Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Best time for Alaska rv trip to for salmon fishing?

I have gone before and traveled to Talkeetna and the Kenai peninsula.
We went in late July and fishing did not seem to be the best, according to people we met.
mainly interested in reds and silvers

Thinking about going later and looking for good fishing for the family.
Would appreciate info on dates and places to go.

Thanks
Rob Hamilton

Lots will depend on what part of the state you will be visiting. In the Gulkana River Drainage you will want to be here between June 10-25th for Kings and the 1st red run hits around the 20th of June. There are other rivers winch other round dates like the Kultina and if you want to hit the silvers there are slamming Valdez the 3rd week of Aug. This is just one side of the state and there are many other choices.

As noted, what are you after and where are you going. Listen to the locals. We have caught silvers in Valdez as early as last week of July, but were over run by pinks...

We have fished for silvers in the clearwater in late Sept in Delta and have never seen one.... still a few weeks too early.

Talk to a F&G fish bio about run timing in the area you want to fish/visit.

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishing.main

http://alaska.gov/visitorHome.html

You can find sonar readings for various watersheds that will give you a good idea of when the fish usually run. Peaks will vary +/- a week or so year to year but you should be able to dial in your trip fairly closely. Also allow for time for the fish to run from the counter to where you'll be fishing for them.

The best RV for fishing in Alaska says something like "Cessna" on it.

Super cub....

Rob, my folks usually come up the last two weeks of August, because the fishing is so good! The second run of reds is usually in the Kenai by then, and silvers are usually plentiful in the salt waters out of Seward, Homer, and Prince William Sound. Ling cod season opens up on July 1st, and that adds another species to the fish box. The halibut fishing is still strong, and there's plenty of rockfish to be found.

Yep, I think July is my favorite month to fish. To illustrate my point, here are some photos from this past July...

53" ling cod:



Pretty decent yellow eye:



A couple more yellow eye:



70# halibut:



90# halibut



Mess-o-silvers and rockfish:

That's getting the thought process corrected!

Pick what you want to fish for, then pick an area, then call the local biologist.
I'm a Kenai guy, Not a guide, but we had good silver fishing from August 1st all the way up to Halloween. Reds are pretty reliable last week of July all the way until middle of August.
If you want to go offshore, the same logic applies, pick your target and then start checking with charter operations. Be wary of those with lots of openings, or those that say tides don't make a difference.