Area Sport Fishing Reports
Bristol Bay

July 14, 2026

Freshwater Fishing

Overall sport fishing in the Bristol Bay Management Area remains good to excellent, with eastside sockeye salmon showing up in strong numbers throughout the drainage.

Special Species Information

• Northern Pike:
  • Naknek and Alagnak Drainages: Fishing is reported as fair to good.
  • Wood River Lake System: Fishing is fair to good along lake and slough shores and in shallow weedy bays.
• Sockeye:
  • Naknek River is reported to be good to excellent, with reports of anglers hitting their bag limits in roughly an hour.

Local Lake Information

• When fishing for Arctic char at the outlet of the Agulowak River, jigging off the bottom or surface fishing with spinners or flies with thicker flashabou present should all work well.
• In the Wood River, fishing for rainbow trout is reported as good to excellent this week. Parachute Adams and small streamers are a good choice if using a fly rod. For spinning gear, a spinner or spoon with a hook ranging from 8-12 should work well.
• Togiak River and nearby drainages: Sport fishing is currently reported as good and should remain so throughout this week.

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.