Trout & Salmon
Chinook Salmon Fishing in Alaska
The largest Pacific salmon, called king salmon, running Pacific and Great Lakes tributaries. Kings are targeted by trolling in big water and by drifting and back-trolling in rivers.
- Waters
- 8
- State
- Alaska
- Water
- Freshwater
- Methods
- Fly, Spin & Bait
Best Months in Alaska: May to Oct
Licenses & Regulations
Most anglers need an Alaska fishing license; age cutoffs and exemptions are set by the state. Seasons, limits, and tackle rules vary by water, so check current regulations before you go.
Alaska Department of Fish and GamePlan by Month
Best Flies, Lures & Bait for Chinook Salmon
4 picks for October.
Intruder 2 to 4 in
FlyStreamer
Shop This FlyEgg-Sucking Leech #2-6
FlyStreamer
Shop This FlyCasting Spoon 1/4 to 1 oz
LureSpoon
Shop This LureCured Salmon Eggs Single or cluster
BaitNatural Bait · Where bait is legal.
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Rod & Reel
Chinook Salmon Setup
Fly
10 ft 9 or 10 wt rod, sink-tip line, 15 to 20 lb leader.
Spin / Cast
9 to 10.5 ft medium-heavy casting rod, line-counter or levelwind reel, 20 to 30 lb line.
Alaska
Where to Catch Chinook Salmon
Saltwater & Coast · Alaska
Auke Bay
A bay on Juneau's Glacier Highway with a boat ramp, opening onto Stephens Passage, where anglers fish for king and coho salmon.
Chinook Salmon · Coho Salmon
Saltwater & Coast · Alaska
Chiniak Bay
Kodiak's home bay, where Chinook salmon feed year-round and anglers fish for coho out toward Cape Chiniak.
Chinook Salmon · Coho Salmon
Saltwater & Coast · Alaska
Passage Canal
Whittier's fjord in western Prince William Sound, where boat anglers troll or mooch for coho and hatchery-stocked Chinook salmon.
Coho Salmon · Chinook Salmon
Saltwater & Coast · Alaska
Port Valdez
A fjord at the head of Valdez Arm where shore and boat anglers catch silver salmon off Allison Point and kings in May and June.
Coho Salmon · Chinook Salmon
Saltwater & Coast · Alaska
Resurrection Bay
Seward's bay, with kings from mid-May through June and silvers from late June into September, fished from boats and from the beaches and harbor breakwaters.
Coho Salmon · Chinook Salmon
Rivers & Streams · Alaska
Ship Creek
A creek in downtown Anchorage where king salmon return in June and coho salmon in August. Check ADF&G emergency orders before fishing for kings.
Chinook Salmon · Coho Salmon
Saltwater & Coast · Alaska
Sitka Sound
Marine waters off Sitka where anglers troll and mooch for king salmon in late spring and coho salmon in late summer.
Chinook Salmon · Coho Salmon
Saltwater & Coast · Alaska
Tongass Narrows
A 10 mile marine channel along Ketchikan's waterfront where anglers fish for king and coho salmon.
Chinook Salmon · Coho Salmon
Alaska
Shops to Stock Up
Recommended
Gear for Chinook Salmon
Fly Rods
Echo Spey Rod
A two-handed rod for swinging flies across big steelhead and salmon runs.
Check PriceRods
Ugly Stik Bigwater Trolling Rod
A long, forgiving trolling rod for downriggers and planer boards.
Check Price