Sports Haul: Alaska Silver Salmon Fishing

The silver salmons of Alaska (also known as "coho" salmon fishes) are one of the most exciting catch you can ever find. Alaska Silver Salmon Fishing is becoming one of the more popular recreational activities to do in this cold state.



Alaska’s silver salmon is well known for its silver colour on the sides and greenish blue hue on its back. It has been regarded as Alaska’s greatest sports fish. And this is not because of its weight like the king salmons. The silver salmons just usually weigh around 9-24 pounds compared to its king counterparts though the lifecycle of the fish is similar to that of the Alaska King Salmons.



These coho fishes at first, live in freshwater for one year or two and then they’ll start swimming to the Kenai saltwater rivers. Before they even swim towards the salt water, these silver salmons are known to be dangerous preys to different species of fish, and even, to each other. This kind of fight for survival at such a young age makes Alaska Silver Salmon Fishing one of the more exhilarating experiences in fishing. You may want to try catching them both in the sea water or fresh waters of Alaska.



From July to September, you can find these silver salmons in the saltwater areas of the Deep Creek, Whiskey Gulch and Anchor River. You can also do Alaska silver salmon fishing from July to October in the freshwater shores of Kasilof Rivers and Crooked Creek.



To get the most of the action, we suggest that you troll near the salt waters of the Kenai Peninsula. For example, in the Resurrection Bay, you can troll at different depths using down riggers to lure the coho. You may also use diving aids attached to cut herring rigs (a kind of fish species that are particularly tasty to salmons) and flashers.



You can also use "spoons" that would lure the fish towards the shore or near the freshwater mouths of the streams. If you want to catch them in the fresh water areas like the river banks, check out the areas that have slow moving waters. Silver salmons don’t like swimming in fast running waters.



For people who want to catch them from the boat, you can use spoons and spinners. The rods and reels should be sturdy enough to support 15-20 lbs lines to make sure you reel and land them in. When the boat is already anchored, a loop rig filled with some salmon with just enough weight can lure these silver ones towards the bottom of the boat where you can readily catch them.



If you happen to be a fly fisher, you would enjoy catching silver salmons are these would really give a fight when you try to reel them. They will jump all over the place and try to run out on you. We suggest that you get a fly rod that is 7-9 of weight with reel and sink or floating tip line. If you know some of the basic patterns of fly fishing, this would do. The same techniques you use for trout or other kinds of similar fishes would be enough to reel the silver salmons. Because of the number these coho fishes found in these areas, one can really have the practice and enjoyment of being a first time fly fisher.