Mid-June through mid-July

Anglers fishing from Bearclaw, and enjoying all that this Bristol Bay lodge has to offer, can fish for Arctic char using smolt patterns on both fly and conventional gear. This is a unique opportunity to catch these vividly colored piscatorial icons of the north, and some of these specimens can reach large proportions. Angling is done at the mouth of the Agulowak River (locally known as the Wak) where it meets Lake Aleknagik.

The primary species targeted during this time period are king salmon, chum salmon, sockeye salmon, rainbow trout, Arctic char, Arctic grayling, Dolly Varden char, northern pike

The primary locations available to anglers participating in this Alaska fishing package include Lake Aleknagik tributaries, Agulowak River, Agulukpak River, Nushagak River, Lake Nerka tributaries, Wood River

Third week of July

This time period offers the best chances of catching rainbow trout and Arctic grayling on dry flies. Imagine a 20-inch, heavily spotted, red-banded native rainbow trout rising to inhale a size 16 Parachute Adams. Often trout and grayling will go airborne and miss the fly; the adrenaline rush from watching it happen is more than worth the price of admission. Arctic grayling are also willing biters on topwater flies, and anglers from around the world will revel in the fish’s oversized dorsal fin and iridescent blue-green scales.

The primary species targeted during this time period are king salmon, rainbow trout, Dolly Varden char, Arctic grayling, and northern pike.

The primary locations available to anglers participating in this Alaska fishing package include Lake Aleknagik tributaries, Agulowak River, Agulukpak River, Nushagak River, Lake Nerka tributaries, Wood River.

Here’s the rundown on the Alaska fishing packages offered during this time period from this Bristol Bay fishing lodge:

  • Northern pike can be targeted in the various bays on Lake Aleknagik. Pike are ambush predators and lie in wait to explode on a well placed lure or fly. They will strike topwater, marginally subsurface and deep in the water column so it pays to have a range of lures and flies to satiate their mood.
  • The Agulowak River is in prime condition for topwater angling to trout and grayling. Nymphs, mice patterns and streamers will all work during this time of year, but small dries, usually fished in pairs by tying a dropper off the main fly, is the go-to technique.
  • A flyout to the Agulupak River can produce epic trout fishing on nymphs. Trout are generally bigger on the Pak as compared to the Wak, but can be more difficult to catch and are not as numerous. But the payout is extraordinary when a 23-inch rainbow trout speeds into your backing pinned to a size 18 zebra midge nymph. Don’t forget your dries and streamers too.
  • Bearclaw Lodge anglers can still fly over to the Alaska Kingfishers’ camp on the Nushagak to catch king salmon. While the numbers of kings present are reduced, anglers can still expect to land several of these mighty salmon that entice anglers from around the world. Bristol Bay king salmon fishing should be a bucket list item for any serious angler and a yearly pilgrimage for the ones who get afflicted with king salmon fever.
  • A boat ride from Bearclaw Lodge to Amakuk Bay on Lake Nerka (the 2nd lake after Aleknagik) is another interesting option in the lodge’s Alaska fishing package. This trip rewards the hiking angler with noteworthy scenery like a waterfall coming out of the side of the mountain and an ice cave that is usually present through mid-July, in addition to plying a small tributary for Dolly Varden char and Arctic grayling.
Dollie Varden - Alaska's Bearclaw Lodge

Forth week of July

This time period offers a wide range of options. The Wak and Pak are fishing well, and the Nushagak is in the transition period between kings and silvers. Either or both may be available depending on the year. Tributaries of Lake Aleknagik begin to hold fish as salmon filter into the tribs and start to drop eggs. That being the case, resident fish begin to target salmon spawn, so can be targeted with beads or other egg patterns. The diversity in Bearclaw’s Alaska fishing package is one of the interesting things that draws anglers interested in Bristol Bay fishing.

The primary species targeted during this time period are king salmon, silver salmon, rainbow trout, Dolly Varden char, Arctic grayling, northern pike.

The primary locations available to anglers participating in this Alaska fishing package include Lake Aleknagik tributaries, Agulowak River, Agulukpak River, Nushagak River, Lake Nerka tributaries, Wood River

During this time period the Alaska fishing package offered by Bearclaw Lodge includes the following:

  • On Lake Aleknagik, anglers can target northern pike – aka water wolf – on flies and hardware. While pike can sometimes be finicky, success is usually more about finding the fish in reasonable numbers, rather than figuring out what they will eat. Pike lay in wait and then make an explosive sprint to ambush their prey. Don’t be surprised if the strike is startling, especially topwater, as the pike explodes on the bait. It never gets dull.
  • During this time period, other opportunities open on Lake Aleknagik. Bearclaw Lodge targets three tributaries that combine a hike with wade angling. Tributary 1 is a 5-mile hike that is difficult because of the distance. The reward is bead fishing to rainbow trout. Tributary 2 offers a 2 to 3-mile hike on gravel. Beads are still the lure of choice and the quarry present includes rainbows, dollies and grayling. Tributary 3 presents a manageable 1 to 2-mile hike culminating in bead fishing for Dolly Varden char and rainbow trout.
  • Anglers on the Wak continue to dominate the trout and char, both drift fishing and wade angling. The primary flies used include dries, streamers and nymphs. Don’t be surprised if a big ‘bow smashes a mouse pattern, and include a few in your fly box. The Morrish mouse is a solid performer.
  • Lucky flyout anglers to the Pak can expect to land trout and grayling on dries, streamers and nymphs. It pays to have all three options with you as this short river system is in a constant state of flux and the resident fish’s food sources are varied and changing.
  • Flyout anglers who head to the Nushagak River may still be able to catch Chinook, and will be on the front end of the silver salmon run. Coho can be caught from the bank casting spinners and spoons or swinging and stripping flies, and are also targeted with a variety of lures while drift fishing.
  • Anglers can fish three tributaries on Lake Nerka. The first presents a short 1-mile hike to target rainbows on beads. The second tributary is a small connecting river and offers dry fly and nymph fishing to ’bows and grayling. The last is a scenic journey to view a waterfall that comes out of a mountain. The nearby tributary holds dollies and grayling.

First Two Weeks of August

Silver salmon begin to filter into the Wood River, adding that to the destination for Bearclaw Lodge bound anglers. In addition to throwing lures or presenting flies to newly minted coho, lucky anglers will also get to fish for rainbow trout, grayling and dollies. Nushagak silvers are going strong as well. Pike remain willing to eat anything cast in their direction, while resident species are enjoying an aquatic smorgasbord so that dries, nymphs, streamers, mice and beads will all get their attention. Lake Aleknagik and Lake Nerka tributaries are all fishing well, while the Wak and Pak rainbows and grayling are getting fatter by the day.

The primary species targeted during this time period are silver salmon, rainbow trout, Dolly Varden char, Arctic grayling, northern pike

The primary locations available to anglers participating in this Alaska fishing package include Lake Aleknagik tributaries, Agulowak River, Agulukpak River, Nushagak River, Lake Nerka tributaries, Wood River.

Trout, char and grayling grow heavier through the season as they digest the food needed to add fat to their reserves for the long winter ahead. This time of year, resident fish will really begin to key in on salmon spawn, but won’t resist something that looks like an easy meal. That said, be prepared for the transition, but still expect the chance to land a trout on a streamer, nymph and dry. Coho salmon will be in prime shape, and will put up a battle on either lure or fly. The usual assortment of streamers is effective, and in a range of colors to include pink, chartreuse, black, purple and orange. In Alaska, when in doubt, tie on an ESL (egg sucking leech). Spinners like the Blue Fox Vibrax, Mepps Aglia, Kodiak Custom Silicone Skirt, and Panther Martin Salmon and Steelhead Hammered, and spoons like the Eppinger Dardevle, Blue Fox Pixee, and Acme Kastmaster will all draw strikes from aggressive silvers.

  • Both gear and fly fishing remain productive for pike in bays around Lake Aleknagik.
  • On the Wood River, drift fishing for silvers, rainbows, grayling and char is in full swing. Anglers visiting this Bristol Bay lodge are attended by guides who understand a range of techniques and will give you choices as well as recommend the best options. Dry fly, streamer, nymph and bead presentations are all at play. Conventional anglers can throw spinners, spoons, twitching jigs and beads to elicit strikes.
  • Trout and grayling on the Wak are opportunistic, so anglers will continue to throw streamers, nymphs and dries. Sockeye should be starting to drop eggs, so bead fishing will begin to turn on.
  • Flyouts to the Agulukpak River will be productive for rainbow trout and Arctic grayling, and the preferred technique will be tossing dries, streamers and nymphs on fly rods.
  • Flyouts to the Nushagak River revolve around silver salmon. Anglers visiting Alaska Kingfishers for the day will drift fish from a boat with gear or either gear or fly fish from the bank. Streamers can be swung and stripped to encourage coho to strike. Spinners, spoons, and twitching jigs can be cast and retrieved for good results in hooking silver salmon.

Bearclaw Lodge targets six tributaries at this time of year:

  • Tributary 1: features a long hike of about 5 miles, with rainbows and Dolly Varden char the reward, typically targeted with beads on either a fly or spinning rod.
  • Tributary 2: offers a 2 to 3-mile hike to bead fish for trout, dollies and grayling.
  • Tributary 3: includes a mild hike of 1 to 2 miles, culminating in bead fishing for ‘bows and Dolly Varden.
  • Tributary 4: requires a short 1-mile hike, to target rainbows with beads.
  • Tributary 5: is located on Lake Nerka, where anglers target rainbows and grayling in a small connecting river using dries and nymphs.
  • Tributary 6: combines a scenic hike to a waterfall with a nearby tributary that holds char and grayling.

Mid-August through Mid-September

There’s a varied and interesting array of species on the menu during the last two weeks of August. Tributaries that drain into Lake Aleknagik can hold silver salmon, rainbow trout, Arctic grayling, Arctic char and Dolly Varden char. The Wood River is productive; anglers can target silvers, grayling, trout and char. Both the Pak and the Wak continue to fish well, while anglers bound for the Nushagak should experience respectable silver fishing and not many other anglers. Guests of Bearclaw Lodge who want to experience a tributary hike during this time of year can travel to Amakuk Bay in Second Lake, and take a scenic hike to a waterfall followed up with a fishing excursion to target char and grayling in a nearby tributary.

The primary species targeted during this time period are silver salmon, rainbow trout, Dolly Varden char, Arctic grayling, Arctic char, northern pike

The primary locations available to anglers participating in this Alaska fishing package include:

  • Lake Aleknagik tributaries
  • Agulowak River
  • Agulukpak River
  • Nushagak River
  • Lake Nerka tributaries
  • Wood River

Guests who are fishing at this Bristol Bay lodge during the last two weeks of August will typically experience the following:

  • Northern pike are usually hungry and willing to take a well-placed fly or lure. They can be found in various bays on Lake Aleknagik.
  • Five species of fish can be targeted at various tributary mouths on Lake Aleknagik including silvers, trout, grayling and both Arctic and Dolly Varden char. Gear and fly anglers will both be able to target this exceptional list of species.
  • Anglers traveling to the Wood River will drift fish from a boat and target silvers on lures or flies, target rainbows and grayling with flies and Dolly Varden using beads.
  • Fishermen on the Agulowak River drift or wade fish for grayling and trout using beads.
  • Flyout anglers to the Agulupak River can expect to bead fish for rainbows, grayling and Arctic char.
  • Anglers who desire a tributary hike and scenic trip can go out to Amakuk Bay on Lake Nerka. They can travel to a waterfall and then go to a nearby tributary to fish for char and grayling.
  • Nushagak flyout fishermen will be targeting silver salmon with either gear or flies and from either the boat or the bank.

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