Western Alaska has some of the finest fishing in the country due to the clear, cool waters in places like the Karluk River, Kenai Peninsula and national wildlife refuges. The region is best known for its salmon fishing but streams, rivers and lakes in the area yield an impressive number of steelhead.
Steelheads
Western Alaska has tough fighting steelheads. Steelheads move into Alaska tributaries and congregate in deep holes. Steelheads return annually to western Alaska's fresh waterways to reproduce. Steelheads essentially are larger rainbow trout and can vary in size and weight, with some averaging two feet or more, and weighing more than 10 lbs. During the season, catching steelheads with dry flies is recommend, especially as water temperatures moderate throughout the spring and summer months.
Karluk River
Kodiak Island has a large steelhead population. According to Outdoors Directory, the best strategy to employ on the Karluk River is to fly fish using artificial nymphs, which resemble tiny insects that frequent the river. As the ice melts in the spring, steelhead feed aggressively on insect larvae and small baitfish. Fishermen use fly rods with an assortment of colored flies to catch steelheads two pounds and larger. Anglers should try and match up an artificial fly to a native insects to fool a steelhead into believing the fly is a real bug.
Alaska's Kenai Peninsula
The Kenai River has numerous deep holes and strong waters. The state Department of Fish and Game release steelhead into the river. Fishermen utilizing, a spin-casting rod can walk Kenai River and cast upstream around deep, fast moving pockets. Allow the current to carry the lure, as wild steelheads will strike the lure as it passes their location. Lures that work well in the Kenai River include rooster tails and Cabela's weighted spinners and wobbling spoons.
Fishing Tackle
Anglers should use a 5 to 7 foot fishing pole, which includes a robust reel, spooled with five or eight lb. test line. According to Hoodoo Fishing, an effective fishing rig used in western Alaskan waters is two split-shots and a single hook. While in deep or fast moving water, fishermen use this rig with power bait, salmon eggs and live bait.
Licenses
You will need a license to fish Alaskan waters. A freshwater license for residents costs $24. Non-residents can purchase a one-day license for $20. Non-residents also can purchase a three-day license for $35, a week license for $55 or a two-week license for $80. An annual non-resident license costs $145.
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