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Where To Go Salmon Fishing |
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Alaskan salmon don't just jump, they explode from the rivers, showering water in every direction. Catching one can make for the most fun-and delicious-day you've ever spent. Most anglers stalk them as they swim upriver to spawn in "runs" of up to millions of fish, which occur throughout the summer.
So where do you go to find them? Here are your four most popular and convenient options from Anchorage: (chart format).
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| Fly-In Fishing From Anchorage |
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Fast and convenient • Best fishing • Wilderness experience • Scenic flight |
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Just minutes from Anchorage on a scenic floatplane flight, fly-ins offer world-class fishing and more of a wilderness experience. While you sometimes encounter other fly-in anglers, fly-ins take you beyond the reach of roads and offer you the best chance of catching lots of fish. Professional guides lead you to the day's hot fishing holes, where you can cast for prized Alaskan king salmon, ferocious silvers, world-class lake trout and more.
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$250 for half-day guided fly-in |
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$350-400 for a full-day guided fly-in |
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Pick up at your Anchorage hotel |
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| Kenai River Salmon Charter |
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World's biggest salmon • Close to Anchorage • All 5 species • See eagles and moose |
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The Kenai has many appeals: It's one of the world's few rivers which support all five Pacific salmon species. The world's biggest salmon are caught here-including a record 97-pound king. Its emerald-blue waters flow through canyons and forests filled with eagles. The area offers has great hiking and scenery. And it's only a 2 hour drive to Cooper Landing where most charters launch. You'll float lazily on driftboats. The only drawback is you won't have the river to yourself.
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$200 for a full-day guided charter |
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2 hr drive to Cooper Landing. Drive the Seward Highway south to the Sterling Highway. Continue a few more miles to Cooper Landing, milepoint 48 |
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| Talkeetna Salmon Charter |
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Catch more fish though smaller • Day trip by car or train • On the way to Denali • Views of Mt. McKinley |
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Talkeetna is a pioneer town half way from Anchorage to Denali. The salmon aren't as big as on the Kenai-here they're 30-50 pounders-but there are more of them. You'll fish wide braided rivers that flow off McKinley's south-facing glaciers. Bears, moose, and eagle are sometimes seen on the riverbanks. Talkeetna has character, lots to do, and good lodging. A motorboat takes you upriver and drops you off where the fish are biting. The main drawback is that other anglers also congregate there-so the boat ride in is a wilderness experience but the fishing sometimes isn't.
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$135 for a half-day, $185 for a full day of guided fishing. |
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By car: 2.5 hours. Drive the Glenn Highway north to Parks Highway to the Talkeetna Spur Rd to the end. |
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By rail: 3 hours, 10 minutes, depart Anchorage 8:15am, return leaves Talkeetna 4:40pm. |
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| Seward Ocean Charter |
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Ocean/saltwater fishing • Day trip by car or train • Multi-species charters available • Lots to do in the town |
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If your cruise disembarks in Seward, or if you're going there for a glacier cruise or other sightseeing, then this is a good choice. Ocean boats are more spacious than river boats. The flip side is you stay on the boat the whole time. You probably won't mind since the scenery on the ocean is majestic: huge mountains and glaciers in the background; whales, porpoises, sea otters and other marine wildlife in the foreground.
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$135 for a half-day, $185 for a full day of guided fishing. |
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By car: 2.5 hours. Drive south on the Seward Highway to the end (126 miles). |
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By rail: 4 hr, 20 mins, depart Anchorage 6:45am, arrive Seward 11:05am. Return leaves Seward 6:00pm. |
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| Homer Ocean Charter |
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While Homer offers year-round saltwater salmon fishing, it's too far from Anchorage to go for salmon fishing alone. |
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| Option |
Pluses |
Minuses |
Details |
| Fly-in From Anchorage |
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Convenient, more solitude, better fishing |
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Wilderness experience |
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Go wherever the fish are biting |
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Extend trip in a cabin or all-inclusive lodge |
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More expensive |
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35 min floatplane ride |
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Full day |
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$359 – $399 |
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Mid-May to Aug |
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| Kenai River Charter |
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Drift downriver, fish from the boat or riverbank |
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World's biggest salmon |
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Turquoise water, mountains, canyons, and forests |
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Great scenery and nearby hiking |
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Popular river, but guides take you to less crowded areas |
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2.5 hr. drive south |
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Full day |
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$200 |
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May – Sept |
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| Talkeetna River Charter |
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Motorboat ride upriver to fishing holes |
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Lots of fish |
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McKinley views |
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Multiple transportation options (train, bus, car) |
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Pioneer town worth seeing on the way to Denali with lots of activities |
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Smaller salmon than the Kenai |
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Sometimes feels crowded |
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2.5 hr. drive north, 3 hr. train, 40 min flight |
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½ to full day |
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$135 – $185 |
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May – Sept |
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| Seward Ocean Charter |
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Fish from enclosed oceangoing motorboats |
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Multi-species charters available |
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Spot whales, otters, sea lions |
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In August don't miss Silver Salmon Derby |
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Slight risk of seasickness |
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Rare: 9 lbs |
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Record: 13 lbs |
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2.5 hr. drive south |
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Half or full day |
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$135 – $185 |
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May – Sept |
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