5.0(3 Reviews)Kodiak Chinook & Coho Salmon River Fishing
5.0(3 reviews)
Private Trip
River Fishing
Target Chinook and Coho salmon on Kodiak Island riversAllinclusive package with gear, meals, and lodge accommodationsExpert guides welcome families and all skill levels
Picture yourself casting into pristine Kodiak Island waters where massive Chinook and feisty Coho salmon run thick during peak season. This isn't your typical day trip – we're talking about a proper Alaska fishing adventure with Driftwood Wilderness Lodge, where the coffee's strong, the fish are bigger, and every cast feels like it could be the one. Our river fishing trips put you right in the heart of salmon country, with expert guides who know every pool, riffle, and honey hole where these fish like to hold.
Your day starts early with a hearty breakfast before we head to the river systems around Kodiak Island. These aren't crowded tourist waters – we're fishing remote stretches where salmon stack up during their spawning runs. The lodge keeps groups small at just 2 anglers, so you get personalized attention and won't be competing for the best spots. Our guides have been working these waters for years and can read the river like a book, knowing exactly where to position you when the bite turns on. The scenery alone is worth the trip – towering mountains, dense wilderness, and crystal-clear water that runs so clean you can see salmon moving from 20 feet away. Between the fishing action, you'll spot eagles, bears, and other wildlife that call this untouched corner of Alaska home. The all-inclusive package means everything's handled – gear, transfers, meals, and accommodations – so you can focus on fishing instead of logistics.
We fish these Kodiak rivers using proven salmon techniques that work season after season. For Chinook, we'll have you swinging spoons and spinners through the deeper pools, or working fresh roe under a float when the fish are holding tight to structure. Coho respond well to bright streamers and hardware – pink, orange, and chartreuse patterns that trigger their aggressive strikes. The lodge provides top-quality rods and reels suited for Alaska salmon fishing, typically 8-9 foot medium-heavy setups that can handle big fish and swift current. Your guide will rig everything and show you the retrieval speeds and presentations that work best for current conditions. River fishing here means reading the water – understanding where salmon rest during their upstream journey and how to present your offering so it looks natural. We'll teach you to recognize productive water types like tail-outs, undercut banks, and back eddies where salmon concentrate. The key is matching your technique to the fish's behavior, whether they're fresh from the ocean and aggressive or focused on spawning and more selective about what they'll hit.
"Me and four buddies spent eight days and eight nights with Nick fishing and hunting, what an amazing time!!! I am already booked to go back and I'm bringing my wife with me! We slammed the fish every single day and got a buck, you can't ask for more than that!! We got to drop crab pots, caught some great snow crab and had an amazing meal out of it! The home is rustic but cozy, and we felt right at home! Bear is awesome, a great guy and cook, don't let his looks fool ya :) The food is great and there is always plenty of it! Nick, Beau, Bear, Sister Sarah, and the rest of the crew are great and I can't wait to be back there!" - Mark
"If you want a laidback, rustic, fun fishing (or hunting!) experience, Driftwood Wilderness is the best! Food is hearty and delicious, rooms are comfortable and the location is spot on perfect! Nick is a great guide and knows what you need to get on fish. Bear slays it in the kitchen- everything is delicious. Sara and Daisy are the best homestead pets. Just the best place to be in Larsen Bay, Alaska!," - Kirsten
"Awesome place we had a great time great food. We did good hunting and fishing. It was a fantastic time in beautiful country 10 out of 10 would recommend." - Dan
Pink Salmon are the scrappy underdogs of the salmon world, and Kodiak's rivers see massive runs during odd-numbered years. These fish average 3-5 pounds but make up for size with pure attitude and numbers. Pinks hit hard and fight dirty, using the current to their advantage and making blazing runs that test your drag system. They're most active during July and early August when they're fresh from the ocean, sporting that bright silver coloration. What makes pink salmon fishing so addictive is the sheer volume – when the run is on, you can hook fish on consecutive casts until your arms are sore.
Coho Salmon are the acrobats of Alaska fishing, known for their spectacular jumps and bulldog determination. These silver rockets typically run 8-12 pounds in Kodiak waters, with some bruiser males pushing 15-plus during peak season. Coho enter the river systems from July through September, with August being prime time when they're at their most aggressive. They'll smash lures with reckless abandon and then launch themselves skyward in a series of tail-walking jumps that'll have you whooping like a rookie. The bright chrome sides and incredible stamina make every Coho battle memorable.
Chinook Salmon are the undisputed kings of the Pacific, and Kodiak's river systems host some true monsters. These fish can exceed 30 pounds, with most river-caught Kings ranging from 15-25 pounds of pure muscle. Chinooks run from May through July, with June offering the best shot at trophy-sized fish. When you hook a King, you know it immediately – they don't jump like Coho but instead make long, powerful runs that can strip 100 yards of line in seconds. The fight is a test of endurance, with these fish using their bulk and the river current to try every trick in the book to throw your hook
The 30' Stelzar aluminum fishing boat gets you deep into Kodiak's productive salmon rivers where the big Chinook and Coho are running. Built tough in 2007 and powered by twin 450HP Honda engines, this workhorse cruises at 30 knots to cover serious water quickly. The fish finder helps locate holding pools while GPS and radar keep you on course even when coastal fog rolls in. After landing fish all day, you've got an icebox to keep your catch fresh, plus a galley, head, and sleeping quarters for multi-day river adventures. The aluminum hull handles shallow gravel bars and rocky shorelines that smaller boats can't reach, putting you on prime salmon water where other anglers rarely venture.
Oncorhynchus TshawytschaKing salmon are the trophy fish everyone dreams about - massive, powerful, and smart. These giants run 20-40 pounds regularly, with some pushing 50+ in our Kodiak waters. They're light-sensitive bottom huggers, so early morning and evening produce best. Unlike other salmon, kings stay deep in the main channels and prefer the coldest water they can find. May through July gives you the best shot at fresh ocean chrome. The fight is legendary - long, bulldogging runs that'll test your gear and patience. That rich, red meat is unmatched on the dinner table. Since they're bottom-oriented, weighted presentations work best. Here's the key: keep your offering moving slowly near the bottom in the deepest holes, and don't horse them - let that rod work.
Oncorhynchus KisutchCoho salmon, or silvers, are pure dynamite on the line. These 8-12 pound acrobats will jump clean out of the water and give you a real fight. They've got that classic silver look with dark backs when fresh from the ocean, turning reddish when spawning. You'll find them in deeper river holes and under cover like logs or overhanging banks. Peak season runs late July through September here on Kodiak. What makes coho special is their aggressive nature and willingness to chase lures, plus that bright orange meat is table fare at its finest. They can jump 6 feet straight up, so keep your drag smooth. My go-to trick is swinging a bright spinner through the current seams - when they hit, hold on tight because they're going airborne.
Hippoglossus StenolepisWhile our river trips focus on salmon, halibut are worth mentioning since they're Kodiak legends. These massive flatfish live on the ocean bottom and can reach 100+ pounds easily. They're ambush predators that lie in wait, then crush anything that swims by. Summer months bring them into shallower water around 150-300 feet deep near structure and drop-offs. What gets people hooked is the sheer size potential - you never know if the next bite is a 20-pounder or a 200-pound barn door. The white meat is outstanding eating, firm and mild. They're surprisingly strong fighters that use their flat bodies like a sail. Best tip for halibut: once you feel that solid weight, keep steady pressure and don't pump the rod - just wind and let the circle hook do its job.
Oncorhynchus GorbuschaPink salmon are the smallest Pacific salmon but they're everywhere during their runs. Also called humpies for the distinct hump males develop, they average 4-5 pounds and love the cold rivers around Kodiak. These fish have a short 2-year life cycle, so runs happen in even years here. They're perfect for beginners - aggressive biters that'll hit bright pink jigs and spoons. The meat is lighter than other salmon but still tasty, especially smoked. They feed heavily on crustaceans, which gives their flesh that pink color. Best fishing is July through early August when they're thick in the rivers. Pro tip: use a pink hoochie with a bit of herring scent - they can't resist it when they're schooled up in the deeper pools.
Oncorhynchus NerkaSockeye are the premium eating salmon with that deep red flesh and rich flavor. These 6-10 pound fish are tricky to catch because they mainly feed on plankton, not typical baits. In our rivers, they school up in deeper pools and run close to bottom during their June through August migration. What makes them special is that incredible taste - restaurants pay top dollar for wild sockeye. They turn bright red with green heads when spawning, making for great photos. The challenge is getting them to bite since they're not actively feeding in freshwater. They're strong fighters that make powerful runs. Secret weapon: small, bright flies fished right at their mouth level as they move upriver. Takes patience, but when you connect with a fresh chrome sockeye, it's worth every cast.
5.0 out of 5.0Me and four buddies spent eight days and eight nights with Nick fishing and hunting, what an amazing time!!! I am already booked t...
If you want a laidback, rustic, fun fishing (or hunting!) experience, Driftwood Wilderness is the best! Food is hearty and delicio...
Awesome place we had a great time great food. We did good hunting and fishing. It was a fantastic time in beautiful country 10 out...
Kodiak