Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are famous throughout the world with anglers and one of the largest concentrations of rainbow trout in Alaska, exist in the Katmai National Park and Bristol Bay watersheds.
What's unique about these fish is that depending on the region or location, rainbow trout can take on different characteristics between fisheries in Alaska. Rainbow trout can be classified into two species - one that lives and feeds year-round in the same freshwater habitat where they were first hatched and the other (referred to as steelhead), is an anadromous fish that spawns in freshwater but also travels and spends part of it’s life feeding in the ocean. Alaskan rainbow trout are a predators, they will consume everything from insects, to salmon biomass and even small mammals such as voles or mice.
Because Alaskan rainbow trout have such diverse appetite, this offers anglers a wide variety of angling methods and fly choices to target them with. Dry fly fishing is incredibly visual, and the flies vary from very small insect patterns to larger mouse or vole patterns. Subsurface flies such as streamers, nymphs, bait patterns and sculpin flies all work well throughout the spring, summer and fall seasons in Alaska. A majority of fly anglers prefer to fish single hand rods in the numerous streams and rivers in Katmai and Bristol Bay but an ever-increasing angling method is ‘trout spey’. Paired down spey rods historically used to fish for salmon and steelhead, allow anglers to cast further and cover more water. Rainbow trout are available throughout the spring, summer and fall seasons in Alaska.
Gear Recommendations:
Fly Tackle - 4-8wt., 9’ single hand rods or 4-8wt., 12’-14’ double-hand (spey) rods and large arbor reels with a durable drag, able to accommodate 150 - 200 yards of backing. Both ‘Scandi’ and ‘Skagit’ casting lines are used, along with floating or weighted ‘sink-tips’ and flies. Tippet size can vary, depending on the fishery but range from 5 - 15lbs.
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