If you’ve never been to Alaska and love to fly fish, don’t be intimidated by fear of breaking the bank. I want you to know you have options. In fact the options are endless, but the option that first jumps into my mind, for the fishermen who has never been to the last Frontier, is to fly into Anchorage, rent a car and spend time fishing the road accessible streams of the Matanuska Susitna (Matsu) Valley

and additionally down south on the Kenai Peninsula.  The benefits of renting a vehicle is you will have the flexibility to fish multiple locations. There is world class fishing available on the road system in south central Alaska.  Affordable lodging in addition to camping opportunities are widespread throughout the Matsu Valley and Kenai Peninsula.  There are a diversity of reasonably priced dining options and grocery stores. Book at least one day trip with a local knowledgeable and experienced fly fishing guide near the waters you want to fish and he or she will get you dialed.  At a minimum, you need to stop at 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle in downtown Wasilla, for some local advice on techniques and tackle.  The entire staff is dialed and will point you in the right direction and set you up for success. I’ll save the down and dirty tackle details for later but if you are fishing Alaska on your own, bring at least 2 primary fly rods (a 9’ 5 or 6 wt for Rainbow Trout and Grayling and a 9’ 8, 9 or 10 weight for salmon) and back up rods are recommended as well- especially when salmon fishing.

While the local roadside fishes good throughout the summer​​​, my #1 recommendation is to visit some time between July 25 and August 20.  All the local Matsu streams will be filled with coho, chum and pink salmon, in addition to Rainbow Trout, that will be aggressively feeding during that time.  The upper reaches of Matsu streams provide excellent Arctic Grayling fishing in mid to late summer as well.  Sockeye will be running thick throughout the Kenai River from mid July to mid August and they are a blast to catch, but be forewarned sockeye fishing on the Kenai is largely a combat fishery.  Lastly, familiarize yourself with regulations.  If this is the type of trip that sparks your interest, call or text me and I can help you make it happen. Also feel free to email or submit a request on our website.   I grew up fishing southcentral Alaska and have been guiding here full time since high school. I am here to answer your questions.  I don’t guide so I can make a pile of money, which I don’t.  I just love fishing and helping others catch fish!!!

Ben Allen
907 715 1095