Fishing Seasons

Mid-June sees the largest pushes of king salmon into the small coastal rivers Mark accesses via helicopter.

As well, there are always resident rainbows and some grayling in a lot of the smaller streams the lodge fishes. By the end of June the first of the sea run dollies begin showing, as well. This is a great mixed-bag time, for the angler who really wants a great shot at bright kings in the mix. Also, Mark can fly you into some shallow lakes and sloughs where northern pike will demolish a skated mouse pattern – a real hoot on a fly rod!

July is the time of plenty at Talaheim, and our first choice for trout fishing. The kings have pushed up into the smaller spawning tributaries, and most of the rainbows from larger downstream rivers follow them up like magnets. Many of these little heli-accessible creeks are choked with hyper-aggressive trout and dollies, many of which can be sight-fished. As well, though they will certainly take egg patterns, these rainbows will also climb all over mouse and streamer patterns, an added bonus not often found in the famous and pressured waters of Bristol Bay. If you like catching big numbers of 16”-22” fish on a 6-weight in small water, you’ll like Talaheim in July. For those who like to do day floats in rafts, this is a great time to experience wilderness floats on water never seen by other humans – really amazing!

August is the time for those who like to mix some silver salmon action in with their trout. Just as the “early” salmon – kings, chums, and sockeyes – are getting mature and dropping eggs in the creeks, the cohos begin pouring into the coastal streams (as well as the Talachulitna River, literally in the lodge’s backyard). Mark will again use the helicopters to drop guest in for bright silvers one day (many of which can be caught on surface flies), and then trout the next. As well, he has a couple of secret little char streams that tend to load up with colorful 2-5 pound specimens this time of year, and are a blast, as they are largely sight-fishing opportunities.

Talaheim stays open into early September; along with the crisp nights, cool days and beautiful fall colors come even more silver salmon, and some of the largest, fattest rainbows of the season. This is not the numbers game fishing of mid-summer, but for the angler willing to throw streamers, there is always a shot at a trophy trout. The dolly varden are aflame with spawning colors – not only do they look like neon signs in the water, but they make for beautiful photo opportunities, as well.