Looking for a back up river out of King Salmon

[pmo]

Floating American Creek in August. We would like to have a back plan in place in case American is too low to float. We are staging out of King Salmon. Considering the Algnak or Morraine Creek. Any other we should consider? We prefer small streams and wade fishing, only using the rafts for travel. Thanks for any info

 

[dmahay]

Consider begging, borrowing or stealing someones floatplane and taking a flight...fish where the fish are rising to start on the way to the next spot.

 

[George Riddle]

When are you heading out? Big Creek dumps into the Naknek River upstream of King Salmon, at the right time of year can be a nice float if water isn't too high. Bottom few miles can be a slow drift, side slews have pike, bottom will have kings if the time is right.

George

 

[pmo]

Thanks George. We arrive in King Salmon on August 5th.

 

[George Riddle]

Kings will be on the spawning ground up Big Creek so trout, dollies and grayling will be there. Lower creek would have chum and silvers. This would be a good float this time of year. Bears, moose and maybe a caribou or two to watch of watch out for. This would be a cheaper float as the air time would be short and only one way as you could float back to King Salmon.

George

 

[bairdi]

Big Creek is definitely an option. Fun stream with decent trout and grayling fishing.

You could also float the Alagnak. It is relatively close to King Salmon and should have decent fishing for trout up in the braids and plenty of silvers, chums and pinks should be available in the lower river. The braids are alot of fun to fish. You will however see other floaters and guide boats once you are below the forks.

 

[Catch It]

The weather out here often comes in bunches, so if that side of the bay is socked in and blown it (or dried up as you have mentioned), all of those may be experiencing rough water conditions, but it's possible that streams on the upper nushagak are okay (or potentially vice versa). So, others to consider for decent floats are the Koktuli, Upper Mulchatna, King Salmon or Stuyahok Rivers. Somewhat farther than your current list, but if these rivers are in, you'll find all you are looking for.

 

[jockomontana]

You could also float the Alagnak. It is relatively close to King Salmon and should have decent fishing for trout up in the braids and plenty of silvers, chums and pinks should be available in the lower river. The braids are alot of fun to fish. You will however see other floaters and guide boats once you are below the forks.

I second the Alagnak suggestion.... floated it twice; 7 days the first time, 10 the second. Great wilderness float with excellent fishing and scenery. Plenty of opportunities to wade fish with good camping on gravel bars... great top-water mouse action in back channels, too!

 

[George Riddle]

Jocko,
What time of year did you float the Alagnak?

George

 

[jockomontana]

Jocko,
What time of year did you float the Alagnak?

George

Early Sept. the first year, mid-Sept. the second... didnt see another soul on the river for ten days the second time around, either.... I imagine early August might be a different story with more activity on the river... still, seems like only a handful of lodges out there and plenty of water to fish throughout the Braids.

 

[pmo]

Thanks for the info guys.

 

[George Riddle]

WOW Jocko,

That is prime trout time and now one but you on the river. How sweet was that? Weather is still nice enough to not have to pull water lines out of the lodges and should have been some moose hunters allover you...

George

 

[jockomontana]

Yea, George... pretty sweet indeed! My two buddies and I were blessed by the fish gods. First year we went for 7 days and had to spend some time hunkerin down during rainstorms; second year we went longer figuring we'd eventually get good weather and it turned out to be Indian summer out there the entire time! I think we flew in on the 18th and moose season closed the 20th; lodges seemed to be shut down already and didnt see another soul on the river till our pilot picked us up 10 days later... he even made a detour landing to Kukaklek lake for one final hour of fishing! All in all, a great trip.

 

[George Riddle]

Very nice, good on ya. Have a good summer.

George