The Alaskan summer is a prime time for incredible fly fishing, and at Alaska Rainbow Adventures, we’re gearing up for exhilarating Coho Salmon adventures along with legendary Rainbow Trout fishing. As we move into late July and August, chrome bright Coho will begin their aggressive runs, providing an incredible fight on the fly. Meanwhile, the resident Rainbow Trout are actively feeding, offering fantastic action throughout the season.
To help you make the most of your upcoming trip, here are some pro tips for targeting these incredible species:
Chasing the Silver Bullet: Coho Salmon
Coho Salmon, also known as Silvers, are renowned for their aggressive takes and acrobatic fights. They are an absolute blast on a fly rod!
- Timing is Key: While some Coho start showing up in late July, the peak of the run on rivers like the Goodnews and Kanektok is typically in August and early-mid September. This is when you’ll find the largest numbers of fish, often still fresh from the Bering Sea with their chrome bright scales.
- Location, Location, Location: Coho love to hold in current seams, eddies, and behind structure. Look for them in the tidewater sections of the river, as well as in the slower, deeper pools and sloughs upstream. They will often stage in these areas before pushing further upriver to spawn.
- Fly Selection: Coho are attracted to bright, flashy, and often contrasting colors.
- Streamers: Egg-sucking leeches (especially black/chartreuse, black/purple, or pink/white), Dolly Llamas, and other rabbit strip patterns in chartreuse, pink, and purple are highly effective.
- Poppers/Surface Flies: For an unparalleled adrenaline rush, try fishing poppers or wogs on the surface, particularly in the lower river or in areas where Coho are actively porpoising. The explosive takes are unforgettable!
- Presentation & Retrieve: Coho are aggressive, so don’t be afraid to strip your fly with conviction. A stop-and-go retrieve, with short, quick strips, often triggers a strike. For surface flies, “chugging” them across the water can incite a violent take.
- Gear: A 7-9 weight single-hand fly rod with a large arbor reel and enough backing is ideal. For streamers, a short sink-tip line (T8-T12) will help get your fly down to the fish. When fishing poppers, a weight-forward floating line with an aggressive front taper is excellent.
The Elusive Leopard: Rainbow Trout
Alaska’s Rainbow Trout are legendary for their size, beauty, and willingness to chase a fly. Summer provides diverse opportunities to target these magnificent fish.
- Follow the Food: During the summer months, especially as salmon begin to spawn, Rainbow Trout will key in on salmon eggs. This makes beading (fishing egg patterns) incredibly effective. Look for them holding downstream of active salmon redds (spawning beds), waiting for an easy meal.
- Mousing Magic: When conditions are right (often in the evenings or early mornings, especially in brushy areas), throwing mouse patterns can lead to explosive surface strikes from large, predatory Rainbows. This is an incredibly visual and exciting way to fish!
- Tips for Mousing: Use stout leader and tippet (16-20 lb monofilament) as these fish aren’t leader shy and you’ll need to apply pressure. Focus on creating surface disturbance – “plop, wake, and wiggle” your mouse across the water.
- Streamer Success: Streamers imitating baitfish, sculpins, and leeches remain productive throughout the summer. Swinging large, dark patterns like Dolly Llamas or Articulated Sculpins can entice aggressive trout.
- Dry Fly Opportunities: While less common than egging or streamer fishing in mid-summer, strong caddis, stonefly, and mayfly hatches can provide fantastic dry fly action in certain clearwater rivers. Be prepared with a selection of classic dry fly patterns.
- Gear: A 5-7 weight single-hand rod is generally suitable for Alaskan Rainbows. Floating lines are versatile, and adding sink tips when streamer fishing will help. A rubber landing net is highly recommended for quick, safe releases.
- Conservation is Key: Remember, all of our Alaska’s Rainbow Trout fisheries are catch-and-release. Handle fish gently, keep them in the water as much as possible, and use strong enough tippet to land them quickly, minimizing stress.
The summer season in Alaska offers an unparalleled fly fishing experience. Whether you’re chasing the explosive power of a Coho or the subtle beauty of a Leopard Rainbow, our experienced guides at Alaska Rainbow Adventures are ready to put you on the fish.
What’s your go-to fly for Alaskan Coho or Rainbows? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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