Some anlgers like the sound and feel of the good old "click and pawl" reels. The Chatanika is located 20 miles northwest of Fairbanks. Finally, we stayed at Chena Hot Springs, 907-451-8104, our base for fishing the Chena River. It is not uncommon to see them along the margin of a lake or slower moving river sucking down insects that dot the water. He stressed the importance of finding the fish. As the summer waters around Alaska begin to teem with aquatic insects that are both emerging and dropping eggs back into the waters, the little Grayling are feasting on mayflies and mosquitoes. Reserve at least a week in advance. To start, we rented a car at the airport. Other times, Alaska's grayling will be finicky eaters of only one particular insect stage. The three places that you will NOT find these fish are on Kodiak Island, along the Aleutian Island chain or in the far Southeast of Alaska's sounds and saltwater islands. They will eat everything from small midges, snails and nymphs to salmon eggs and terrestrials. The room was clean and comfortable and well-appointed with two queen-size beds. Later in the season, when salmon are on their spawning grounds, grayling put on weight. Alaska Trout and Grayling Fishing Techniques Alaska's waters offer plenty of opportunity to hook into grayling, lake, trout, rainbow trout, and dolly vardens. Rates for June 2010 are $385.99 per week for a compact (Toyota Corolla or Chevrolet Cobalt) and $595.90 for a sport utility (Chevrolet Trailblazer or Toyota 4Runner). We fished the Salcha first, but found better access and better fishing on the road-accessible North Fork of the Chena, a tributary of the Tanana. Yurts are available for $65 a night and RV parking is available. In the Yukon/Tanana drainage where we fished, there are several famous grayling streams, including the upper reaches of the Chena, Salcha and Chatanika rivers. In the lower 48 states, they are mostly gone except for a few stocked lakes in California and Montana. Arctic Grayling are also known to live in lakes. If you are not having luck with insect flies switch to a mouse fly because they have been known to eat small invertebrates such as shrews and small mice. Those wild grayling will remain in my mind as a symbol of wilderness in the land of the Midnight Sun. Some common flies to try would be the Black Gnat, Royal Humpy, Sparkle … These fish may well be the smartest fish in the salmon family, and due to their smaller size, they use their smarts to survive in rivers where there are predators like Northern Pike. You can fish for these beauties almost anywhere there is a clear bottom creek. Wherever a boulder broke the flow or a fallen log eased the current, grayling set up in feeding stations. They use a jet boat to fish water that is inaccessible by air and difficult to reach on foot. But when you find a school, you'll have good fishing. Good single hand rods for grayling range from short and light 7'6" 3 wts to the standard 9' 5wt,. We've compiled some of the basics to get you started in the right direction. A lightning-fast hook-set lost us more fish than it produced. More than one fish would rise at the same time. Grayling are often referred to as "dry fly dumb," meaning that they'll often eat whatever is offered to them. Pike are available in some local lakes and in slower sections of river throughout the summer. It is a bit ironic that the Arctic grayling is such a draw for worldly, seasoned anglers, because Arctic grayling are also the perfect fish for beginners. Grayling typically weigh in at just over five pounds with a body length up to 24 inches but they still fight like crazy and are fun to fish for because of their intelligence. Take Airport Way to the Parks Highway and turn left onto Chema Pump Road. It is not unusual for grayling to take mouse patterns that are much too large to fit into their tiny mouths. Some anglers even prefer shorter and lighter rods to be used specifically with dry flies on smaller water. Grayling, rainbows, and cutthroat love dries and nymphs. When fishing for them, try flies that are insect-like such as those that mimic the mayfly flies, black flies, caddis flies, and stone flies. We fished the Salcha first, but found better access and better fishing on the road-accessible North Fork of the Chena, a tributary of the Tanana. Arctic Grayling Guide Service,907-479-0479, offers trips in the Tanana drainage to spring-fed tributaries. Either way you will have an outstanding time fishing for Arctic Grayling. At times, the grayling can be the fly angler's dream fish, readily rising to most any dry fly regardless of pattern or technique. Many insects use vegetation as a haven for food and you will likely find grayling where you find aquatic insects. A nice selection of dries and nymphs is always recommended as are small crystal buggers and leech patterns. 10-14 subsurface patterns: Woolly Worm, Egg-Sucking Leech, Beadhead Hare's Ear, Teeny Nymph, Brown Hackle and Zug Bug. 14 Adams; I later replaced it with an Elk Hair Caddis which floated better through the riffles. Each car has been restored or renovated to individual themes and Victorian-era style. This confluence is one of the most popular fisheries in South Central Alaska. Most casts to grayling will be relatively short and a soft presentation is helpful. "Don't waste your time," he warned us, "fishing where there are no fish. So why would anyone bother to chase grayling in the spring when there are salmon in the river all summer? Their amazing colors help them blend into the dappled waters of the summer streams and lakes throughout Alaska. The preferred rod is greatly influenced by not only where and how, but if the rod will double as an all-around trout rod, too. When fishing for Arctic Grayling, in lakes, take advantage of aquatic vegetation, and the quieter pools around these plants. Gear and Flies When fishing for them, try flies that are insect-like such as those that mimic the mayfly flies, black flies, caddis flies, and stone flies. Rods should be of medium to medium/fast action as having the capability to mend line easily is essential to getting good drifts. Fall Hours for shop walk in traffic is Monday – Friday 10am – 5:30pm and Saturday 11am – 4pm. Some common flies to try would be the Black Gnat, Royal Humpy, Sparkle Dun, X Caddis, and the Bead Head Stonefly. Heeding the advice we'd been given, we used spinners to cover water until we located a pod of fish. These guys love to hang in the quiet pools adjacent to ripples. This species presents a variety of colors depending on its habitat and food source. In a river environment, you will find these striking fish almost everywhere. A rigging with a nice small fly on a 7-10 foot leader is an outstanding attraction to them and ideal flies are between 10 and 18 in size. Dogs are welcome. With its distinctive sailfish-like dorsal fin, the grayling is perhaps the most striking of Alaskan game fish. Good grayling fishing continues through September. They seem ready to rise for any fly and chase most any lure. Copyright 2010 Gary Lewis Outdoors, All Rights Reserved. These sea-going rainbow trout are found […], Meet The Fish: Chum Salmon The Chum is often regarded as the "Ugly Stepsister" of Alaskan salmon species, but this stepsister can really […]. Think smaller flies. Ratings and Reviews Powered by TripAdvisor, Arctic Grayling caught by Rebekka Redd at, Covid-19 Update - Info & List of Fishing Lodges, Guides & Charters Open in 2020. Room rates start at $145. RV and tent campers can find a place to camp, as well. By the second week of June, the rivers are usually running clear. The buffet breakfast was very good. These are graceful creatures with small silvery-bronze scales and speckles behind the gills. If you are in a wider stream or river, then experiment with your fly pattern. The first evening, we checked in to Pike's Waterfront Lodge, 907-456-4500, in Fairbanks. It is not uncommon to find these amazingly colored fish displaying a dark side color with beautiful iridescent spots in red, purple, and even blue/green. Ripples and shallows are often a haven for aquatic insects and smaller Graylings will work these areas when hungry. Pike's Waterfront Lodge provides an airport shuttle. Their sail fin allows them to achieve a lot more for a fish their size. They will happily sip salmon eggs too. 18 midge to a No. Fill out the info below and someone from will get back to you. Depending on when and where you anticipate fishing and for which species, the methods can vary substantially. We rented a compact from Dollar Rent-a-Car at 907-451-4360. To me, they are the very symbol of the far north, pure water, wild country and mountain streams. These fish can be challenging or they can be easy targets. Alaska has grayling in abundance. My first fly-caught grayling fell to a No. P eople travel from all corners of the earth for a chance to catch an Arctic grayling, Alaska’s premier freshwater fish. June through September, these fish make their living in the upper reaches of clean, clear river systems. Rods It is not uncommon for these amazing fish to leap completely out of the water to take a fly that is dangled.