ITINERARY
bears & bows wMorraine Creek
Accessible only by plane , you ’ ll land on a nearby lake and hike to the head of the river carrying your gear ( raft , lunch , tackle , etc .) for the day , or however long you plan to stay . ( Stretching this into a multiple day float is easy and done all the time ). Day trips originating from many of the Bristol Bay lodges are most pat hoglund photo
steelhead-like rainbows xKvichak River
Owning the distinction of being Alaska ’ s only trophy rainbow trout fishery , the Kvichak ( pro-nounced Kwee Jack ) yields more 30-inch rainbows than any other river in the state . Hands down . Fed by Lake Iliamna the Kvichak boasts the state ’ s largest sockeye run in turn pat hoglund photo common . For good reason , too . You stand to catch as many trout as there are bears . And this river is known for its bears . No joke . Come in September when the sockeye spawn , it ’ s not unrealistic to float the Morraine and catch 50 or more rainbows while watching just as many bears gorging on salmon . It is one of the best trout fisheries in the state in terms of numbers of fish , and wildlife . The size of rainbows run the gamut : 15 to 25 inches are not uncommon while bigger fish are rare . rainbowking . com 800.458.6539
supporting a trout fishery that is beyond all your wildest dreams . The late-season fishery ( September ) is the best time to target a 30-incher , which for all intents and purposes act like steelhead when they ’ re hooked . This is primarily a boat fishery where guides align boats so anglers can cast to feeding lanes where trout hold . Beads are featured menu item and the trout eat them like candy . This is a bucket list fishery for sure , which means you owe it to yourself to experience it before you die . fishasl . com 888.826.7376 mike perusse photo
accessible 30-inchers yKenai River
From Anchorage , the upper Kenai River is less than a two hour drive , which makes it a major draw for trout bums throughout North America . There aren ’ t a lot of Alaska rivers that produce big trout that are so accessible . At the same time , crowded waters are the spawn of accessibility . Good news . The upper Kenai , between Kenai Lake and Skilak Lake , is a non-motorized fishery so you ’ ll either find places to wade or float the river in a drift boat . Like most trout fisheries in Alaska there are better times to fish here . You ’ ll find a short window of hot action in June followed by a lull in July and the first two weeks in August . Late August and September , though , brings sockeye and silvers which in turn creates a bead fishery that is like all others in Alaska . Regardless , it ’ s not uncommon to stick 20-inchers all day and then get your clock cleaned by a trout stretching 25- to 30 inches . What better way to spend a day in Alaska ! alaskasportfish . com 800.478.4100 traveling angler 2011 17