Tongass National Forest

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River Fishing

With the exception of a few mainland rivers, most rivers on the Tongass would be better described as creeks or streams. The average stream usually has only a few miles of fish-holding water, is narrow enough to easily cast across with conventional and fly tackle, and is easily wadable except after drenching rains. Most of the tea-stained stream will be shaded by giant spruce, hemlock and cedar growing along the bank. Unlike most streams and rivers in the west, Tongass streams almost never get "steelhead green" or brown with mud, even after days of rain.

If the stream is not barriered, salmon may start to return as early as late May, and could be present until December. If the stream has a steelhead run, those fish may begin returning as early as the end of October, although the bulk of most steelhead runs in southeast Alaska occur between March and May. If the river system contains a lake, sockeye(red) may use that system. Other salmon you will likely find are chum (dog), pink (humpy) and coho (silver). With very few exceptions, king salmon (chinook) do not spawn in most southeast Alaska streams. If the stream is barriered and does not pass through a large lake, it won't have salmon, and most trout or char caught won't be much larger than the palm of your hand.

Trout and char are likely present somewhere in the stream almost the year round, but almost never in the same place for more than a few weeks at a time. When it comes to being picky, Alaskan trout and char are unlike their cousins in the lower 48. They feed very aggressively most of the year, especially in the spring when salmon fry are emerging from the gravel. A few small spinners are all you need if you are fishing with conventional tackle. If you are flyfishing, a smolt pattern, wooly buggers and a couple of simple dries like mosquitos and caddis imitations are all you will need in your box.

Notable exceptions to the above generalizations are the Unik, Chickamin, and Stikine. All are glacial rivers that begin in Canada and flow through southeast. All three rivers also have king salmon runs, although anglers are not allowed to fish for king salmon in nearly all southeast Alaska streams where they occur. Angling for king salmon near the mouth of the Chickamin and the Unik river in East Behm Canal (saltwater fjord) is also restricted.

Coho salmon are one of the most pursued species on the Tongass. Most coho return to rivers between July 1 to October 1. People use a variety of tackle to fish for coho; spinners and jigs can be very effective. The only time bait (typically salmon roe) is allowed in freshwater is September 15th to November 15th (Check current ADF&G regulations). Pink salmon return to freshwater in large numbers in early August. Pink salmon aggressively take flies and spinners. If you want to keep pink salmon, you may wish to fish in saltwater, the estuary, or the lower river, as pinks darken quickly and lose some of their table quality when they enter freshwater.

Special regulations apply to steelhead and cutthroat trout in southeast Alaska. Single barbless hooks may be required, bait is likely banned, and special limits may apply. Be sure to check state fishing regulations when you are planning your trip.

Visit the Alaska State Fishing Regulations

USDA Forest Service - Tongass National Forest Accessibility Statement
Last Modified: November 29, 2007