Fishing Alaska - Silver "Coho" Salmon

Silver salmon can be targeted successfully by integrating a number of spin fishing techniques. We most often fish Blue Fox Vibrax spinners, jigs and Pixee spoons with a moderate to fast retrieve just sub-surface. As silvers congregate in slack-water areas, we are typically sight-casting to pods of holding fish or casting to tailing fish in shallow water areas. Special attention is needed to casting beyond holding fish so as not to spook the school. A variable retrieve of slow/fast/slow often triggers aggressive strikes. Varying color, size and retrieve is important to spike the interest of less active silvers.

Fly fishing silver salmon is a world-class fly fishing experience. We spot cast to large schools of holding fish cruising slack-water sloughs, eddies, oxbows, etc. Fly fishing for silvers is cast and retrieve. We fish weighted sub-surface streamers such as clouser minnows, un-weighted streamers and top-water flies. The diversity of fly patterns and effective fishing techniques that silvers respond to make fishing for them a very versatile experience. Please see our Alaska fly fishing guide for more details.

Be sure to visit our signature Alaska fly patterns page for more suggested coho flies. Silver salmon flies are often weighted, either by wrapped lead wire midway on the shank of the hook, or by cone-heads, bead-eyes or dumbbell eyes. The amount of weight is determined by the type of water you will be fishing silvers and what type of action you prefer. It's always good to have a variety of weights and sizes to change up the action & presentation depth. Silvers will come up for flies, so always have some non-weighted streamers that can be fished just under the surface. Have surface flies at the ready, such as the foam Gurgler. Top-water flies effectively trigger the most aggressive fish each time you fish a new pool. Stripping flies with a short popping actions is often the most effective retrieve method. We fish flies sized 4 - 1/0 for silver salmon.

For a breakdown of all peak periods visit our Alaska peak salmon run calendar. Silver salmon peak in July and August. View our Alaska peak fishing calendar to plan your ideal adventure. Native trout fishing is consistent throughout the summer season. As for other salmon species, when you visit our lodge determines which species are available in our river system. Silvers run into the river in tandem with good numbers of pink and chum salmon.