June – July – August

King Salmon
The “Kings” of the salmon family won’t disappoint. Throughout the season, excellent fishing for 25–30 plus pound fish can be done on the crystal clear waters of the Naknek River and nearby waters. King fishing is excellent June through July 31st (King season ends July 31 with excellent catch and release until late August).
For the fly fishermen:
Rod: 9-11 weight
Reel: High quality with dependable disc drag system, min. 200 yards of 30 lb backing
Line: 24ft, 300-400 grain sink tip. Shooting head systems are also popular.
Spey Rod: 12.5 to 14ft; 9 or 10 weight
Spey Reel: Min. 100 yards of 30 lb backing
Spey Line: Skagit belly line with 300-400 grain sink tip

Sockeye Salmon
The world’s largest, most prolific sockeye salmon run passes right in front of the lodge June throughout July. Once hooked, these delicious legends of the salmon family put up a fun fight.
For the fly fishermen:
Rod: 8.5 or 9ft, 8-9 weight
Reel: Single action with good drag system
Line: Floating lines and 13ft sinking tip Type III lines are most productive
Spey Rod: 12.5 to 14ft; 8 weight
Spey Line: Wind cutter type line or full floating Skagit line July – August

Silver Salmon/ The Chrom Combo
July through late September, our staff favorite of the salmon family to fish for is the Silver! They are a very exciting fish to catch and an excellent combo with big trophy rainbows. Silvers strike hard and put on a show that rivals Cirque du Soleil. Some of the largest silvers caught were right off the Gold Creek Lodge dock!

For the fly fishermen: Silvers take a similar set up as with Sockeye

Rainbow Trout
The average size of Rainbows is 24 inches but they can reach upwards of 30 inches. Enjoy excellent fishing right from the lodge on the Naknek River and nearby tributaries of the Bristol Bay and Katmai region, June through October. If trophy rainbows are your target, then early and late season is best.

Chum & Pink Salmon
Chum are an excellent sport fish that put up an aggressive fight July through  August. Some pinks run every year, however Pinks have strongest runs on even years.
For the fly fishermen: Similar set up to Sockeye

September – Late October

Fall Rainbow, Char, Grayling, Dolly
September through late October, take advantage of trophy fishing for the largest rainbows in Alaska right in front of the lodge on the Naknek River. Excellent rainbow fishing is only a few steps from your cabin door and throughout the nearby waters of the Bristol Bay region.
For the fly fishermen: Rainbows and Grayling
Rod: 8.5 or 9ft, 5-7 weight
Reel: Single action with min. 75 yards of 20 lb backing
Line: 13ft Type V sink tip for streamer, sculpin or leech patterns. Weight forward floater (dry) for dead drifting dry flies and egg patterns, skated dry flies, and deer hair mice.

Rainbow Trout, Arctic Char, Arctic Grayling, Dolly’s, Lake Trout and Northern Pike are abundant throughout the season and are fished on several fisheries throughout the Bristol Bay region depending on time of season. It is not uncommon to catch 20 fish (or more) in a day on most of the waters that we frequent. We at Alaska’s Gold Creek Lodge, in the interest of conservation, encourage our guests to catch and release these species whenever possible.