Fishing

We encourage careful handling of Alaska's wild fish, the use of barbless hooks, and returning as many uninjured fish as possible to the river, helping to assure wild fish for future generations. We will be happy to explain or demonstrate how to handle fish to assure survival for released fish. It is not uncommon for a fishing party to catch and release 100 fish or more a day.

It is a good idea to bring two different rods with reels: one size for grayling, Pink Salmon, and Arctic Char, with 4- to 10- pound test line (or a 4- to 6-weight fly rod). The other outfit should have 10- to 16-pound test line (or a 7- or 8-weight fly rod) for Silver and Chum Salmon.

Arctic Grayling

The Niukluk River is a world-class Arctic Grayling river. Fly fishing for large grayling is the highlight of our season. Arctic Grayling are plentiful all season long and range from 14 to 22 inches, with more 20-inch "trophy" grayling coming from our area than any other area of the state.

You will think you have found fly-fishing heaven when the surface of the river is alive with rising grayling; you will be fishing water that has more than 1,000 grayling per mile. Everything it takes to produce huge grayling are present on the Niukluk; the season starts off with an abundant smolt migration, followed by insect hatches supplemented by sculpins, mice and terrestrials. Later in the season there is salmon roe rolling on the bottom, followed by shreds of salmon flesh drifting downstream. It takes a menu like this to produce trophy grayling! The final element is the lack of fishing pressure; grayling don't reach maturity until they are about 15 inches, and grow very slowly after that. We release all the grayling we catch; there is something about keeping a 20- to 30-year-old fish that doesn't please us nearly as much as releasing it.

Dry fly fishing for trophy grayling is at its best from mid-June through July. Dry fly and nymph patterns should be in size #12 to #18, representing may, caddis and stone flies. In addition, consider midges, ants, beetles, mice, spiders, maggots, sculpins, egg imitations and flesh flies; they all work well at different times of the season. When you catch and release a grayling that is 18" or larger you will receive one of our Arctic Grayling cloisonné pins.

Arctic Char (Dolly Varden)

Arctic Char range in size up to 10 pounds, with most of them between 2 and 5 pounds. They are strong fighters and don't give up easily. You will enjoy better success with wet flies than dry flies; smolt or fry imitations work very well in June and early July. Egg imitations and polar shrimp are excellent choices in August and Septmeber. The brightly-colored spinners and spoons work well for the spin fishermen. The best Arctic Char fishing is from mid-June through the first part of July, and again from early August until freeze-up.

Silver (Coho) Salmon

The Silver Salmon run starts as early and the last week of July, is in full swing by the 10th of August, and continues into early September. We normally have a good run of Silver Salmon, which range from 7 to 15 pounds. Some flies that work well are the Flash Fly, Bunny Flies, Purple Egg Sucking Leech, and Popsicles. Good lures are ½-oz. Bolo spinners, #4 Golf Tee spinners, #4 or #5 Mepps or Vibrax spinners and brightly colored spoons like Pixies, Cleos, Hotrods and Crocodiles.

Chum (Calico, Dog) Salmon

Chum Salmon range up to 15 pounds. Their run begins around July 1st and thins out by mid-August. Chums are plentiful and great sport. This salmon takes the same flies and lures as other salmon. They tend to prefer chartreuse or blue colors.

Pink (Humpback) Salmon

Pink Salmon, or "humpies", run up to 4 or 5 pounds. Their run coincides with the Chum Salmon run. If you have never experienced a Pink Salmon run, you have missed an Alaskan spectacle. Even-numbered years (2006 and 2008) will be peak years. During peak years, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game counts between 1 million and 1.5 million Pinks in the area of the Niukluk River we fish.

Pink Salmon take the same flies and lures as other salmon. They eagerly take brightly-colored wet flies; on several occasions, John has caught 10 Pink Salmon in a row, without a miss. Match your tackle to the fish size; use lighter gear, 6- to 8-pound line, or a 5- or 6-weight fly rod; you can wear yourself out catching Pink Salmon.

King (Chinook) Salmon and Sockeye (Red) Salmon

King Salmon and Sockeye Salmon runs are much smaller in numbers; we occasionally catch them while fishing for other species. Their numbers are too few to offer them as species you can count on catching.