Fishing Alaska - Sockeye Salmon

Sockeye salmon can be targeted successfully by integrating a number of spin fishing techniques. We most often fish Blue Fox Vibrax spinners, and small jigs that are successfully fished with a cross-current retrieve while drifting downstream. Some of our guests have been successful with lighter action spin rods with flies tied to a 18" leader spliced to the mainline with a barrel swivel and light egg singer. This rig works much like a jig does, but offers a long-line swimming motion to the fly and is easy to adjust to compensate with various depths and river currents.

Fly fishing sockeye salmon is truly a fast-paced, exciting sport of pursuit, sight-casting, acrobatic fights and drag-pulling fun. Sockeye salmon, due to their shear numbers allow for a high success rate for fly fishermen and women of all abilities. Wade fishing from gravel bars and drifting flies to long lines of chrome bright sockeye running upstream is an exhilarating experience. Sockeye, pound-for-pound may be the best fighting salmon in Alaska.

Be sure to visit our signature Alaska fly patterns page for more suggested sockeye salmon flies. Sockeye salmon fly patterns are normally weighted, either by wrapped lead wire mid-way on the shank of the hook, or by cone heads, bead eyes or dumbbell eyes. Sockeye flies do not need to be excessively heavy, but enough to drift approximately 8 - 24" subsurface. It's good to have a variety of weights and sizes. Sockeye flies are swung through the inside edge of fast water current in fairly shallow areas where large schools of sockeye congregate. We typically fish floating fly lines with 4-5 foot leaders. Orange, Chartreuse and Pink flies work best for sockeye salmon.

Follow the to our Alaska peak salmon run calendar. When you visit will determine which salmon species are running strong in our remote Alaska river. Sockeye salmon arrive each summer like clock-work on or around the 16th of July. Large numbers of reds pour into our river system with the bulk of the population entering the river by July 28th. Action is fast and furious during this plus or minus 10 day period of the peak run. This is a great time to visit for good numbers of pink salmon plus early silvers and chums as well.