Area Sport Fishing Reports
Bristol Bay

July 30, 2026

Freshwater Fishing

Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, Arctic Grayling

• Naknek and Alagnak drainages: Sport fishing in the Alagnak is reported as fair to very good for rainbow trout. On the Naknek, sport fishing is reportedly good to very good for rainbow trout.
• Togiak River and nearby drainages: Sport fishing for Dolly Varden, rainbow trout, and Arctic grayling is reported as fair to very good.
• Wood River Lakes system: Fishing remains good to very good at the outlets of salmon spawning streams.
• Snake Lake system: Fishing is reported to be fair currently, with small patches of rainbows in the tributaries of the lake. Try casting a spoon or spinner with a hook ranging from #00 to #2.

Coho Salmon

• Nushagak drainages: coho are beginning to show up in catchable numbers within central Bristol Bay drainages but numbers should continue to increase over the next week or two. Sport fishing is currently reported as fair and will likely improve this week into next.
• Togiak River, Naknek, and Alagnak drainages: It is still early and sport fishing is currently reported as poor to fair and will likely improve throughout the next week or two.

Arctic char

Wood River Lakes system: it is reported as excellent. Try casting or jigging spoons or stripping large streamers at the outlets of rivers in the system.

Northern Pike

Throughout Bristol Bay it has been reported as fair. Try casting spoons, surface lures, or streamers close to shore in shallow weedy bays.

Saltwater Fishing

Halibut fishing near Protection Point is reported to be slow with mixed success.

Emergency Orders

Please review the emergency orders and advisory announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip:

• Emergency Order 2-KS-2-35-26 prohibits the retention of king salmon of any size in all waters of the Nushagak-Mulchatna River drainage, excluding the Wood River drainage. Effective 12:01 a.m. Sunday, June 28 through the remainder of the king salmon season, which closes at 11:59 p.m. Friday, July 31, 2026. King salmon may not be retained or possessed, this fishery is limited to catch-and-release only. King salmon caught while fishing may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-2-36-26 increased the bag and possession limits for sockeye salmon to 10 fish in all waters of the Wood River drainage, effective through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, December 31, 2026. The bag and possession limit for other salmon, except king and sockeye salmon, remains at five fish. These limits for salmon, other than king and sockeye salmon, are in combination with the more liberal limits for sockeye salmon.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-2-37-26 increased the bag and possession limits for sockeye salmon to 10 fish in all waters of the Nushagak-Mulchatna River drainage, effective through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, December 31, 2026. The bag and possession limit for other salmon, except king and sockeye salmon, remains at five fish. These limits for salmon, other than king and sockeye salmon, are in combination (chum, pink, coho salmon combined to total a bag limit of five fish) with the more liberal limits for sockeye salmon.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-2-28-26 prohibits the use of bait in all waters of the Nushagak-Mulchatna River drainage, excluding the Wood River drainage. Only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure is allowed, effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, June 24 through the remainder of the king salmon season, which closes at 11:59 p.m. Friday, July 31, 2026.

Don't forget to purchase your 2026 sport fishing license and king stamp! You can purchase and display your fishing license and king stamp, record your annual harvest (i.e. king salmon), access sport fishing regulations and locations, and so much more on your mobile device. Download the ADF&G Mobile App today.

You can also purchase licenses through the ADF&G online store and print it off from the comfort of your own home. Make sure to review emergency orders, advisory announcements, and the 2026 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.

For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Bristol Bay Area Office at (907) 842-2427.