Flyfisher's Guide to Alaska

by Haugen, Scott; Busch, Dan; Rice, Will

• ISBN13: 9781932098020
• ISBN10: 193209802X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-10-01
• Publisher: Wilderness Adventures Pr

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	viii
Introduction	ix
Alaska's Game Fish	i
King (Chinook) Salmon	1	(1)
Silver (Coho)Salmon	2	(1)
Sockeye (Red) Salmon	2	(1)
Chum (Dog) Salmon)	3	(1)
Pink (Humpback) Salmon	4	(1)
Steelhead	5	(1)
Rainbow Trout	6	(1)
Lake Trout	7	(1)
Cutthroat Trout	8	(1)
Brook Trout	9	(1)
DollyVarden	9	(2)
Arctic Grayling	11	(1)
Northern Pike	12	(1)
Sheefish	13	(1)
Salmon Key	14	(3)
ANCHORAGE Area	17	(36)
Travel and Fishing	17	(1)
Getting From Your House to Anchorage	17	(2)
Driving and Fishing Beyond Anchorage	19	(2)
Anchorage Services	21	(6)
Flyfishing Around Anchorage	27	(1)
Major Fisheries Run Times Around Anchorage	28	(3)
General Fish Run Times Around Anchorage	. .29
Fishing North of Anchorage	31	(7)
Ekiutna River	31	(1)
Eagle River	31	(2)
Fort Richardson Area Lakes	33	(1)
Sixmile Creek (mouth)	33	(2)
Ship Lake	35	(1)
Ship Creek	35	(1)
Indian Creek	35	(1)
Campbell Creek	36	(2)
Rabbit Creek	38	(1)
Fishing South of Anchorage	38	(6)
Bird Creek	38	(3)
Glacier Creek	41	(1)
California Creek	41	(1)
Peterson Creek (mouth)	42	(1)
Twentymile River.	42	(2)
Sidebar: TaggingAll Five Salmon Species AroundAnchorage	44	(1)
Anchorage-Area Stocked Lakes	44	(5)
Alder Pond	46	(1)
Beach Lake	46	(1)
Campbell Point Lake	46	(1)
Cheney Lake	46	(1)
Clunie Lake	46	(1)
Delong Lake	46	(1)
Dishno Lake	47	(1)
Eklutna Lake	47	(1)
Fish Lake	47
Arctic Char	10	(23)
Ship Creek	33	(5)
Rabbit Creek	38	(9)
Green Lake	47	(1)
Gwen Lake	47	(1)
Hiliberg Lake	47	(1)
Jewel Lake	47	(1)
Lake Otis	47	(1)
Lower Fire Lake	47	(1)
Mirror Lake	47	(1)
Starr Lake	47	(1)
Rabbit Lake	47	(1)
Sand Lake	47	(1)
Spring Lake	47	(1)
Taku Campbell Lake	47	(1)
Tangle Pond	47	(1)
ThompsonLake	48	(1)
Triangle Lake	48	(1)
University Lake	48	(1)
Upper Sixmile Lake	48	(1)
Waldon Lake	48	(1)
Willow Pond	48	(1)
Sidebar: Salmon Viewing Areas Around Anchorage	48	(1)
Fly-In Fishing Trips from Anchorage	49	(1)
Flyfishing Techniques	49	(4)
Salmon Drift-Fishing Tactics	49	(4)
FISHING THE KENAI PENINSULA	53	(82)
Run Timing for Kenai Peninsula Freshwater Fisheries	54	(2)
Seward Highway: Portage Creek to Tern Lake	56	(6)
Portage Creek	56	(1)
Placer River	56	(3)
Ingram Creek	59	(1)
Granite Creek	59	(1)
Johnson Pass Trail Lakes	59	(1)
Hope Area Fishing	59	(1)
Canyon Creek	60	(1)
Fresno Creek	61	(1)
Summit LLakes	61	(1)
Quartz Creek	61	(1)
Jerome Lake	61	(1)
Tern Lake	61	(1)
Hub City: Hope	62	(1)
Seward Highway: Sterling Highway Junction to Seward	62	(8)
Carter Lake Trailhead	62	(2)
Upper Trail Lake and Moose Pass	64	(1)
Vagt Lake	64	(1)
Upper KenaiLake	64	(1)
Ptarmigan Creek	64	(1)
Grayling Lake	65	(1)
Golden Fin, Troop, and Grouse Lakes	65	(1)
LostLake	65	(1)
Salmon Creek	65	(1)
No Name Creek	66	(1)
The Town of Seward (Fishing)	66	(1)
Hub City: Seward	67	(1)
Hub City: Moose Pass	68	(2)
The Sterling Highway: Seward Highway Junction to Soldotna	70	(16)
Quartz Creek	70	(2)
Cooper Landing	72	(1)
Snug Harbor Road Fisheries	73	(1)
Russian Lakes Trail	73	(1)
Upper Russian River	74	(1)
Russian River	74	(4)
Resurrection Pass Trailhead	78	(1)
Fuller Lakes Trailhead	79	(1)
Skilak Road Lakes and Streams	79	(1)
Hidden Lake	79	(2)
Ohmer Lakes	81	(1)
Skilak Lake	81	(1)
Engineer Lake	81	(1)
Seven Lakes Trailhead	81	(1)
Jean Lake and Upper Jean Lake	81	(1)
Moose River	82	(1)
Longmene, Mackey, Denise, and Deník Lakes	82	(1)
Hub City: Cooper Landing	83	(1)
Hub City: Sterling	84	(2)
The Sterling Highway: Soldotna to Homer	86	(26)
The World-Famous Kenai River	86	(9)
The Upper Kenai River	88	(1)
The Middle Kenai River	89	(2)
Sidebar: Fishing the Bead	91	(1)
Lower Kenai River	92	(3)
Arc and Decanter Lakes	95	(2)
Kasilof River	97	(3)
Sidebar: Why Bring Spin-Fishing Gear?	100	(1)
Tustumena Lake	100	(1)
Centennial Lake	100	(1)
Crooked Creek	100	(1)
Fish and Wildlife Lakes	101	(1)
Sidebar: The Best Clams in the World	102	(1)
Ninilchik River	103	(4)
Deep Creek	107	(1)
Happy Creek	108	(1)
Stariski Creek	108	(1)
Sidebar: Clamming at Whiskey Gulch	109	(1)
Anchor River	109	(3)
The Homestretch to Homer	112	(8)
Hub City: Anchor Point	113	(1)
Hub City: Clam Gulch	113	(1)
Hub City: Homer	113	(2)
Hub City: Kasilof	115	(1)
Hub City: Kenai	115
Hub City: Ninilchik 11	6	(11)
Hub City: Soldotna l	17	(103)
Kenai Peninsula Canoe Trails	120	(12)
Swanson River Canoe Trail	121	(5)
Swan Lake Canoe Trail	126	(4)
Sidebar: Tips for Lake Fishing During Algae Blooms	130	(2)
Fly-In Fishing on the Kenai Peninsula	132	(3)
BRISTOL BAY AND SURROUNDING AREAS	135	(98)
General Fish Run Tulles For Bristol Bay	136	(2)
OnYour Own in Bristol Ray	138	(11)
Services for Do-It Yourselfers	142	(1)
Sidebar: Flies for Bristol Bay	143	(6)
Katmai Park and Preserve	149	(25)
Alagnak River	149	(3)
Kukaklek River	152	(2)
Naknek River	154	(4)
Brooks River	158	(4)
Idavain Creek	162	(1)
Margot Creek	162	(3)
Kulik River	165	(1)
American Creek	166	(3)
Moraine Creek	169	(3)
Funnel Creek	172	(1)
Hub City: King Salmon and Katmai Park	173	(1)
Alaska Peninsula	174	(5)
Becharof Lake and the Ugashik Lakes Area	174	(2)
Sandy River	176	(2)
Ocean River	178	(1)
Other Rivers	178	(1)
Alaska Peninsula Lodges, Guides, and Outfitters	179	(1)
Lake Iliamna Region	179	(13)
Kvichak River	179	(5)
Copper River	184	(2)
Gibraltar River	186	(2)
Lower Talarfik Creek	188	(3)
Nevehalen River	191	(1)
Hub Cities: Iliamna and Igiugig	191	(1)
Nushagak and Wood/Tikchik Area	192	(11)
Nushagak River	192	(7)
Upper Nushagak	194	(1)
The Braids	195	(1)
Lower River	196	(3)
Chilikadrotna River	199	(2)
Mulchatna River	201	(1)
The Koktuli and the Stuyahok Rivers	202	(1)
The Wood-Tikchiks	203	(13)
The Wood River System	204	(3)
Tikchik River	207	(2)
Nuyakuk River	209	(2)
Hub Cities: Dillingham And Aleknagik	211	(1)
Togiak River	212	(3)
Izavíeknik River	215	(1)
Kuskokwim Bay	216	(1)
Kanektok River	216	(17)
Goodnews River	221	(3)
Aniak River	224	(4)
Kwethluk River	228	(1)
Hub Cities: Bethel	229	(1)
Sidebar: Bear Essentials	230	(3)
KODIAK ARCHIPELAGO	233	(34)
Kodiak General Fish Run Times	234	(1)
Land Use, Access, and Ownership	235	(1)
Fishing KodiakWaters	236	(11)
Fishing Along the Road System	237	(1)
Buskin River	238	(2)
Russian Creek and Sargent Creek	240	(1)
Salonie Creek	240	(1)
American River	241	(1)
Saltery River	241	(1)
Olds River and Kalsin Creek	242	(1)
Roslyn Creek	243	(1)
Chiniak Creek	243	(1)
Myrtle Creek	243	(1)
Pasagshak River System	243	(1)
Red Cloud River	244	(1)
Pillar Creek	244	(1)
Monashka Creek	244	(1)
Landlocked Lakes	244	(3)
Remote River Systems	247	(6)
Karluk River	248	(2)
Ayakulik River	250	(1)
Sturgeon River	251	(2)
Uganik River	253	(1)
Olga Bay Systems	253	(3)
Dog Salmon Creek	253	(1)
Olga Bay	254	(1)
Olga Creek	255	(1)
Akalura Creek	255	(1)
Horse Marine Creek	255	(1)
Silver Salmon River	256	(1)
Additional Kodiak Island Systems	256	(1)
Afognak Island	257	(4)
Pauls Bay System	257	(2)
Portage Lake System	259	(1)
Mauna Lakes System	259	(1)
Afognak River	260	(1)
Additional Afognak Island Systems	260	(1)
Shuyak Island Systems	261	(1)
Offshore Saltwater Fishing	262	(5)
Hub City: City of Kodiak	263	(1)
Hub City: Akhiok	264	(1)
Hub City: Karluk	264	(1)
Hub City: Larson Bay	264	(1)
Hub City: Old Harbor	265	(1)
Hub City: Ouzinkie	265	(1)
Hub City: Port Lions	265	(2)
SOUTHEAST ALASKA	267	(66)
General Run Timing for Southeast Alaska	267	(3)
Ketchikan	270	(6)
Settlers Cove and Lunch Creek	270	(1)
Second Lakes	270	(2)
Harriet Hunt Lake	272	(1)
Connell Lake	272	(1)
Ward Creek and Lake	272	(1)
Ward Cove	272	(1)
Perseverance Lake	272	(1)
Carlanna Lake	273	(1)
Silvis Lake and Beaver Falls	273	(1)
Ketchikan Creek	273	(1)
Thomas Basin	274	(1)
Herring Cove	274	(1)
Remote Fishing Destinations	274	(1)
Hub City: Ketchikan	275	(1)
Prince of Wales Island	276	(8)
Red Lake and Red Creek	276	(2)
108 Creek	278	(1)
Twin Island Lake	278	(1)
Neck Lake and Neck Creek	278	(1)
Sarkar Lake and Sarkar Creek	278	(1)
Logjam Creek and Hatchery Creek	278	(1)
Eagle Creek and Luck Creek	279	(1)
Staney Creek	279	(1)
Shaheen Creek	279	(1)
Thorne River	280	(1)
Balls Lake	280	(1)
Klawock River and Klawock Lake	280	(1)
Maybeso Creek	281	(1)
Harris River	281	(1)
Cable Creek	281	(1)
Twelvemile Creek	281	(1)
Remote Fishing Destinations	281	(1)
Hub City: Craig	282	(2)
Wrangell Island	284	(6)
Pat Creek and Pat Lake	284	(1)
Salamander Creek	284	(2)
Earl West Creek	286	(1)
Long Lake	286	(1)
Thoms Lake	286	(1)
Thoms Creek	287	(1)
Remote Fishing Destinations	287	(2)
Hub City: Wrangell	289	(1)
Petersburg	290	(4)
Bear Creek	290	(1)
Sand, Hill, and Crane Lakes	290	(1)
Blind River and Blind Slough	290	(1)
Ohmer Creek	290	(2)
Remote Fishing Destinations	292	(1)
Hub City: Petersburg	292	(2)
Sitka	294	(6)
Starrigavan Creek and Bay	294	(2)
Cascade Creek	296	(1)
Swan Lake	296	(1)
Indian River	296	(1)
Thimbleberry and Heart Lakes	296	(1)
Sawmill Creek	297	(1)
BeaverLake	297	(1)
Blue Lake	297	(1)
Green Lake	297	(1)
Salmon Lake Creek and Salmon Lake	298	(1)
DeerLake	298	(1)
Sitkoh Creek	298	(1)
Hub City: Sitka	299	(1)
Juneau	300	(8)
Echo Cove	300	(1)
Cowee Creek	300	(2)
Eagle River Beach	302	(1)
Windfall Lake	302	(1)
Peterson Creek and Peterson Lake	303	(1)
Montana Creek	303	(1)
Auke Lake	303	(1)
Twin Lakes	303	(1)
Picnic Cove	304	(1)
Fish Creek	304	(1)
Gastineau Channel	304	(1)
Hub City: Juneau	305	(3)
Haines and Skagway	308	(10)
Kelsalt Landing	308	(2)
Mosquito Lake	310	(1)
Chilkat River 310 Herman Lake	311	(1)
Walker Lake	311	(1)
Chilkat Lake	312	(1)
Lutak Inlet	312	(1)
Chilkoot Inlet	312	(1)
Chilkoot River	312	(1)
Chilkoot Lake	313	(1)
Skagway Harbor	313	(1)
LostLake	314	(1)
GoatLake	314	(1)
Lower and Upper Dewey Lakes	314	(1)
Pullen Creek	315	(1)
Taiga River	315	(1)
Hub City: Haines	316	(2)
Yakutat	318	(8)
Situk River	318	(5)
Sidebar, Mounting Your Catch	323	(1)
Lost River and Tawah Creek	324	(1)
Italio River	324	(1)
Akwe River	325	(1)
East Alsek River	325	(1)
Hub City: Yakutat	325	(1)
The Alaska Marine Highway	326	(1)
Inside Passage Route Times	327	(1)
U.S. Forest Service Cabins	327	(6)
FISHING ALASKAS ROAD SYSTEM	333	(94)
General Run Timing for Road-System Fisheries	334	(1)
Where To Begin?	335	(1)
The George Parks Highway	335	(24)
Wasilla Area Lakes	337	(1)
Big Lake	337	(1)
Fish Creek	337	(1)
Little Susitna River	337	(3)
Nancy Lake State Recreation Area	340	(1)
Willow Creek	340	(4)
Little Willow Creek	344	(1)
Caswell Creek	345	(1)
Sheep Creek	345	(1)
Goose Creek	345	(1)
Montana Creek	345	(1)
Troublesome Creek	346	(2)
Byers Lake and Byers Creek	348	(1)
Honolulu Creek	348	(1)
Broad Pass Lakes	348	(1)
Jack River and Carlo Creek	348	(1)
Penguingue Creek	349	(1)
Julius Creek	349	(1)
Fish Creek	349	(1)
Cheng River	349	(1)
Hub City: Anderson	350	(1)
Hub City: Denali Park	350	(1)
Hub City: Eagle	351	(1)
Hub City: Healy	352	(1)
Hub City: Houston	352	(1)
Hub City: Nemma	353	(1)
Hub City: Talkeetna	353	(1)
Hub City: Trapper Creek	354	(1)
Hub City: Wasilla	354	(2)
Hub City: Willow	356	(3)
The Richardson Highway	359	(18)
Port of Valdez	359	(1)
Robe River	360	(1)
Robe Lake	361	(1)
Lowe River	361	(1)
Thompson Lake	361	(1)
Blueberry Lake	362	(1)
Worthington Lake	362	(1)
Tiekel River	362	(1)
Little Tonsina River	363	(1)
Tonsina River	363	(1)
Squirrel Creek Campground Lake	363	(1)
Edgerton High way Lakes	363	(1)
Klutina River	363	(3)
Bear Creek	366	(1)
Gulkana River	366	(3)
Haggard Creek	369	(1)
June and Nita Lakes	369	(1)
Gillespie Lake	369	(1)
Meier's Lake	369	(1)
Dick Lake	369	(1)
Paxson Lake	369	(1)
Fish Lake and Fish Creek	369	(1)
Summit Lake	369	(1)
Gunn Creek	369	(1)
Fielding Lake	370	(1)
Quartz Lake	370	(2)
Shaw Creek	372	(1)
Birch Lake	372	(1)
Lost Lake	372	(1)
Little Harding Lake	372	(1)
Harding Lake	372	(1)
Salcha River	373	(1)
Military Base Waters	373	(1)
Cheng Lake	373	(1)
Hub City: Valdez	374	(1)
Hub City: Copper Center	375	(2)
The Glenn Highway	377	(7)
Kepler-Bradley Lakes	377	(1)
Streams at the West End of the Glenn Highway	377	(1)
A Cluster of Small Lakes	378	(2)
Leila Lake	380	(1)
Mendeltna Creek and Nearby Lakes	380	(1)
Lake Louise Area Waters	380	(1)
Tolsona and Moose Lakes	380	(1)
Tolsona Creek	381	(1)
Moose Creek	381	(1)
Hub City: Palmer	382	(1)
Hub City: Glennallen	383	(1)
The Denali Highway	384	(11)
Sevenmile Lake	385	(1)
Tenmile and Teardrop Lakes	385	(1)
Tangle Lakes and Tangle River	385	(1)
Rock Creek	385	(2)
Landmark Gap Lake	387	(1)
Glacier Lake and Sevenmile Lake	387	(1)
Crooked and Clearwater Creeks	387	(1)
Brushkana Creek	387	(1)
Hub City: Cantwell	388	(1)
The Tok Cutoff	388	(2)
Tulsona Creek	390	(1)
Sinom Creek	390	(1)
Ahtell Creek	390	(1)
Carlson Creek	391	(1)
Mable Creek	391	(1)
Mineral Lake	391	(1)
Hub City: Tok	392	(3)
The Alaska Highway	395	(4)
Gardiner Creek	395	(1)
Deadman Lake	395	(1)
Jan Lake	395	(1)
Lisa Lake	396	(1)
Craig Lake	396	(1)
Donna Lake and Little Donna Lake	396	(1)
Delta Clearwater River	396	(1)
Hub City: Delta Junction	397	(2)
The Steele Highway	399	(6)
Chatanika River	399	(2)
Nome Creek	401	(1)
Birch Creek	401	(2)
Hub City: Fairbanks	403	(2)
Cheng Hot Springs Road	405	(3)
Cheng River	405	(3)
Angel Creek	408	(1)
The Elliott Highway	408	(7)
Olnes Pond	408	(1)
Chatanika River	408	(3)
Willow Creek	411	(1)
Tolovana River	411	(1)
Minto Lakes	411	(1)
Hutlinana Creek	411	(2)
Baker Creek	413	(1)
Hot Springs Slough	413	(1)
Hub City: Manley Hot Springs	413	(2)
The Dalton Highway	415	(12)
Hess Creek	416	(1)
Yukon River	416	(1)
Ray River	416	(1)
No Name Creek	416	(3)
Kanuti River	419	(1)
Fish Creek	419	(1)
South and North Fork Bonanza Creek	419	(1)
Prospect Creek	419	(1)
Jim River	419	(1)
Grayling Lake	420	(1)
South Fork Koyukuk River	420	(1)
Slate Creek	420	(1)
Marion Creek	420	(1)
Minnie Creek	421	(1)
Middle Fork Koyukuk River	421	(1)
Bettler River	421	(1)
Dietrich River	421	(1)
Galbraith Lake	421	(2)
Toolik Lake	423	(1)
Kuparuk River	423	(1)
Sagavanirktok River	424	(1)
Hub City: Coldfoot	425	(1)
Hub City: Deadhorse	425	(2)
FISHING THE ARCTIC	427
Run Timing Arctic Freshwater Fisheries	427	(1)
Arctic Fishing Options	428	(1)
Arctic Fly-In Costs and Services	429	(1)
Accessing Private Lands	430	(1)
Southwest Arctic Fishing	430	(4)
Noatak River	430	(1)
Wulik River	430	(2)
Kobuk River	432	(1)
Selawik River	432	(2)
Central and Northwest Arctic Fishing	434	(4)
John River	436	(1)
Anaktuvuk River	436	(1)
Colville River	437	(1)
The Ivishak, Killik, and Nigu Rivers	437	(1)
Kongakut and Canning Rivers	437	(1)
Alatna River	437	(1)
Chandler Lake	438	(1)
Lakes of the Northern Brooks Range	438	(1)
Lakes of the Southern Brooks Range	438	(2)
A Word on Arctic Villages	440	(1)
Flies, Tackle, and Gear for the Arctic	441	(1)
Raft Options	441	(1)
Arctic Equipment List	442	(3)
Arctic Hub Cities: Ambler, Anaktuvuk Pass, Beales, Kiana	443	(1)
Kobuk, Kotzebue, Noatak, Selavvik, Shungnak	444	(1)
Tips for Booking a Flyfishing Lodge	445	(1)
Recommended Tackle Fly Tackle	446	(3)
Spin-Fishing Tackle	447	(2)
Alaska Tackle Shops	449	(2)
Index	451