Question:
Hello, this my first visit to Alaska and I am coming on a cruise ship and will be in Juneau May 1. I am a fly fisherman and would love to fish there. I normally fly fish in streams and have done some ocean from the shore. I haven’t found any guides available during that day. I have my own equipment any suggestions?
Answer:
Hi and thank you for the inquiry,
Most outfitters in northern Southeast AK do not start running trips until mid May or early June. The start of May is very early in our season and fishing opportunities are limited. The freshwater streams around Juneau hold vey little in the way of resident fish and beach fishing is just starting and very spotty until mid May.
Dolly Varden and Coastal Cutthroat are starting to drop out of the over wintering lakes and follow out migrating salmon smolt into the saltwater. Here they will stick close to estuaries and the coastal beaches to forage and chase the salmon smolt until the adult salmon return to spawn. Then they move back into freshwater to feed on salmon eggs.
The beach fishing is typically best by stream mouths at the start of May with just prior to and just after low tide being the best time. I checked the tides for May 1 and the two lows are at 5:30 in the morning and evening with the high tide at 11:30. Fishing with be best starting at about 3:30 until about 7 pm. This would be streamer fishing with patterns like Clouser Minnows, trying to mimic smolt. One of the beaches that can fish well is about a 10 min walk from where the ships port. Another is about 4 miles from the port and would require a taxi for Lyft. Waders are helpful, but mid calf boots can put you into fishable water. 5-6 wt rod with floating or clear intermediate sink tip line. Dress warm because temps can be in the 30’s or 40’s and any wind will be bone chilling. Be sure to rock a good rain jacket.
If you do want to try your hand at fishing moving water, you will need to rent a vehicle. On the north end of our road system is a stream called Cowee Creek (Kowee). It is one of the larger streams and does support a very small run of resident fish. It also supports a small run of steelhead which would be present. This fishery would require waders and probably a 5-6 wt rod (7-8 if trying to find unicorns) with either a floating line or a short fast sink tip. Small salmon fry and smolt patterns or small black. olive, purple or hot pink streamers. Dress warm because the water will probably be teater between 38°-40°F and snow may still be present. Wind will not be an issue, but air temps and rain can be.
Sorry to give you a poor fishing prognosis, but don’t want to get you all pumped only to be let down. If you do decide to give it a go, keep you expectations low knowing you may not touch a fish. Shoot me an email to mike@alaskaflyfishinggoods.com and I can give you more specific info on flies, leader, tippet and spot locations to look into.
Best regards,
Mike Cole
Website Manager