American Creek Rainbow Trout
Fly Fishing Alaska for Big Rainbows
50-Mile Float Trips on American Creek - Bristol Bay
Hooked on Alaska
For this remote float trip on the Lower American River, you'll take a floatplane to the put-in on Hammersley Lake and flyfish for big rainbows and char over the next six days. You'll float for fifty miles down to the take-out at Coville Lake and then take a floatplane back to King Salmon. These remote stretches of the river receive only 100 to 150 annual visitors. Hooked on Alaska also offers float trips on Moraine Creek and the Alagnak River.
Lower American Creek
American Creek: The American is a fly-fishing-only, catch-and-release destination, and Hooked on Alaska's main river from June through mid-September. With its glacial waters and dense taiga forest, the American is one of Alaska's most prolific big trout and char fishery. Catch world-class trout on tiny dry flies. As one of only two companies that float the American continuously, guests can flyfish remote sections beyond the reach of jet boaters and walk-and-wade anglers.
Methods: Mouse for trophy rainbows all day and night on the American Creek, Land of the Midnight Sun. Sightfish for big rainbows using dry flies, nymphs, and more.
Skill Levels: The American is for intermediate to expert anglers as the river has tough wading. They recommend Moraine Creek and the Alagnak River for beginners and intermediate anglers.
Group Size: All trips are limited to four anglers per week.
Hooked on Alaska Rivers
American Creek: June 8 - July 31 - is prime time for mousing, dry flies, nymphs, and a large assortment of streamers. During June and July, mousing for rainbows is great, and there is a lower chance of running into bears and less chance of rain.
August 1 - mid-September is beading and red salmon fishing. During this time, you'll be sharing the river with many bears. They see 10 to 15 bears a day on average. The guides are trained to handle fishing around the bears.
Moraine Creek: August to mid-September when thousands of sockeye are spawning, and the rainbows are feeding on the eggs. Although, you will see a lot of other anglers, this is a great river for beginner and intermediate fly anglers.
Alagnak River: The first two weeks that follow July 4th are peak for sockeye salmon and fish the Braids for trophy rainbow trout. Sockeye heaven also brings out the brown bears. On the Alagnak, fresh salmon shore lunches are an option.
The Moraine Creek
A large rainbow trout from Moraine Creek.
Bear Country
On the American, near the end of July and throughout August, you will be sharing the river with bears for the salmon run. All of the float trip rivers have brown bears.
Fishing Days
Typical Fishing Day:
6:30 am - Coffee is ready.
7:00 am - Breakfast is ready.
8:30 am - Break down camp.
9:00 to 9:30 am - Begin fishing.
Between noon and 2:00 pm - You'll stop for lunch and then return to fishing.
5:00 - The guides set up Camp.
6:00 pm - Dinner is served.
7:00 pm to dark - Fish or relax at Camp.
Daylight Hours: 4:00 am to 10:00 pm.
The Fishing Program
Rafts: 13 to 16-foot rafts, two anglers per raft with a guide at the oars. While the rafts mainly serve as transport from hole to hole, there will be some opportunities to fish from the raft, too. Overall, the best fishing is when you're knee-deep in the water.
Guides: Professional fly fishing guides work non-stop to ensure you have a great trip. If you want to land a rainbow on a mouse and have yet to grasp it, the guides will go out with you in the evenings to help.
Fishing Equipment: A limited number of loaner rods and reels are available. You will need to bring your own waders. They prefer a 7-weight with a weight-forward floating line because you can throw mice patterns, streamers, and dries and won’t need to switch between a 6 and an 8-weight rod. If you don’t have a 7, stiffer 6s or 8 weights will work. A comprehensive tackle and gear list is included in our confirmation packet.
A Fishing License is not included. A non-resident Alaska fishing license is $45.00.
Riverside Camps
Camp: You will need to bring your own sleeping bag.
Meals: Hot-cooked breakfasts. Lunch is usually a simple wrap and fruit. Dinners feature salmon, halibut, ribeye night, spaghetti... Special diets can be accommodated with advance notice. If you want a special soda, a 12-pack can be ordered.
Water: Water is purified using a gravity filter and a filter pump.
Alcohol: No alcohol is included. You may purchase some in King Salmon or Anchorage. (There is a 50-pound weight limit on the floatplane.)
Electricity: There is no electricity in the camp.
Communications: Cell phone service and Wi-Fi service are unavailable on this trip. The guides have remote satellite two-way communication devices for emergency purposes.
Mornings on the River
Getting to the Trip Start:
1.) You'll fly to Anchorage, Alaska.
2.) From Anchorage, you'll take a one-hour flight to the village of King Salmon and spend the night at a hotel. They recommend Antler's Inn, and you'll receive a discount when you mention Hooked on Alaska.
3.) The next morning, a representative will drive you to the floatplane base.
4.) You'll take a one-hour flight to the trip start on the river. After lunch, you'll start fishing.
Departure Day: You'll get in a morning of guided fishing, reaching the take-out at about 11:30. Between noon and 2:00 pm, you'll take a one-hour floatplane flight to King Salmon. You'll enjoy your first hot shower (for the week) at the Antler's Inn. Then, grab some food in town before your flight back to Anchorage between 5:00 and 6:00 pm.
2024 USD Rates:
Limited to four anglers per week.
Solo anglers - they will try and combine with other anglers.
Two anglers per guide and raft.
June and July:
Mousing and Dry Flies on the American:
4-nights and 5-days guided fishing $5,700.00 per person
5-nights and 6-days guided fishing $6,000.00 per person
August and September:
Beading and Red Salmon on the American:
4-nights and 5-days guided fishing $6,000.00 per person
5-nights and 6-days guided fishing $7,000.00 per person
Information Packet.
The Packages Include:
• Floatplane flights between King Salmon and the put-in/take-out
• Meals and snacks at the Camp
• Purified water, flavored water, and coffee
(Soda is also available, with advance notice before June)
• Use of tent camping equipment
• Guided fishing
• Limited fly outfits; you’re encouraged to bring your own
• Flies, leaders, tippet, and strike indicators
• Lures, if spin fishing.
The Packages Do Not Include:
• Airfare to Anchorage and return• Airfare from between Anchorage and King Salmon and return
• Hotel and meals in King Salmon
• Sleeping bag and pillow
• Alcohol
• Gratuities
• Alaska fishing license
• King Salmon Stamp, if needed
• Waders and wading boots
• Global Rescue
• Travel insurance
• Anything not mentioned under inclusions.
