Guide To Popular Choices For Great Fishing In Alaska

All about fishing in the Last Frontier

The state of Alaska offers a variety of fishing including rivers, lakes and streams. In addition to major lakes, Alaska has over 3 million lakes which are more than 20 acres in size. There are fishing guides and charters to take you into unbelievable fishing waters and find fly fishing like you've always dreamed about. You can fish for a wide variety of species, including rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, lake trout, steelhead, coho salmon, chum salmon, chinook salmon, pink salmon, sockeye salmon and northern pike.

The major rivers in Alaska are the Yukon River, the Kuskokwim River, the Colville River and the Copper River. The Kuskokwim River is the longest river in Alaska at over 1,875 miles.

Visit the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for details about fishing licences, fish species and fishing locations.

Major Alaska Lakes & Species

Lake & Fish Chart

This chart shows the major angling destinations, cross referencing these waters with the major species to be found in each of the lakes or impoundments.

For a detailed list of primary fish species in AK, plus state fish records, see the list below.

Fishing lake sizes and locations in the state.

Aleknagik lake is located on the Wood River in the southwest corner of the state. The fishing includes chum salmon, king salmon, sockeye (reds), silver salmon, dolly varden, arctic char, rainbow trout, greyling and northern pike.

Becharof Lake is located at the head of the peninsula in the southwest corner of the state. Fishing in the lake and surrounding streams includes five species of Pacific salmon along with arctic grayling, dolly varden, trout, northern pike and burbot.

Lake Clark is located immediately north of the mouth of Cook Inlet. It is accessible by plane only. The fishing includes Arctic char, grayling, dolly varden, northern pike, lake trout, rainbow trout and five species of Pacific salmon.

Iliamna Lake is located 250 miles southwest of Anchorage, just north of Kamishak Bay. All access is by plane. The fishing is great for big rainbow trout, sockeye salmon, grayling, king salmon, dolly varden, northern pike, lake trout and silver salmon.

Click the images and links above for species details.

There is a section dedicated to fishing activities for kids. It is devoted to information about kids fishing with stories, fish photos and tips for where and how to take a kid fishing. Please send us your recommendations and we will be happy to consider them for publication.

State Fishing Information

Visit the Alaska Department of Fish & Game for additional information about fishing in Alaska.

Find Alaska Fishing License information here.

Fishing in all states