Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Salmon live along the coasts of both the North Atlantic (one migratory species Salmo salar) and Pacific Oceans (approximately a dozen species of the genus Oncorhynchus), and have also been introduced into the Great Lakes of North America.

Typically, salmon are anadromous: they are born in fresh water, migrate to the ocean, then return to fresh water to reproduce. However, there are populations of several species that are restricted to fresh water through their life. Folklore has it that the fish return to the exact spot where they were born to spawn; tracking studies have shown this to be true, and this homing behavior has been shown to depend on olfactory memory.

They are born in fresh water, migrate to the ocean, then return to fresh water to reproduce. However, there are populations of several species that are restricted to fresh water through their life. Folklore has it that the fish return to the exact spot where they were born to spawn; tracking studies have shown this to be true, and this homing behavior has been shown to depend on olfactory memory. Prior to spawning, depending on the species, salmon undergo changes. They may grow a hump, develop canine teeth, develop a kype (a pronounced curvature of the jaws in male salmon). All will change from the silvery blue of a fresh run fish from the sea to a darker colour. Salmon can make amazing journeys, sometimes moving hundreds of miles upstream against strong currents and rapids to reproduce.

The species of salmon that we will cover on this page are the Chum, Pink, Sockeye, and Cherry.  We cover the Chinook (King) and Coho (Silver) on their own individual species pages.

Sedanka Spring CreekCherry Salmon (Masu Salmon):
The masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou), also known as masu  or cherry trout (sakura masu) in Japan, is a species of salmonid belonging to the genus Oncorhynchus, found in the North Pacific along Northeast/East Asian coasts from the Russian Far East (Primorsky, Kamchatka Peninsula, Sakhalin and Kuril Islands) to south through Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

A masu salmon which has reached sexual maturity has a darkened back, and the stripes on the body sides become bright red with crimson tinge to merge on the abdomen into one common longitudinal band of lighter color. For this reason, it was given the name cherry salmon.

Mature chum salmon caught at Lava Creek LodgeChum Salmon:
The chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta), also known as dog salmon or keta salmon, is a species of anadromous salmonid fish from the genus Oncorhynchus (Pacific salmon) native to the coastal rivers of the North Pacific and the Beringian Arctic, and is often marketed under the trade name silverbrite salmon in North America.

Chum have an ocean coloration of silvery blue green with some indistinct spotting in a darker shade, and a rather paler belly. When they move into fresh water the color changes to dark olive green and the belly color deepens. When adults are near spawning, they have purple blotchy streaks near the caudal peduncle, darker towards the tail. Spawning males typically grow an elongated snout or kype, their lower fins become tipped with white and they have enlarged teeth.

Sockeye salmon underwater with fly in it's mouth at HoodooSockeye Salmon:
The sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), also called red salmon, kokanee salmon, blueback salmon, or simply sockeye, is an anadromous species of salmon found in the Northern Pacific Ocean and rivers discharging into it. This species is a Pacific salmon that is primarily red in hue during spawning.

Sockeye are blue tinged with silver in color while living in the ocean.  When they return to spawning grounds, their bodies become red and their heads turn green.

Angler holding a male pink salmonPink Salmon:
Pink salmon or humpback salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) is a species of euryhaline ray-finned fish in the family Salmonidae. It is the type species of the genus Onchorhynchus (Pacific salmon), and is the smallest and most abundant of the seven officially recognized species of salmon. The species’ scientific name is based on the Russian common name for this species gorbúša (горбуша), which literally means humpie.

In the ocean, pink salmon are bright silver fish. After returning to their spawning streams, their coloring changes to pale grey on the back with yellowish-white belly, although some turn an overall dull green color.  During their spawning migration, males develop a pronounced humped back, hence their nickname “humpies”.

Alaska Rainbow Adventures

Alaska

Founded in 1993, Alaska Rainbow Adventures quickly became one of the leading providers of float trips in Alaska. These guys have it dialed, and there is no one more capable to show you the remote backcountry wilderness of Alaska and keep you completely comfortable...
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Alaska West

Alaska

Deneki Outdoors owns and operates this destination on the banks of the Kanektok River, and has spared no expense to make it one of the most nicely appointed camps in Alaska. For the next week you'll be fishing in one of the most beautiful...
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Alaska Wilderness Safari

Alaska

Located on the uninhabited Pacific coast of the Alaska Peninsula, AWS has a sterling reputation for delivering a high quality fly fishing experience despite the daunting logistics associated with their wilderness setting.
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Aniak River Lodge

Alaska

Located on the remote banks of the Aniak River, it’s jam-packed with rainbows, dollies, grayling, salmon, sheefish and northern pike. It’s a fish factory. Talk about a complete fly fishing experience! Aniak River Lodge (ARL) is unique among Alaska fly fishing lodges, in several ways.
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Baranof Wilderness Lodge

Alaska

Mike and Sally’s Baranof Wilderness Lodge has an incredibly high client return rate, which speaks volumes about their service, and experience. The fishing at Baranof Lodge is tremendously varied, and includes fishing for the regions parade of salmon species both in local rivers...
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Bear Trail Lodge

Alaska

Bear Trail Lodge, a fly fishing lodge in Alaska, is located at the epicenter of some of the best trout, salmon and char fisheries in Alaska. For those who are looking for a superb fly-out experience targeting a mixed bag experience, Bear Trail should be at or near the top of the list!
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Bristol Bay Sportfishing Lodge

Alaska

Owner and head pilot Jerry Jacques operates one of the most unique fly out lodges in the Iliamna area, combining small occupancy and multiple aircraft to give guests a wide range of angling options. The lodge could not be more perfectly and centrally located to hit all of the finest local...
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Chosen River Outfitters

Alaska

Accessible only by floatplane, the headwaters lake of the river you’ll be floating (the Kanektok) will be the jumping off spot for a week of fishing through a hundred miles of remote Alaskan outback. Each day the scenery changes as you travel down this magnificent river, offering...
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Copper River Lodge

Alaska

Located right on the banks of the famed Copper River near Iliamna, Alaska, this is, arguably, the most beautiful location and one of the finer fishing locations for rainbow trout in our 49th state. It is Alaska the way most anglers imagine it to be — a shallow, crystal clear stream, alive...
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Duncan & Sons Floats

Alaska

The float is based on the Kanektok River, which flows directly into Kuskokwim Bay. Famous for its beautifully-marked “Leopard” rainbows, the river also hosts superb runs of all 5 species of Pacific salmon, as well as sea run Dolly Varden and resident grayling. The river is the perfect...
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Duncan & Sons River Camp

Alaska

Dave Duncan & Sons is a family-owned and operated business that specializes in remote wilderness Base Camps – we represent their two operations on the Kanektok River, the Upper River Base Camp and the Lower River Base Camp. Their family has more than one hundred years...
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Goodnews River Lodge

Alaska

Mike Gorton’s remote outpost camp on the Goodnews River has been popular with hardcore anglers for decades. This midrange-sized river is far enough off the beaten track so as to have very few free floaters, meaning most of the many miles of river “belong” to Mike’s guests for...
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Hoodoo Sportfishing

Alaska

We all dream, I think, of being the first to discover a remote Alaskan river, a stream so far off the charts, it has only been acknowledged, vaguely, by a few intrepid explorers. A river so distant that even its actual name is in question. How amazing to be among the first human beings...
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Iliamna River Lodge

Alaska

Iliamna River Lodge is located 200 miles southwest of Anchorage in the Lake Iliamna Basin. Accessible only by jetboat or floatplane, their location on the Iliamna River, at the east end of Lake Iliamna in Pile Bay, is dead center in the middle of some of the finest sportfishing in Alaska.
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Lava Creek Lodge

Alaska

Lava Creek Lodge is a small outpost lodge on the Aleutian Peninsula of Alaska, south/southwest of Bristol Bay, Alaska. The lodge accommodates a maximum of eight guests during king, chum, and silver salmon seasons. It is custom-tailored for the serious salmon angler who values remote...
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Outpost On The Nush

Alaska

The “Nush” is a fish bum’s dream come true. Rise as early or late as you please ’cause there’s no competition to race to the pool. Fish hard all day on 50 miles of accessible river, come back to camp and recharge with a hearty meal and a few fish stories. Then head to the home pools...
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Rainbow King Lodge

Alaska

A legacy fly-out fishing lodge in the heart of the famed Katmai Basin of Alaska, Rainbow King's variety of fishing options in unparalleled. From their private lease rainbow trout fisheries to world-class salmon rivers, there is something for everyone. They even offer halibut fishing...
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Rainbow River Lodge

Alaska

Rainbow River Lodge is located 210 miles southwest of Anchorage on privately held land in the heart of Alaska’s phenomenal Bristol Bay and Lake Iliamna “Trophy Alaska Rainbow Trout” watershed, and conveniently adjacent to the Katmai Wilderness. This fly fishing lodge offers...
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Rapids Camp Lodge

Alaska

Rapids Camp Lodge, an easy to reach, full service fly-out lodge with excellent home water and one of the most diverse and exciting fly fishing programs in Alaska. The lodge is located on the Naknek River, near King Salmon, just an eighty minute flight...
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Royal Coachman Lodge

Alaska

Of all the attributes that make Royal Coachman Lodge attractive, none are so obvious as their location, and the quality of their staff. The lodge itself is located on the banks of a wilderness river in the remote Togiak/Tikchik region of Alaska, an area where lodges are few and far between,...
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Royal Wolf Lodge

Alaska

Royal Wolf Lodge is, arguably, the finest trophy trout fishing lodge in Bristol Bay. They really have little interest in fishing for salmon (though many of the streams they frequent are full of them); their program is built completely around the huge rainbows that frequent the streams...
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Sedanka Spring Creek

Kamchatka

The Sedanka River springs from the toe of an ancient lava floe on Kamchatka's northwestern taiga plain. It is one of the most biologically diverse drainages of the entire peninsula, with all 6 species of Pacific salmon, rainbow trout, kundzha and both...
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Talaheim Lodge

Alaska

Imagine being in an Alaskan wilderness only a short 45-minute flight from Anchorage, in a comfortable lodge (that only takes 6-8 guests per week) on the banks of a great trout and salmon river, with superb guides and wonderful food. Yeah, yeah, that’s all fine and good, you say…
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The Ridge

Alaska

The Ridge is located 210 miles southwest of Anchorage on privately held land in the heart of Alaska’s phenomenal Bristol Bay and Lake Iliamna “Trophy Alaska Rainbow Trout” watershed, and conveniently adjacent to the Katmai Wilderness.
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Wilderness Floats

Kamchatka

Every once in a while we have to wander and explore new, never-before fly fished rivers in Kamchatka. It does not happen every year, but when it does it is worth jumping at the opportunity. There are very few places left in the world where one can...
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