Located in the heart of Southwest Alaska is the Kanektok River, an angler’s paradise and a river that every fly fishing enthusiast should try to fish at least once in their lifetime, although once, even twice, may never be enough! One of the highlights of our Kanektok River floats is mousing for rainbows. While heart-stopping is one way to describe these surface takes, you may find yourself at a loss for words, at least ones you can print as a heavily spotted rainbow trout slams your imitation rodent and immediately tests your skills and maybe even that knot you tied into your backing before bringing it to the net, and you will need a net!. This is possible because the Kanektok River is home to an abundant population of small rodents, such as voles and lemmings, which serve as critical food sources for the river’s Large, hungry, and aggressive “Leopards.” as seen here in this photo you may have seen online and attributed to several sources showing an Alaska Rainbow and the contents of it’s stomach.
The river’s shallow depths, moderate flows, and numerous back braids provide diverse river structure that creates perfect ambush points for trout, which wait for an unsuspecting rodent to fall in. The overgrown banks offer ample cover for trout to stalk their prey unseen. Being home to healthy populations of large and aggressive rainbow trout, these Kanektok river fish, while available all season, are particularly active earlier in the year after the long Alaskan winter and before the salmon arrive in large numbers.
Gearing Up: we recommend the following equipment:
- A 9 1/2 ft 7 or 8 wt rod, which facilitates the casting of large wind-resistant mouse flies and is helpful in imparting the often necessary “skating or twitching action” that entices strikes and has enough backbone to handle a 20″ to 30″ plus leopard.
- A quality reel with 150 yards of backing and a reliable drag is indispensable for controlling these feisty leopard rainbows and even the occasional salmon that decides to change things up and sip that mouse off the surface; it happens!
- An appropriate weight-forward floating fly line can significantly facilitate the casting of bulky flies.
- A 10-12 pound monofilament leader with good abrasion resistance and shock absorption is recommended. Additionally, a fluorocarbon leader may be used for added stealth, although it is less forgiving.
- Mouse Patterns: (Below) The dirty dozen from Alaska Fly Fishing Goods… Link
The Kanektok River’s remote location helps maintain its pristine condition. Unspoiled in its entirety and a remarkably abundant fishery, especially the portions most accessible via an Alaska float fishing trip, results in limited pressure and excellent numbers of available resident and non-resident species in a river that is, for all purposes, a fish factory with all five salmon species, dolly varden/char, grayling and its heavily spotted leopard rainbow trout available during the short Alaska summer. This makes the Kanektok a perfect destination for anyone searching for an unforgettable Alaskan adventure any time of the season. Whether you are an experienced angler or a novice, an Alaska Float with Alaska Rainbow Adventures ensures a memorable experience.