The Goodnews River, located in the remote southwestern part of Alaska, is an exceptional fishing destination that offers a unique experience compared to other well-known rivers in the state. It’s known for its pristine waters, abundant fish populations, and the tranquil, unspoiled wilderness that surrounds it. The River offers a variety of fishing opportunities along its length as it flows some 65 miles to Goodnews Bay. The upper River is known for its crystal-clear and colder waters, making it ideal for catching rainbow trout and grayling, particularly for fly fishing. As the River approaches Goodnews Bay, it widens somewhat and creates perfect conditions for salmon runs, especially for King and Sockeye salmon. Overall, the River’s clear waters and wider and deeper sections in the lower River create an ideal environment for anglers seeking a varied experience, all wrapped up in one incredible Alaskan float fishing adventure.
Key features that make fishing the Goodnews River special for the traveling angler are its exceptional salmon runs, particularly for King (Chinook), Coho (Silver), and Sockeye (Red) salmon. While many rivers in Alaska are renowned for their salmon runs, the Goodnews River is known for the quality and consistency of these runs.
The Goodnews sustains a robust population of King salmon due to its remote location and limited fishing pressure. The King Salmon Run is well-regarded for producing larger-than-average fish, with many kings exceeding 40 pounds. Although limited harvests are allowed under state regulations, we practice catch-and-release for Kings on the Goodnews River to help preserve the fishery.
The River also hosts a strong Sockeye Salmon run, The Goodnews River sees healthy and consistent sockeye salmon runs every summer, typically starting in late June and peaking in July when the sockeye return to spawn in its clear, braided waters.
The Coho Salmon, also known as Silver Salmon, is renowned for their legendary run on the Goodnews River, offering some of Alaska’s most exciting fishing opportunities. The Coho run typically begins in late July, peaks in August, and can extend through September. These fish are known for their aggressive behavior and explosive strikes. Once hooked, Silvers often perform aerial leaps and put up a strong fight, making them a favorite among our guests. With its braided channels, gravel bars, and slow-moving pools, the Goodnews is perfect for targeting Coho. Its proximity to the Bering Sea means many Coho can be caught while still chrome-bright and full of energy. They are particularly famous for their willingness to strike surface flies, such as poppers and wogs, providing thrilling topwater action that few other salmon species offer. We have success using streamers, poppers, and egg patterns on fly rods, while spoons, spinners, and jigs work well for spin fishing.
Chum Salmon, or Dog Salmon, provides anglers with an exciting and vigorous fishing experience on the Goodnews River. These fish are renowned for their brute strength and eagerness to strike at flashy flies, making them abundant and offering thrilling action during their run in July, with the peak occurring in mid to late July. Chum salmon typically weigh between 8 and 15 pounds, with some individuals exceeding 20 pounds. They are very aggressive and territorial, readily hitting bright, flashy patterns. Anglers can find them in slower runs and backwaters before they move upstream, as well as in deep pools and around cut banks. By using the right bright and flashy flies along with aggressive presentations, anglers can expect hard-hitting strikes and powerful battles during the peak of the Chum run.
Fishing for Pink Salmon on the Goodnews River from mid-July to August, with peak activity in late July, is all about fun, fast action, and high catch rates. Anglers equipped with bright pink flies and an energetic presentation can enjoy continuous bites and exciting fights during the peak of the Pink Salmon run. Pink Salmon, also known as Humpy Salmon, fishing on the Goodnews River in Alaska offers fast-paced action and is ideal for anglers of all skill levels. Although they only run in even-numbered years, their sheer abundance makes them a fun and rewarding catch.
Here’s a comprehensive guide to the most effective flies for salmon fishing on the Goodnews River:
Top Fly Patterns for Each Salmon Species
1. King Salmon (Chinook) – June to Early July
- Colors: Chartreuse, Pink, Black, Purple, Blue
- Patterns:
- Intruder Flies (large profile)
- Dolly Llama (Pink/White, Black/Chartreuse)
- Egg Sucking Leech (Black/Purple with pink head)
- Alaskabou (Pink/Chartreuse)
- Why They Work: King Salmon are powerful and prefer large, flashy flies with movement.
- Tip: Use heavy sink-tip lines and weighted flies to reach deeper holding water.
2. Sockeye Salmon (Red) – Mid-June to Late July
- Colors: Red, Orange, Pink
- Patterns:
- Sockeye Lightning
- Russian River Coho Fly
- Crazy Charlie (Pink/Red)
- Beadhead Caddis Larva (for selective fish)
- Why They Work: Sockeye can be selective, so sparse, brightly colored patterns work best.
- Tip: Use a dead-drift presentation close to the bottom.
3. Chum Salmon (Dog) – July
- Colors: Pink, Purple, Chartreuse, Orange
- Patterns:
- Starlight Leech (Purple/Pink)
- Popsicle
- Alaskabou (Pink/Chartreuse)
- Dolly Llama
- Why They Work: Chum Salmon are aggressive toward bold, colorful patterns.
- Tip: Strip flies with short, aggressive pulls in slower water.
4. Pink Salmon (Humpy) – July (Even Years)
- Colors: Pink, Purple, Chartreuse
- Patterns:
- Humpy Hooker
- Pink Comet
- Clouser Minnow (Pink/White)
- Why They Work: Pink Salmon strike small, flashy flies.
- Tip: Swing or strip slowly in shallow runs and eddies.
5. Coho Salmon (Silver) – Late July to September
- Colors: Pink, Purple, Chartreuse, Black, Red
- Patterns:
- Pink Pollywog (Topwater)
- Dolly Llama (Pink/Black, Purple)
- Clouser Minnow (Chartreuse/White)
- Starlight Leech
- Why They Work: Coho are aggressive and love surface and subsurface flies with movement.
- Tip: Strip flies fast or use surface poppers for explosive strikes.
All-Purpose Salmon Flies
These flies work across multiple salmon species:
- Dolly Llama (Pink, Black/White, Chartreuse)
- Egg Sucking Leech (Black/Purple, Pink head)
- Intruder Fly (Bright colors with movement)
- Starlight Leech (Purple, Pink, Chartreuse)
- Popsicle Fly (Orange, Purple, Pink)
Fly Sizes
- King Salmon: Sizes 2/0 – 4 (large, heavy flies)
- Coho, Chum, Sockeye, Pink: Sizes 2 – 6
Presentation Tips
- Kings & Chum: Use heavy sink-tip lines to present large flies deep.
- Sockeye: Dead-drift small, sparse flies near the riverbed.
- Coho: Strip fast or swing flashy flies in softer water.
- Topwater: Use Pollywogs and poppers for Coho in slow water.
Recommended Gear
- Rod: 8–10 weight fly rod
- Line: Sink-tip or intermediate line for deep presentations; floating line for surface flies
- Leader/Tippet: 15–25 lb fluorocarbon
These fly patterns and techniques are proven to entice all five species of Pacific salmon on the Goodnews River, ensuring anglers are well-equipped for action-packed fishing throughout the salmon season.
The Goodnews River is known for its salmon also boasts an abundant and diverse range of other fish populations, providing anglers with a well-rounded fishing experience.
**Rainbow Trout**
The Goodnews River is home to a thriving population of wild, native Rainbow Trout. These fish are a wild, pure genetic strain and a natural, self-sustaining population. They often reach impressive sizes, with many measuring between 18 to 24 inches and some even pushing 26 inches or more. Their growth is fueled by the annual runs of sockeye, chum, king, and coho salmon, which provide an abundance of food for the heavily spotted rainbows. During the early season, the trout aggressively feed on insects, outmigrating fry, sculpin, and other baitfish, making it an ideal time for using dry flies and streamers. As the season progresses into mid and late summer, the trout shift their diet to salmon eggs and flesh once the salmon start spawning. At this time, egg patterns and flesh flies become highly effective.
All Rainbow Trout caught on the Goodnews River need to be handled with the utmost care and released promptly. This policy helps preserve the population, ensuring that future anglers can continue to enjoy this remarkable fishery.
**Dolly Varden**
Many anglers come to experience the salmon runs or to catch Rainbow Trout, but Dolly Varden offer an exciting and rewarding alternative. These fish provide consistent action and are beautiful to target. The Goodnews River is home to a substantial population of Dolly Varden, thanks to its clean, cold waters and ample food supply. Known for their stunning coloration, especially during the spawning season, Dolly Varden change into striking shades of olive green with bright orange or red bellies and vivid white-edged fins, making them some of the most beautiful fish in Alaska.
Dolly Varden return to the Goodnews River in mid to late July, following the initial waves of sockeye, chum, and king salmon. The highest concentrations of Dolly Varden can be found in the River during August and September, as they actively feed on the rich food resources brought in by the spawning salmon. During this period, they begin developing their vibrant spawning colors in preparation for their spawning cycle. They aggressively feed on salmon eggs and, later, on decaying salmon flesh during the peak of salmon spawning in August.
**Arctic Grayling**
The Goodnews River is home to a healthy and thriving population of Arctic Grayling, known for their beauty and challenging fight, especially in the River’s upper reaches due to its remote, pristine habitat. Arctic Grayling can be identified by their large, sail-like dorsal fins and shimmering scales, which display blue, purple, and silver hues.
They are often found in calm pools, riffles, and tributary streams and are well-known for their willingness to strike dry flies, making them an exciting target for anglers. This is an excellent time to put aside one’s heavy-duty tackle and use lighter fly rods (3–5 wt) or ultralight spinning gear. Due to their size—typically ranging from 12 to 18 inches, with some reaching up to 20 inches—Grayling provide steady, enjoyable action. They readily take small attractor patterns, caddis, and mayfly imitations, resulting in consistent topwater action.
—
Top Fly Patterns for Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, and Arctic Grayling
1. Egg Patterns (July–September)
- Colors: Pink, Orange, Peach, Chartreuse
- Patterns: Glo Bug, Bead Eggs (6–10mm), Yarn Eggs, Trout Beads
- Why They Work: All three species feed aggressively on salmon eggs during the salmon spawn.
- Tip: Drift egg patterns under an indicator along gravel bars and spawning beds.
2. Flesh Flies (August–September)
- Colors: White, Cream, Peach, Tan
- Patterns: Flesh Fly, Cotton Candy, Twofer, Foxee Dog
- Why They Work: Rainbow Trout and Dolly Varden gorge on decaying salmon flesh. Grayling occasionally takes flesh flies, too.
- Tip: Dead-drift or slowly strip through deeper runs and soft water.
3. Streamers (All Season)
- Colors: Olive, Black, White, Purple, Pink
- Patterns: Dolly Llama, Sculpzilla, Egg Sucking Leech, Zonker, Conehead Woolly Bugger
- Why They Work: Streamers imitate sculpins, baitfish, and leeches, attracting aggressive strikes from Trout and Dolly Varden.
- Tip: Strip with erratic pauses or swing through deeper pools.
4. Nymphs (June–August)
- Colors: Natural tones—Brown, Olive, Black
- Patterns: Beadhead Pheasant Tail, Copper John, Prince Nymph, Stonefly Nymph
- Why They Work: Nymphs match the aquatic insects that all three species feed on.
- Tip: Dead-drift under an indicator or tight-line nymph through riffles and runs.
5. Dry Flies (June–July)
- Colors: Olive, Tan, Gray
- Patterns: Elk Hair Caddis, Parachute Adams, Stimulator, Humpy, Royal Wulff
- Why They Work: Grayling and smaller Rainbow Trout rise eagerly for hatching insects during the early summer.
- Tip: Present dries on calm water or along seams for surface action.
6. Mouse Patterns (July–September)
- Colors: Natural Gray, Brown, Black
- Patterns: Morrish Mouse, Mr. Hankey, Deer Hair Mouse
- Why They Work: Rainbow Trout and Dolly Varden will aggressively strike mice skated across the surface, mimicking small rodents falling into the water.
- Tip: Fish during low light conditions along grassy banks and slow pools.
7. Attractor Patterns (All Season)
- Colors: Bright colors (Pink, Purple, Chartreuse)
- Patterns: Purple Haze, Chubby Chernobyl, Royal Wulff
- Why They Work: Bright attractor flies trigger reaction strikes, especially from Grayling and Dolly Varden.
- Tip: Use on slower water or as a dry-dropper rig with a nymph or egg pattern below.
Best Fly Sizes
- Eggs & Nymphs: Sizes 8–14
- Streamers & Flesh Flies: Sizes 2–6
- Dry Flies & Mice: Sizes 4–12
Presentation Tips
- Egg & Flesh Patterns: Dead-drift naturally with a strike indicator and split shot.
- Streamers: Strip-strip-pause or swing through deep pools and cut banks.
- Dry Flies: Drift naturally in slower seams and eddies.
- Mouse Patterns: Skate or swing across the surface, especially at dawn or dusk.
Recommended Gear
- Rod: 5–7 weight fly rod (6–7 wt for streamers and mice, 5 wt for dries and nymphs)
- Line: Floating line for dries and nymphs, sink-tip or intermediate line for streamers
- Leader/Tippet: 0X–4X fluorocarbon for streamers, 4X–6X for dries and nymphs
These fly patterns and strategies will effectively target Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, and Arctic Grayling on the Goodnews River, offering exciting action throughout the fishing season.
The Goodnews River, located in the remote expanse of Alaska’s Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, offers a serene escape from the crowds. Unlike the popular Kenai River, the Goodnews River can only be reached by floatplane or boat, ensuring a peaceful fishing experience without the interruption of other groups. As you float along the Goodnews River, prepare to be amazed by the diverse wildlife that calls this place home. Overall, the Goodnews River is an excellent destination known for its large fish populations, beautiful wilderness, and lack of crowds. Whether you aim to catch trophy rainbow trout, Coho salmon, or King salmon, the Goodnews River offers a diverse fishing experience; its remote location and pristine environment help anglers connect with nature while enjoying top-notch fishing.
Learn more about our Alaska float fishing trips to the Goodnews River online at www.akrainbow.com