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Top 10 Freshwater Fish to Catch in Alaska

Top Ten

Fish to Catch in Alaska

Cold water. Big fish. No excuses.

Alaska’s freshwater scene is stacked with heavy hitters. Chinook salmon and arctic char headline a lineup built for anglers who want real variety and serious muscle. From trout to burbot, each fish brings its own attitude. If you want a challenge with a shot at trophies and wild action, this is your water.

Chinook Salmon

World Record 97 lb 4 oz
Les Anderson / 1985
Kenai River, Alaska

Signature Fact Laboratory magnets made juvenile Chinook aim as if 'teleported' north or south, proving they navigate by Earth's field.

Click to Learn More About Chinook Salmon

Arctic Char

World Record 32 lb 9 oz
Gunnar Schmid / 2012
Tree River, Nunavut

Signature Fact When winter clamps down, they can skip meals for 8-9 months, shrinking their guts to save energy.

Click to Learn More About Arctic Char

Coho Salmon

World Record 33 lb 4 oz
Les Anderson / 1989
Skeena River, British Columbia

Signature Fact One of the few salmon that regularly crush topwater lures in saltwater-boils, cartwheels, absolute surface chaos.

Click to Learn More About Coho Salmon

Rainbow Trout

Learn More Here Verified Catch

World Record 48 lb 0 oz
Sean Konrad / 2009
Lake Diefenbaker, Saskatchewan

Signature Fact Siblings from one nest can grow up as 8-inch creek fish or 20‑plus‑pound ocean‑run steelhead, then spawn together.

Dolly Varden

Learn More Here Verified Catch

World Record 20 lb 14 oz
Thomas J. Bohn / 2001
Wulik River, Alaska

Signature Fact Alaska once paid a bounty for Dolly Varden tails-until science cleared them of 'salmon killer' blame.

Arctic Grayling

Learn More Here Verified Catch

World Record 5 lb 8 oz
Joe L. Dow / 2016
Lake Athabasca, Saskatchewan

Signature Fact Fresh-caught Thymallus can smell faintly of thyme-the genus name literally translates to "thyme fish.

Lake Trout

Learn More Here Verified Catch

World Record 72 lb 0 oz
Lloyd Bull / 1995
Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories

Signature Fact A deepwater "siscowet" morph packs ~35% body fat-so oily 1800s fishermen rendered it for lamp oil.

Cutthroat trout

Learn More Here Verified Catch

World Record 41 lb 0 oz
John Skimmerhorn / 1925
Pyramid Lake, Nevada, USA

Signature Fact The heaviest cutthroat ever verified came from Pyramid Lake's Lahontan strain, a freak of freshwater heft topping 40 pounds.

Burbot

Learn More Here Verified Catch

World Record 25 lb 2 oz
Alvin H. Hanson / 2010
Lake Diefenbaker, Saskatchewan

Signature Fact The planet's only freshwater cod spawns midwinter-forming writhing under‑ice spawn balls that carpet the bottom with eggs.

FAQs

What fish can you catch in Alaska?

In Alaska’s freshwater, you’ll find chinook salmon, arctic char, coho salmon, rainbow trout, dolly varden, arctic grayling, lake trout, cutthroat trout, and burbot.

What is the best time of year to fish in Alaska?

Peak fishing in Alaska freshwater usually runs from late spring through early fall, depending on the species you’re targeting.

Where are the best places to fish in Alaska?

Alaska’s rivers and lakes hold all nine top freshwater species. Focus on large river systems and remote lakes for the best action, but the whole state is stacked.

What gear do you need for fishing in Alaska?

Spinning or fly rods, strong line, and a solid selection of lures or flies will cover you for salmon, trout, char, and burbot in Alaska’s freshwater.

What are the easiest fish to catch in Alaska?

Arctic grayling, dolly varden, and rainbow trout are some of the more accessible freshwater fish for anglers in Alaska.

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