Chinook "King" Salmon

The Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) is the largest species in the Pacific salmon genus Oncorhynchus. The common name refers to the Chinookan peoples. Other vernacular names for the species include king salmon, Quinnat salmon, spring salmon, and Tyee salmon.

The Chinook is blue-green, red, or purple on the back and top of the head, with silvery sides and white ventral surfaces. It has black spots on its tail and the upper half of its body. Chinook have a Black gum line which is present in both salt and freshwater.[11] Adult fish range in size from 24 to 36 in (61 to 91 cm), but may be up to 58 in (1,500 mm) in length; they average 10 to 50 lb (4.5 to 22.7 kg), but may reach 130 lb (59 kg). The current sport-caught world record, 97.25 lb (44.11 kg), was caught on May 17, 1985, in the Kenai River (Kenai Peninsula, Alaska).

These are the monsters of the group. Kings top the chart in size of all of the big 4 with world record specimens nearing 100 pounds. Also indigenous to the Pacific rim, the native range is very similar and overlapping with steelhead. Also very adaptable to different river conditions and times of year but most of the great fly targetable runs are in the spring through the middle of summer. Finding rivers that are good for swinging for kings is the trick. Chinook swim many rivers but finding the rivers where the fish hold in moving water that is not too deep and relatively close to the sea are the ingredients for success. The brighter the better with kings. They take flies better and fight harder the fresher they are. They are actually very grabby when you get the right conditions and fresh fish on the tide can wear you out. Get the fly right down in front of them with the sink tip, they are not known for rising in the water column to the fly like some of the others. If you figure out how to get the fly in front of them, they will pound it. The fights are down and dirty. Hard runs and pit bull head shakes are excellent at breaking things like leaders, reels and fingers. Gear up with 10wts and be ready to pump them up and reel down like a tuna. These things are crazy tough, and super strong. They don't call them kings for nothing.

Alaska West

Alaska

Deneki Outdoors owns and operates this destination on the banks of the Kanektok River, and has spared no expense to make it one of the most nicely appointed camps in Alaska.

Real beds and linens, oil heaters, full-on, separate hot water shower rooms, drying tent; all features one would expect in a standard lodge, but which are considered unheard of luxuries in a rustic wilderness camp environment. As well, Deneki hires the best guiding talent they can can find, many of whom are full time guides before and after the short Alaska season (and many of whom return to guide at Alaska West, season after season). This is a great adventure for the angler looking for angling diversity (the river gets all 5 species of salmon, as well as resident populations of rainbow trout, sea run dolly varden and Arctic grayling), wild country, and a well-run and organized camp, all at a reasonable rate.

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Bulkley Base Camp

Bulkley Base Camp

Canada

Bulkley Basecamp is the newest addition to the Northern BC angling scene. From the excellent outfitters of Frontier Farwest, in prime position on the Bulkley River, this simple but comfortable little camp was built for the anglers who put the fishing first.

The magnificent sea-going trout of of Northern BC enter their natal Skeena drainage in late July, and move upstream into the clear headwaters of the Bulkley River by the end of August. Fresh fish continue to accumulate in the river right through the end of the season in late October and into November. The average annual return to the Bulkley River is between 25,000 and 45,000 Steelhead, which represents approximately 50% of all steelhead returning to Skeena watershed!

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Hoodoo Sportfishing

Alaska

We all dream, I think, of being the first to discover a remote Alaskan river, a stream so far off the charts, it has only been acknowledged, vaguely, by a few intrepid explorers.

The king salmon (and chum and sockeye salmon) program is based around jet boat access, which includes the lower half of this small river. This extensive mileage is broken up into various beats, with anglers normally seeing new water on most days of their stay. The river is dense with great king-holding water, and its small size, coupled with the heavy run of fish make it the most amazing king fishery we have ever experienced.

One of the beautiful parts of the Hoodoo Lodge program is that there is absolutely no outside pressure on the fisheries.

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Hoodoo's Sandy River Lodge

Alaska

For the hardcore fly-rodder that wants immediate access to some of the best swung-fly water on this storied Alaskan river, Hoodoo's small lodge fits the bill.

Beginning in the middle of June, big numbers of chrome-bright kings start stacking up in the lower tidal pools of the Sandy, fish that are notoriously aggressive to swung flies in what are often fairly shallow runs. Fresh fish continue to enter the river into the second week of July. Average kings here are in the 25-30 pound range, but specimens to 50 pounds are sometimes landed.

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Skeena Spey Lodge

Canada

One of the most populated watersheds, the Skeena always seems to have a fresh run of fish on its way. From spring chinook to fiesty summer run steelhead followed by coho in the fall, there is never really a lull in the fishing seasons.

June is a good month for chinook salmon. With melting snow triggering their migration, big spring kings continue to move into the Skeena.

Experienced spey anglers enjoy the chance to cast to some of the strongest fish in the high water associated with early summer on the Skeena. The combination of the two make for an epic fight. This really is an excellent time to fish for the big kings; 50+ pound fish will challenge every bit of your equipment and determination.

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Ugashik Lake Lodge - Alaska

Ugashik Lake Lodge

Alaska

Some of the best salmon fishing we've found in Alaska, at a super intimate little fly out lodge taking only 2-4 guests a week!

The seasons at Ugashik Lake Lodge revolve around the ancient spawning cycles of king and silver salmon to a handful of rivers on the remote Alaskan Peninsula. The kings begin returning here in early June, and by mid-month the rivers are traditionally heavy with ocean bright fish. They continue to enter throughout July – by the end of king season in late July the rivers are at maximum holding capacity, and while there is a higher percentage of blushed fish now, there are still fresh, chrome fish entering daily. These weeks also see large numbers of big chum salmon ascending the river, as well as large schools of sockeyes.

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Wilderness Place Lodge King

Wilderness Place Lodge

Alaska

Wilderness Place Lodge is very well run, affordable, and located on a wonderful and productive fishery.

Their season begins in early June with the arrival of the mighty king salmon. Lake Creek king salmon are quite large on average with most fish between 20 and 40 pounds, and occasionally over 60 pounds. Anyone who has done battle with this magnificent sportfish knows that their reputation as bulldogs of the river is well earned. Fishing during the king season – June and early July – is typically with subsurface flies and shooting head or sink tip fly lines. Double handed 'Spey' rods are also extremely popular on Lake Creek, and for good reason - Wilderness Place's outstanding stable of guides concentrate their guests on fishing river runs, channels and structure wonderfully conducive to the swung fly presentation.

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Getting More Information

To get more information, please give us a call at 800-669-3474 during business hours any day of the week, or email us at travel@theflyshop.com anytime. We can give you the answers you need, detailed explanations to questions you might have, or check on availability and confirm your reservation in minutes.