B&B Fishing Adventures

The Fishing

One of the real advantages of this trip is that you spend your entire time on the river. Each day we are floating around 8:30 am and stopping at the evening campsite at 5:00 pm. We use 16' Avon Professional rafts. Each raft carries camp gear, two anglers and a guide. These oar-powered rafts have a custom anchoring system that affords the opportunity to fish any section of the river. There is plenty of room in the rafts and anglers generally alternate bow and stern positions. Most of the fishing is from the rafts, although we do stop regularly to wade fish productive areas. In the evenings, you have the opportunity to wade fish the camp waters. The campsites are selected by river logistics, the weather and ability to access good fishing waters.
The Kanektok River is not only legendary for its prolific runs of all five Pacific salmon, sea-run Dolly Varden and leopard rainbow trout, but also known for its character. This small, crystal clear gem of a river has numerous gravel bars, river braids, current lines, and structure, commonly referred to as root wads, making it a fisherman's dream. The salmon are a key ingredient to almost everything's survival in Alaska. The King, Chum and Sockeye salmon enter the system in late June running into July and on even numbered years the Pink salmon return. The rainbow trout, Arctic grayling & Arctic char are resident species. The sea-run Dolly Varden migration starts in July following the spawning salmon. The Silver salmon return in August and run into September. When you combine all these fish you have nine species in one river.

Our Catch & Release Policy is to fish single barbless hooks and release all species. On a very rare occasion a salmon is kept for an appetizer. Absolutely no take home or trophy harvesting is allowed.

An Alaska fishing license is required. If fishing during the King salmon season, a king salmon stamp is necessary. Licenses are available directly through the ADF&G website at http://www.admin.adfg.state.ak.us/license/. It is advisable that you obtain your license either online, by telephone/fax/mail or while in Anchorage.

Rainbow Trout (Oncorchynchus mykiss)
Rainbow trout, a.k.a. the leopard rainbow, is famous in the Kanektok for their spotted coloration. These regal, hard fighting trout are highly prized residents that move around the river following salmon runs. Average size is 1-3 pounds with fish taken in the 4-6 pound range. An occasional monster is possible in the 7-9 pound class.
Sea-run Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma)
	Sea-run Dolly Varden are migratory fish that return following spawning salmon in July. This fish is a member of the Char family and are fall spawners. Prolific in numbers and brilliant coloration make the Dollies a great fly rod prize. Size range is from 2-9 pounds.
Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus)
Arctic grayling is Alaska's premiere dry fly fish. Often referred to as the sailfish of the north, the grayling are throughout the river with sizes ranging from 1-2 lbs.
Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus)
	Arctic char are of the same family as the sea-run Dolly Varden and are more concentrated in the upper river. They are beautifully marked and great fighters. Size is 2-10 lbs. Season is June into September.
King salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
King or Chinook salmon are the largest of the Pacific salmon. The average size is 20-25 pounds with fish 30-40 pounds being common. Season runs late June to July 25.
Silver salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)
	Silver or Coho salmon are the most sought after of the Pacific salmon. These aggressive and acrobatic fish take flies readily. Average size is between 6-12 pounds. Season is August/September.
Sockeye salmon (Oncorchynchus nerka)
Sockeye or Red salmon are synonymous with rainbow trout fishing in Alaska. The Bristol Bay region of Alaska is famous for its sockeye runs. These salmon are plankton feeders and more difficult to catch, but when hooked are very acrobatic. Average size is 6-10 pounds. Season is July.
Chum salmon (Oncorchynchus keta)
	The Chum or Dog salmon is a hard fighting fish with a bad reputation. While not considered much of a commercial value, these hard fighting salmon are very aggressive and underrated as a sport fish. Size range is between 6-12 pounds. Season is late June into early July.
Pink salmon (Oncorchynchus gorbuscha)
The Pink salmon or humpy is the smallest of the Pacific salmon and returns to the Kanektok River on even numbered years. They take flies readily and are fun on lightweight outfits. Size is 1-4 lbs. Season is mid July into early August.

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