Alaska Rainbow Adventures offers numerous Alaska float trips on the states most "epic" float waters, including the Kanektok or "Chosen" River, the Goodnews, the Arolik, Kisaralik, Kwethluk, Togiak, Stuyahok, Koktuli, Chilikadrotna, Talachulitna, Lake Creek, Alagnak, Moraine and the American River. Below is more detailed information on the most popular trips they run each season.
Alagnak River (Bristol Bay Region):
The Alagnak or "Branch River" is located 290 miles southwest of Anchorage, and accessed from King Salmon, Alaska.
The Alagnak River traverses the beautiful Alaska Peninsula, flowing about seventy miles from its twin sources of Kukaklek and Nonvianuk Lakes into the Kvichak River, shortly before entering Bristol Bay.
This river has a long history of being 'the river to float' for trophy rainbow trout fishing in Alaska. Its bountiful rainbow trout kick off the season on June 8th each year as they slash into out-migrating schools of salmon fry. Swinging large streamers like the Dali Lama are popular at this time!
The Alagnak's clear waters also host some of the largest runs of Pacific salmon in the world with the one of the largest runs of sockeye in the state. Sockeye salmon and a few jack kings arrive in the waters of the river in late June, followed soon after by the main run of adult chinook as the calendar slips into July.
The massive influx of salmon into this uniquely Alaskan fishery does not stop there, as the sockeye and kings are closely followed by chum salmon, with their runs in mid to late July headed to the lower two thirds of the river. Pinks come in droves in even years and silver salmon flood in from mid-August to well into September (when fall fishing for rainbow trout can be hot!).
Most years find Paul with a few trips scheduled during what we call "Sockeyefest" in late June through mid-July. While it is not just about fishing for sockeye salmon - as other species also abound - it is a celebration of the one fish species that drives the biological diversity of the region. If it were not for the tens of millions of these magnificent salmon returning, spawning and then in death feeding everything here, not much, not even the beautiful leopard rainbows the Alagnak is famous for would be here!
For an unbelievable Alaskan adventure ask us about combining the Moraine Creek float fishing trip with a segment on the Alagnak River in August and September for some of the biggest rainbows Alaska has to offer.
Aniak River (Kuskokwim River Drainage):
The Aniak is located about three hundred miles southwest of Anchorage. The Aniak fishes well beginning in mid-July with the king salmon run, and winds up in mid-September with coho salmon and rainbow trout fishing reaching their peak.
When conditions are right from mid-July to mid-September, the Aniak can offer exceptional angling for rainbow trout, all five species of Pacific salmon, Arctic char, grayling and even northern pike in the lower river.
Most of the streams of southwest Alaska run crystal clear, including the Aniak during good weather, but we are talking optimal conditions, which is when things on the Aniak can be exciting. This is not the river for the inexperienced or those looking for an easy float, but the rewards can be exceptional!
Arolik River (Southwest Alaska):
The Arolik River is a fly angler’s paradise. This pristine southwestern Alaska waterway is prolific in how it fishes, intimate in size, and manages to maintain those qualities along its entire length, all while offering the traveling angler an exceptional float fishing and wading experience.
The fishing season on the Arolik kicks off in early June as anglers target the region's heavily-spotted leopard rainbow trout. Soon after, sizable numbers of king salmon enter the river. These are the largest of the Pacific salmon and any angler tying into one of these behemoths within the confines of the diminutive Arolik is in for quite the battle - perhaps reason enough to plan a visit to southwest Alaska!
Up next, it's chum and sockeye salmon along with innumerable dolly varden and char. If you are lucky enough to be here as July fades into August, you may find yourself attempting to hook into all five Pacific salmon species, grayling, rainbows, and char all in one trip! This is when dime bright silver salmon first enter the Arolik and make themselves available to anglers well into September… which of course is also a prime time for rainbow trout that are now fat and sassy after a summer of plenty!
One should note that as with most strains of rainbow trout in Alaska, a mid to upper twenty-inch fish is likely to be ten or more years of age and the Arolik's beautifully-spotted rainbow trout are no exception. These trout share a love of eating mouse-like rodents or voles, so be sure to include a few durable mouse patterns in your fly boxes, such as the Morrish Mouse and/or Mr. Hankey. Action for these rodent-eating aerialists can be fast at times, though these rainbows are anything but predictable. As on any watershed in Alaska, these trout move around a lot and are found where there is food, and finding where that is can vary from week to week, so do not expect easy pickings, though there will always be plenty of dolly varden to fill in between these big rainbows.
Goodnews River (Southwest Alaska):
The Goodnews River float trip begins at Goodnews Lake on the North Fork - which is located some 385 miles southwest of Anchorage, AK - and accessed from the hub city of Bethel, Alaska.
If ever there was a place where the piscatorial stars align in Alaska it would be on the Goodnews River, in western Alaska.
Alaska Rainbow Adventures bookends their Goodnews River float trip program with trips to the Kanektok River each year, with the first trip starting on Independence Day and the fall session starting out on September 10th (where an eight- or ten-day trip is available).
This float fishing trip offers exceptional scenery, high wilderness values and non-stop fly fishing action. By the time mid-July gets here there are already a healthy number of rainbow trout, arctic grayling, king, sockeye, chum, and pink salmon and the occasional northern pike available. As the month wears on, the Goodnews sees an influx of arctic char/dolly varden (affectionately referred to as "Charlies!"), and coho (silver) salmon in epic numbers begin their return to the river.
In the gin clear waters of the Goodnews it is common to see a literal biomass of fish that span the river channel from bank to bank, and nose to tail as they move upriver from Bristol Bay and the Bering Sea.
Each day becomes a euphoric progression of hearty meals, amazing fishing, wildlife viewing, solitude, and the camaraderie of driftwood fires and the reliving of the day’s events. It is a veritable Never Never Land for the fly fishing Peter Pan in all of us, and all you need are your happy thoughts and a confirmed reservation.
Kanektok River (Southwest Alaska):
The Kanektok River float starts some 360 miles southwest of Anchorage, AK, at the outlet from Kagati and Pegati Lakes, and is accessed from the hub city of Bethel, Alaska.
The Kanektok or "Chosen River" is one of Alaska's great fishing destinations, and as such, many an angler has found themselves spending hours poring over all the available literature about these fabled waters.
This is where mouse patterns go to "prove they are worthy" of being fished in the rest of the world, or to die! Our Independence Day start on the Kanektok River brings with it an explosion of rainbow trout action!
Yes, let the fireworks begin because this trip on the Kanektok is before any of the five species of Pacific salmon populate the entirety of the river, and it is when the Kanektok's spectacularly spotted leopard rainbows are most available and are looking up!
You will fly to the headwaters of the Kanektok via a chartered floatplane from the village of Bethel, Alaska. For the next eight days and seven nights you will float, camp, and fish the river, taking in scenic vistas, netting rainbows, and as we slide into the lower reaches of this Southwest Alaska gem, take on the mighty chinook, chum, and sockeye salmon as they arrive in the river bright and full of fight!
In the fall the Kanektok's voracious rainbows have had a whole summer of feeding to fatten up and fill out, many easily growing to double the size they were in spring, and it is at this time they are truly at their prime.
It is our September 10th start date that brings the seriously addicted rainbow anglers to Alaska and in particular to the Kanektok in search of these trophies. Everything works, be it drifting flesh or egg patterns, or on top with mouse patterns such as Morrish's Mouse, Mr. Hankey, or other rodent patterns. Toss in unusually large numbers of voracious "WOG"-crushing Coho's, uncountable numbers of dollies and other available species, and yes, the fishing is pretty much off the charts on this near hundred-mile float through Fly Fishing Heaven!
Flowing some ninety miles from Kagati and Pegati Lakes to the village of Quinhagak on the Bering Sea, the Kanektok River has long been known among trout aficionados as an amazing fishery for the much-acclaimed Alaskan leopard rainbow trout. The Kanektok has the distinction of being on the bucket list of many anglers, which speaks volumes of its reputation.
Given the length of the float, the vistas and sights, the numerous channels and braids, as well as the availability of stellar campsites, no two trips down this river are ever the same.
Like its sister rivers the Goodnews and Togiak, the Kanektok possesses monster runs of sea-run dolly varden/arctic char as well as superb arctic grayling in the 18"-22" range.
The river is also renowned for amazing runs of coho (silver) salmon, as well as the jaw-dropping availability of chinook (king) salmon and non-stop sockeye salmon action, all depending on the time of year one chooses to float.
The Kanektok is one of Alaska's most productive and diverse fisheries, intimate and small for the first few days, fishing well for the species that frequent this section of the river; then becoming braided and offering idyllic and wadable rainbow water. After you reach the lower thirty or so miles you are in perfect salmon water, truly an epic Alaskan wilderness fishing experience.
The multitude of campsite options predicates that the fishing from each evening's camp will be more than memorable, and quite likely will result in much rollicking around the fire that night, rehashing the fish tales with the opportunity to create more within a few steps of the campfire.
Moraine Creek (Bristol Bay Region):
Moraine Creek is located 220 miles southwest of Anchorage in the Katmai National Preserve, and accessed from King Salmon, Alaska.
The Moraine may be one of the more heavily fished streams in the Bristol Bay region, be it by anglers flying in for the day from area lodges or by the other locals, viewing Alaska's magnificent brown bears! But neither should keep you from considering fishing the Moraine as they are here for a reason - the sockeye salmon that have come here to spawn and the abundant numbers of rainbows that follow them. Angler success is high here and for the adventurer Moraine Creek is among the best locations to view, photograph and admire Alaska's Brown Bear in their natural habitat… and you will likely catch more than a few fish along the way!
All of this is enhanced by being on a float trip which puts you and your fellow anglers on the water before and after the planes from the lodges have come and gone for the day - in doing so you will get to fish the Moraine and see it for what it truly is, a small wilderness stream far from any roads that fishes exceptionally well and which at times you will find nearly abandoned but for you and your fellow anglers. While you never really know what you will get as far as the number of other people you may see on the Moraine, you can be assured of the opportunity to cast a line to many trophy rainbow trout and perhaps even that fish of a lifetime.
Togiak River (Southwest Alaska):
The Togiak River float starts some 350 miles southwest of Anchorage, AK, and is accessed from the hub city of Dillingham, Alaska.
The Togiak River in many ways epitomizes the fishing fantasy so many anglers envision when they think of Alaska.
Crystal clear water flowing silkily over round cobbled gravel beds, teaming with almost every species of fish known to inhabit this awesome land, and winding its way through miles and miles of soaring, jagged mountains. The Togiak is completely isolated, with only the gurgling of the river, the breeze in the foliage, and the cries of loons, eagles, hawks, and seabirds to provide the soundtrack to a fishing excursion unrivaled in North America.
The Togiak River ... meanders its way towards the Bering Sea coast from our put-in location at its headwaters on Togiak Lake. It passes a number of tributaries which offer phenomenal fishing, and jaw-dropping campsite vistas. It is not uncommon to sit around a roaring fire in the evening, recalling the day’s fishing and wildlife viewing whilst the moon rises from behind the surrounding peaks as you listen to a chorus of wolves and owls calling out in the night.
Of course, all of this sounds idyllic; and we have not even discussed the fishing to be had here!
The Togiak boasts a large biomass of fish ranging from dolly varden/arctic char by the thousands and the beautifully-colored purple metallic dorsal-finned arctic grayling, to rainbow trout that max out in the 32"+ range… and did we mention the coho (silver) salmon runs?
Silver salmon so thick and feisty that you may find yourself back home weeks later asking your physician if he has a way to treat “coho elbow”. These fish do not have far to travel from the sea, and aren't fighting a heavy current, so when they strike a fly they have energy to spare, and they will take it out on the angler with a vengeance.
Complimenting the coho run, the togiak also offers king salmon as well as sockeye salmon runs that are very difficult to beat anywhere.
