Yakutat Management Area
Fishing Opportunities

Situk River sockeye and coho salmon

Description

 

The Situk River accounts for almost 30% of the freshwater angling effort in Southeast Alaska. Two of the largest fisheries on this river are for sockeye and coho salmon. Sockeye enter the river in June through July and are targeted by both boat and shore based anglers. Shoreline anglers can find fish in the lower half of the river during the early part of the run and in the upper sections above 9 Mile Bridge as the run progresses. Boat anglers fish as they float the 14 miles of river between 9 Mile Bridge and the Lower Landing at tidewater. Sockeye salmon hold in deep glides and pools and then move up into the high drainage to spawn.


Coho angling is mainly focused in the lower sections of the river from The Old Situk River mouth on down to tidewater, where the majority of fresh fish are found. Boat based anglers float down from 9 Mile Bridge finding fish primarily in the middle or lower parts of the float. Bank anglers typically walk up from the Lower Landing, or less often down from 9 Mile Bridge. Coho salmon spawn throughout the system so that many fish seen in the middle to upper river will be darker, and  in spawning colors, especially after September 15.

Tackle

For Sockeye

- Fly fishing with sparsely tied small flies on a red or green hook. Light leaders of less then 12 lb test are best

- Use light split shot to get down to the fish on the bottom

For Coho

- Leach pattern and multicolored streamer flies

- Bright red, orange, black, pink and chartruse flies with eye weights

- Red, black, white, and orange jigs

- Silver, red, black, pink and blue colored spinners or spoons

Getting There

From Yakutat, Forest Highway 10 runs 9 miles to the Situk River at 9 Mile Bridge.

The Situk Lower Landing road starts at the Yakutat airport and runs 8 miles reaching the lower landing boat launch area by tidewwater.

Float trips can be done from 9 mile bridge to the Lower Landing over 14 milkes of water.

Dates

Begin: June 161
Ends: October 274

Regulations

Before you go fishing please check the regulations.