Kodiak Island and the Aleutians
are World famous for their bears. A few fortunate anglers have
discovered that where there’s Bears
………..there’s
FISH!!! Kodiak Island
is inhabited mainly on the
Northeastern tip where Kodiak City sits.
The rest of the island is primarily inhabited by local villages and fishing,
hunting and outdoor adventure lodges. Other than the roads that
interconnect Kodiak City, the rest of the Island is accessible only by
Float Plane or boat. Because of the distance from the mainland and the
time it takes to get to Kodiak, multi day stays are recommended. The Northern half of the Island is dotted with small bays and
coves that act as natural barriers from the Gulf of Alaska
on the Eastern side and the Shelikof Straits on the West. Most of
the fishing is for Halibut or Ocean run Salmon from six pack or larger
boats. Most of the trips are full day trips from lodges departing
early morning and returning late afternoons. Your captain will
normally pull into one of the sheltered harbors for lunch and maybe
some bear viewing.
The southern half of the Island is
very much like the northern half although not as well sheltered and is
known for its strong winds and heavy rainfall. The summer months
usually bring mild weather but rain is no stranger to Kodiak Island.
The southern side of the Island also holds the Karluk River. Know
Worldwide for its
King Salmon and
Steelhead runs. Most Lodges on Kodiak service the Karluk River but it is best
to try to stay at one that’s in the area. With weather being a factor
on Kodiak the fewer days you have to depend on flying or boat
transportation in the open ocean the better. Similar to other areas of
Alaska the Lodges on Kodiak can run from moderately priced to five
star. The one thing they all have in common is their isolation from
the rest of the State, and their Great fishing. On Kodiak if your arms
get tired from hauling in fish all day you can have the option of sea
kayaking, whale watching or just taking an interesting afternoon hike.
The Kodiak
Brown Bear is always a magnificent sight and your chances of spotting
one of these beautiful animals in the wild are great on Kodiak.
The Aleutian Islands are home to a
few World records. They have the largest population of Brown Bears in
the USA, and Dutch Harbor is the home of the IGFA Certified World
Record
Halibut
which weighed in at 459lbs. That’s right I said FOUR
HUNDRED and Fifty nine pounds. Plus they hold the annual Unalaska
World Record Halibut Derby with a Grand Prize of $100,000. Besides
being the home of the Worlds largest commercial fishery, the Aleutians
also sport an awesome run of
Silver Salmon. Ocean River, which is
approximately 175 miles north of Dutch Harbor, has one of the biggest
runs of Silvers in the State. (Averaging 17 plus lbs.) And the run is
so dense you could literally walk across the river on their backs at
the peak of the run. The
Fly Fishing on the chain is unparalleled, and some of the little
streams and rivers hold world class Rainbows, we’ve even heard of a
Dolly Varden showing up every now and then.
At just over 800 miles south of Anchorage, Dutch Harbor/Unalaska and
the Ocean River are not for the “day-trippers.” Unlike anywhere else
in the State of Alaska you will Experience sights and fishing that you
will be talking about all your life. A “trip to the Islands” in Alaska
is a rare treat that holds memories just waiting for you to uncover.
FISHING CHART - SALT WATER
peak period
available
FISHING CHART - FRESH WATER
peak period
available
