Mission Lodge | Bristol Bay Alaska

Alaska Fly Out Lodge in Remote Bristol Bay | The State’s Premier Lodge

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Fish

Northern Pike

Esox lucius

Also known as the Northern Pike Minnow

Average size: 3 – 8 lbs.
Alaska state record: 38 lbs. 8 oz. **
Tackle used: Spin or Fly rods. Spin Gear in the 8 – 14 lbs or Spoons, Plugs and softplastic. Fly Gear: we prefer 7 – 9 weight to help through the larger topwater bugs. We use a floating fly line. Flies: Minnow patterns, Mice and Dahlberg Diver style patterns.

We find these toothy critters through the Bristol Bay region of Alaska.

Arctic Char

Salvelinus alpinus

also known as blueback char or blueback trout.
Average size: 3-5 lbs.
Alaska state record: 19 lbs. 12.5 oz.
Habitat: Many of these fish are sea-run and spend part of their year during the year, and the balance in rivers and streams.
Tackle used: Fly and spin tackle. No bait. Single barbless hooks.

Dolly Varden

Salvelinus malma

A close cousin of the Arctic Char.

Average size: 2-4lbs
Alaska state record: 17lb 8oz
Tackle used: Fly and spin tackle. No bait. Single barbless hooks.
Habitat: Most rivers, streams and lakes of the Bristol Bay region. Very common where creeks and streams dump into large lakes.

Rainbow Trout

Onchorynus mykiss

Also known as Bows, Leopard Rainbows.

Average size: 18 – 20 “, 3 – 4 lbs.
Alaska state record: 15 lbs. 7 oz.
Tackle used: Fly and spin tackle. No bait. Single barbless hooks.
Habitat: They love the clean, cool waters of Bristol Bay.

Silver Salmon

Onchorhynchus kisutch

Also known as Coho Salmon are the second largest of the pacific salmon.
Average size: 10 – 12 lbs
Alaska state record: 26 lbs
Tackle used: Silver salmon can be taken using many of the same techniques used for many of the other salmon species, including fly fishing and spinning fishing with lures and jigs. When conditions are perfect, our favorite method is “wogging”. Wog’s or Polywogs are hot pink spun deer hair flies that are fished by stripping the line and chugging the fly across the surface. Silver’s grab these flies violently, making it one of the most exciting methods for catching these fish.
Habitat: As silvers move into the fresh water they also tend to seek out soft water. Large back eddies with pronounced current seams or depressions in the rivers bottom structure seem to hold Silvers very well.