Ayakulik Adventures in Kodiak

Whether you want spectacular salmon fishing or Kodiak brown bear viewing – or both! – Ayakulik Adventures in Kodiak, Alaska, has what you’re looking for. Amy Fredette of Ayakulik Adventures has been guiding on the Ayakulik River since 1992. Let Amy and her professional staff introduce you to an Alaskan adventure of a lifetime here on Kodiak Island! 

The Ayakulik River is home to the world famous Kodiak brown bear. With an abundant and endless run of salmon entering the river June through September, high concentrations of bears take advantage of this rich food source. A dream come true for all photographers! Photograph and view the bears fishing at the mouth of the river as salmon enter from the ocean waters, and along the river’s shoreline following the salmon as they continue upstream. With the lodge being located directly on the river, bear viewing is literally “right outside the front door!”

If you’re in the mood to wet your line, salmon fishing is king. The Ayakulik River receives the first run of salmon on Kodiak Island with the arrival of sockeye salmon in mid-May. This is a long and continuous fish run lasting until the first part of September. It is a truly unique fish run, boasting a yearly average of 300,000 sockeye. King salmon enter the Ayakulik June through July, while pink salmon enter mid-July to the beginning of September. Silver salmon enter mid-August through the month of September.

Here’s a better look at the fish species in the Ayakulik River:

?KING SALMON: The king salmon put up a long hard battle, and take a fly very well. The layout of the Ayakulik River is the best one will find within Alaska for catching these magnificent fish on a fly! The peak dates for kings are June 13 – July 26. Fish size: 15 to 50 lbs.

SILVER SALMON: The silver salmon is a very acrobatic Fish. They hit flies very aggressively and then proceed to leap and dive. They take both wet and top water flies equally. Peak dates for silvers are August 23 – October 4. Fish size: 8 to 20 lbs.

SOCKEYE SALMON: The sockeye salmon are hard fighting and the most delicious fish to eat. The Ayakulik has an excellent continuous run of sockeyes throughout the summer. Peak dates for sockeyes are June 4 to August 29. Fish size: 5 to 15 lbs.

PINK SALMON: The pink salmon, the smallest of the salmon species run in abundant numbers and take flies very well. They can be fished along with sockeyes in late July and August or with silvers in August and September. Peak dates for pinks are July 20 to September 10. Fish size: 2 to 12 lbs.

STEELHEAD TROUT: The steelhead trout have two runs on the Ayakulik. The “out” going run in the summer then the “in” coming run in the fall. Steelhead take both wet and top water flies. All steelhead are catch and release. Peak dates for steelhead are June 4 to June 26 and August 23 to October 4. Fish size: 24 to 48 inches

DOLLY VARDEN/ARTIC CHAR: The dolly varden is a beautiful colored fish with runs through the summer and fall with the most abundant numbers in August and September. Peak dates for Dolly Varden are June 4 to October 4. Fish size: 1 to 6 lbs.?

For more information on Ayakulik Adventures, visit ayakulikadventures.com.