Tongass National Forest

Recreation Fishing Guide

Coastal Cutthroat Trout

Lures: wide variety of artificial lures - small spinners, spoons, wet and dry flies

Cutthroat trout are found throughout southeast Alaska as sea-run (anadromous) or resident (freshwater) fish. Studies indicate that both grow slowly and that their numbers are relatively small.

Resident stocks - found mainly in lakes and above barriers in some streams - spend their entire life in fresh water. Sea-run cutthroat typically reside in lakes during the winter and migrate early in the spring to feed in salt water. They move back into lakes for the fall and winter.

Cutthroat take at least 12 years to reach the 3-pound trophy size (20 inches) in lakes. In sea-run systems, cutthroat grow to about 16 inches in 10 years.

Catchable-size resident cutthroat average 2,000 to 4,000 per lake, whereas sea-run cutthroat numbers are fewer, with only 200 to 2,000 fish in most systems.

Cutthroat trout are highly prized sport fish. Though they are generally considered inferior to the rainbow because they do not jump as much, they are hard fighters.

The flesh is orange-red and quite tasty.

Be sure to check with Alaska Department of Fish and Game for current regulations.

Dolly Varden

Lures: artificial lures - shiny spoons and spinners, and flies

Dolly Varden are closely related to the arctic char. Like cutthroat trout, Dolly Varden are found throughout southeast Alaska and exhibit both sea-run and lake resident life cycles.

Dolly Varden are not highly prized sport fish. Dollys will fight well but not spectacularly, and they don't jump. In Southeast Alaska these fish rarely exceed 7 lbs.

Cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden are found in most of the lakes on Admiralty Island. For more information on a particular lake see Fishing Opportunities on Admiralty lakes.

Steelhead Trout

Season: early- to mid-May
Lures: both flies and lures

Admiralty Island does not have systems with large returns of steelhead trout, though some streams on the island are known to have small runs (less then 100 fish). These known runs consist of spring-run steelhead. Steelhead adults usually return to their native streams in mid-May.

Steelhead are easily one of the most sought after sport fish in North America, let alone southeast Alaska. They are amazing fighters which often leap.

Steelhead are generally harvested in streams as they return to spawn. The record steelhead taken by an angler in southeast Alaska was 42 lbs. from Bell Island near Ketchikan.

Steelhead flesh has an excellent flavor and is pink in color.

Admiralty Island streams known to have steelhead include:

Please see current Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations for special regulations pertaining to steelhead. Due to the small run sizes of these streams, please practice catch and release techniques.

Rainbow Trout

There are no documented populations of rainbow trout on Admiralty Island.

Coho Salmon

Season: July - September
Lures: variety of trolling lures (salt water), spoons, spinners and large flies (fesh water)

Coho, also known as silver salmon, are highly regarded as a sport fish. They return as adults to the waters of southeast Alaska to spawn in their natal stream. Most returning fish have spent 2 years growing in fresh water and 1 year in the ocean. The usual weight of adults ranges from 7 to 14 pounds.

At sea, you'll find coho anywhere along the coast line of Admiralty Island. Popular fishing spots by Juneau residents are located around the northern tip of Admiralty Island. Specific spots include False Point Retreat and Funter Bay on Mansfield Peninsula and Pt. Arden on Glass Peninsula. Mitchell Bay by Angoon is also popular (see special regulations, page 5, for Mitchell Bay coho).

Trolling with herring is the most popular method. A small flasher is often added to help attract fish.

Chinook Salmon

Season: July - August
Lures: whole herring or a cut "plug," in which the head of the herring is cut off (trolling or spin casting from shore or boat)

Also known as king salmon, these are the largest of the pacific salmon. The feature generally used by anglers to distinguish the chinook from other salmon (coho) are their black gums.

Chinook are simply magnificent fish. They are very powerful and hard fighting fish. They can snap 60-pound-test leaders of anglers not paying them proper respect or attention. In southeastern Alaska sport catches from the Juneau and Ketchikan area total 2,000 to 2,500 fish a year. The average fish size ranges from 20 to 30 pounds in the Juneau area.

The flesh is generally red, but some have white meat, a local favorite. Chinook meat has the highest fat content of all the salmon, making it the richest.

Common spots to fish for chinook on Admiralty include False Point Retreat and Funter Bay on Mansfield Peninsula and Pt. Arden on Glass Peninsula. See the Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations for special regulations pertaining to chinook salmon. If you are going to release a chinook, don't bring it in the boat; just cut the line. It's a good idea to replace your leader after every chinook just in case the next fish is the "big one." The hook will dissolve quickly in the fish's stomach or rust fast from the saltwater. Please do not use stainless steel hooks.

Sockeye Salmon

Season: July - October
Lures: flies or spinners

Also known as red salmon due to their bright red flesh and scarlet spawning color. Fish average 6 to 12 pounds.

Sockeye are prized sport fish, not just because of their flesh, but because of their fighting ability. Sockeye are sought by serious fly fisherman. When hooked sockeye can fight hard like a steelhead and frequently jump. Anglers seek out sockeye when the fish return to their natal streams to spawn.

Admiralty Island is not known for its sockeye fishing. There are only a few documented runs and these are small. They include Kanalku Creek and Hasselborg Creek. Sport fishing at Kanalku Creek is discouraged because it is an important subsistence fishery for the Native village of Angoon. A few undocumented runs may exist in Elisa and Wilson Creek.

Pink Salmon

Season: June - late September
Lures: variety of lures, spinners and flies

Spawning males develop a pronounced hump, which is why they are also called humpback or humpy.

Pink salmon are not highly prized sport fish, though they are fun to catch and they taste fine if they are caught while "ocean bright." The quality of their meat drops quickly as they prepare to enter fresh water.

The average size ranges from 2 to 6 pounds. Generally anglers catch them from shore in front of their spawning stream. Anglers trolling for chinook or coho often catch pinks, too.

Chum Salmon

Lures: variety of spinners and small lures

Although spawning males exhibit many large canine teeth, they are called dog salmon from their long-standing use as sled-dog food. The average size ranges from 9 to 13 pounds.

Like pink salmon, chum salmon are not prize sport fish. An angler geared for Dolly Varden who hooks into a chum will have a admirable opponent on their hands.

The flesh contains little oil and the yellowish color makes it less desirable then other species of salmon, though they may be fine to eat if caught at sea while they are still bright.