JuneJune kicks off the fishing season in the Bristol Bay area with certain species taking precedence; Rainbow Trout, Grayling, and Arctic Char are aggressively feeding on the millions of Salmon Fry and Smolt which school up from the previous year's spawn. They will also turn on the Sculpin which inhabit many of Alaska's streams. Caddis and Stone Fly Nymphs also populate many of the streams. Casting a variety of # 16 and 18 nymph patterns are productive during this period from June until July.
Different types of fishing are found throughout the Bristol Bay region, from small wadeable streams with long riffles, deep pools and back water eddies, to large deep flowing rivers filled with boulders. The Illiamna and Naknek Lake drainages produce the largest Rainbow Trout in Alaska, the "Alaskan Leopard Rainbow". With King Salmon Guides, you will have the opportunity to fish any of the many rivers and streams that flow into these drainages. When Rainbow fishing opens on the 8th, after being closed for the spring spawn, the Rainbows are hungry and plentiful. They readily take a variety of different fly patterns. The Grayling, Arctic Char, and Lake trout are abundant as well.
The King Salmon are the first of the migratory salmon to make their return to the Bristol Bay area. By early June, the great Chinook (King) Salmon have arrived in large numbers, ready to test the skills of big game fishers. These deep water fish are most often targeted out of boats, drifting and trolling large spinners and plugs. The Chinook Salmon are the largest species of Salmon, averaging about 25 to 35 pounds, with trophy fish in the 50 to 60 pound range. For sheer numbers of fish caught, our area has the best King Salmon fishing in Alaska. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game expects a return of 250,000 Chinook Salmon on the Nushagak River. This is the largest run of King Salmon anywhere in the state. For example, the Kenai River received a run of just over 15,000 King Salmon in 1998. If you dream of catching the monster-sized King Salmon, June is the best time to come.