8/10/2023 Fishing Report

A little more water in the creeks has improved the fishing dramatically. The low water conditions of July were challenging, but as August rainy periods become more frequent the bead fishing will be excellent.  While any bead worked well the last few weeks, now the "right bead" is what is catching fish.  This may change day to day, but a selection of Mottled Troutbeads is your best bet.  Behind chums and pinks fish orange and peach colored mottled beads such as Tangerine, Montana, Orange Clear and Glow Roe.  If the bead you are fishing isn't producing well, try changing size first, i.e., 10mm to 8mm or vice versa.  While fish aren't super picky early in the drop, they get smarter as the season goes on.  This time of year, to get the biggest fish you need the right bead size and color.  The correct bead will change day to day based on water temperature, water level and clarity.

Chum salmon are in the rivers at this point and in many locations are getting towards the end of the run.  Pinks will keep flooding in for a couple weeks, but saltwater opportunities are quickly going away.  Humpy hookers continue to be the best bet for pinks in the salt.

Cowee Creek has been fishing very well as it tends to stay full during warm trends.  Any amount of rain will fill Montana and Fish creeks and they will fish well until they drop back down and get too low.  Fishing fresher beads when you are able will produce better fish.

Lastly, there have been cohos caught in road systems streams.  While this is very exciting, we encourage people to think about the wild fish as big trout and practice catch and release.  The wild coho runs in Juneau are fairly small and can't handle everyone keeping limits every day.  We understand that folks want fish, but, if possible, release most of the wild cohos after you catch them.  Hatchery fish are prime candidates for harvesting.  Lena point off the rocks can be an outstanding coho fishery and with the number of wild fish around it should fish well this year.  Full sinking lines and giant baitfish flies are the ticket here.  Stop into the shop to learn more.

As always, we love featuring your photos for our fishing reports.  If you have a great fish, scenery, or action photo that has to do with fishing around town send it our way!  You can email photos or videos to cory@alaskaflyfishinggoods.com.  Please remember to handle fish with care, especially if you are practicing catch and release.  Consider getting a net with a rubber basket to help land fish quickly and keep them in the water until you are ready to snap a quick photo.

See you on the water!

The Crew at AFFG

  • Listed below are the hot patterns of the week.  Fisheries change here through-out the season and we do our best to get you the hot flies.  Listed below are our recommended patterns for the particular species available.  Happy fishing!

Hot Flies - Dolly Varden

Hot Flies - Pink/Chum Salmon