Kodiak and Alaska Peninsula/Aleutian Islands Management Area
Fishing Information - Alaska Peninsula

The majority of rivers on the Alaska Peninsula are fairly small, with a low gradient and steady, medium water volume and remarkable clarity. Most rivers range 150 to 300 feet across with an average water depth of 3 to 4 feet. A mixture of glacial gravel and cinder bottoms makes the rivers easily waded and except for a few large rocks/boulders in some classic runs, a great fish holding structure. Fishing is varied, with large traditional holding pools and mixed pocket water available.

General run timing for the Alaska Peninsula:
Steelhead trout - late April to mid May, again in October
Chinook (king) Salmon - early June to August 1. Average 20-30 lbs.
Sockeye (red) Salmon - early June through July
Bear River also has a late run - July through September
Chum (dog) and Pink (humpy) Salmon - July and August
Silver (coho) Salmon - mid August into October. Average 14-20 lbs
Dolly Varden - early spring into October
Artic Char - spring into fall
Rainbow - early spring into October

Steelhead

Ocean run steelhead average 12-14 lbs and can be up to 42 inches in length. Spring fishing in late April through mid May offers anglers the opportunity to fish with fairly low water conditions. Days are long with the water warming each day. Many fish are first spotted and then fished to with dead drift techniques of egg patterns, beads and articulating leach patterns. Anglers can expect 60% colored holdover fish and 40% fresh run bright silver fish. Fall fishing in October features some awesome fly fishing for ocean bright fish. During this time of year, frequent storms move through with rain and high winds. Steelhead average 12-14 lbs with a few giants up to 22 lbs are caught each fall. One of the Peninsula's largest concentrations of steelhead can be found on the Sandy River.

Chinook Salmon

Chinook Salmon make their way up the rivers starting in mid June. Kings in the Peninsula average 25 lbs and each year, fish up to 40 lbs are hooked with a few landed, but most get away.

Sockeye Salmon

Bear River is the largest sockeye salmon producing system in the Alaska Peninsula. Bear River has two sockeye salmon runs; the early run begins in early June and ends in the latter part of July, while the late run begins in late July and ends in September. Timing of the Nelson (Sapsuk), Sandy, Ilnik, Meshik, and Cinder River sockeye salmon runs begin in early June and ends in the latter part of July.

Coho Salmon

Each year starting in mid August, great runs of mint bright Coho Salmon return. Coho on the Peninsula average 9 -11 lbs; however, don't be surprised to hook into some 14 - 16 pounders and each year several fish up to and over 18 pounds are landed.

Chignik River
Species of Fish: Chinook, Sockeye, Coho, Pink and a few chum Salmon, Dolly Varden.

Sandy River
Species of Fish: Chinook, Sockeye, and Coho Salmon, Arctic Char, Steelhead, resident Rainbow Trout and Dolly Varden.

Ocean River:
Species of Fish: Sockeye, and Coho Salmon, Arctic Char, Steelhead, resident Rainbow Trout and Dolly Varden.

Ilnik River
Species of Fish: Sockeye, and Coho Salmon, Steelhead, resident Rainbow Trout, Arctic Char.

Bear River
Species of Fish: Chinook, Sockeye, Coho, Pink and Chum Salmon, Steelhead, and Dolly Varden.

Nelson/Sapsuk River
Species of Fish: Chinook, Sockeye, Pink and Chum Salmon, and Steelhead

Cinder
Species of Fish: Chinook, Sockeye and Chum Salmon, Arctic Char

Orzinkie River
Species of Fish: Sockeye, Pink and Coho Salmon, Dolly Varden