Stream near Fairbanks, Alaska
FISH OF THE
LAST FRONTIER
According to the World Atlas website,
about 40 percent of U.S. surface water
resources are in Alaska. These resources
include 12,000 rivers, more than 3 million
lakes and thousands of creeks, ponds and
streams. And in those bodies of water are
fish: species of wild Alaskan salmon,
wild Alaskan shellfish and wild
Alaskan whitefish.
For the salmon, one can find coho (also
called silver salmon), keta, king, pink,
rainbow trout, grayling and sockeye.
Whitefish species include black cod, cod,
halibut, pollock, rockfish and sole (also
called flounder). Just as you could never
see the entire Louvre Museum in a day,
you could never fish the entire state in a
lifetime. That being said, your excursion
will permit you up to a full day to enjoy
fishing near cities, saltwater locations,
freshwater locations and national parks,
with the best time of year for fishing being
May to September.
FLY FISHING NEAR CITIES
Opportunities for fly fishing aren’t exclusive
to national parks. One can find fishing
hubs near cities such as Juneau, Alaska’s
capital. Juneau offers opportunities for
cutthroat trout or coho salmon along a
number of beautiful streams. All it takes
is boarding a floatplane, since most spots
aren’t accessible by roads. What’s more, the
flight offers a fantastic opportunity to see
brown and black bears, deer and moose.
Another relatively urban locale for fly
fishing is Anchorage, which has about 30
nearby lakes. Cast your lines in these bodies
of water for rainbow trout, coho and trophy
king salmon. During your excursion,
seasoned fly-fishing anglers will provide tips
and tales based on their years of experience
in these waters.
Fairbanks is another city surrounded by
pristine waterways and forests. From its
nearby lakes, you can catch king and chum
salmon, in addition to trout. You’ll have
the added excitement of seeing the fish
approach your bait because Fairbanks’
waters are clear during the warmer months.
FLY FISHING IN
THE WILDERNESS
Further off the beaten path are Princess
Wilderness Lodges, located near national
parks that offer comfortable overnight
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accommodations. Guests can enjoy a host
of adventure-based excursions such as
touring massive glaciers, participating in a
dog-sled experience, rafting down a river or
learning about the Gold Rush era. Travelers
can take a couple of days away from their
cruise, or in some cases a pause from a
train-based vacation, to appreciate more of
Alaska’s natural wonders.
Other excursions include fly-fishing near
one of several locations: Kenai Princess
Wilderness Lodge, based in Cooper
Landing in the middle of the Kenai
Peninsula; Denali Princess Wilderness
Lodge in Denali National Park and
Preserve; Mount McKinley Princess
Wilderness Lodge in Tapper Creek; and
Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge
in Copper Center.
Some excursions are catch-and-release
based, such as the Denali Fly-Fishing for
Arctic Grayling. Yet, the Kenai Upper River
Fishing excursion offers a Princess Cruises’
Cook My Catch option. This exclusive
culinary experience highlights the pinnacles
of fresh seafood; it also offers you the rare
opportunity to catch and cook your food.
There’s an inherent appreciation for eating
food you’ve caught, whether from deer or
duck hunting, or in this case, feeling the