September Fishing in Alaska

From his wife’s IPAD the most polite man in the Fly Fishing Industry, our own Peter Cadigan reports on a recent Alaska Trip…

Caddis Fly friends recently spent a week fishing the Naknek River, King Salmon Alaska. Mid to late September is big Rainbow time in the Bristol Bay region where millions of salmon migrate up-river to spawn. Rainbows follow them to feast on eggs, and later on flesh. Swinging flesh flies and big articulated leech – type patterns proved effective as did an egg sucking leech.

High water restricted wading to some degree, but otherwise did not affect the fishing. One member of the party managed to catch at least one 30 plus inch rainbow, but the rest of the party failed to break that barrier, although a number of 24 to 29 inch fish were brought to the net. One member of the group took a few hours off one afternoon to successfully target Grayling with dry flies and a light line.

Temperatures ranged from the high 30’s to low 50’s, mostly overcast skies, a fair amount of rain, and one day of 50-60 mile an hour wind which kept everyone of the river. In other words, typical Alaskan weather. The Naknek is a great fishery, and one which offers a wide variety of fishing experiences.

Good fishing, good companions, and a good trip.

Peter Cadigan

Post Script: Peter and friends were so busy having a good time they neglected to shoot many photos.

That prompted an idea. SEND US YOUR BEST ALASKA PHOTOS OF A TRIP THIS SUMMER AND WE WILL POST THEM. AN INCREDIBLY DISCERNING JUDGE WILL DECIDE WHAT PHOTOS ARE THE BEST AND SEND THE WINNERS A DOZEN FLIES.