holds up when the weather decides to test you. Big tents you can stand in. Hot meals cooked beside the river. Guides who know every braid and every mood swing these waters can throw. With exclusive USFWS permits and miles of river to ourselves, every float is unhurried, unfiltered, and honest.

This isn't a vacation.
This is the real deal — take it or leave it.

It's a week where the noise drops away, the river calls the shots, and you remember what it feels like to be fully present in a place that doesn't care about your inbox or your deadlines. You don't just fish here — you feel the country in your bones.

Come see what's waiting for you!

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