Seasons

In the vast majority of the streams Royal Wolf Lodge fishes, there are two distinctly different types of rainbows: resident (those that live full time in the rivers), and lake-run (trout that live most of their lives in lakes, moving into the streams to feed at specific times).

In the early season – June through mid-July – lake-run trout will often migrate into rivers to feast on the downstream migration of the previous year’s salmon smolt. During this time, white-colored streamers resembling little smolt are deadly, as are more traditional black Egg-Sucking Leeches (many streams see spawning migrations of lamprey eels, which some believe contributes to the effectiveness of large black leech patterns). As well, both resident and lake fish are hungry after a long, cold winter, and in some streams will react aggressively to a surface-skated mouse pattern.

In early July the Katmai/Iliamna streams flood with a massive infusion of sockeye salmon, an escapement literally numbering in the millions. While at first these fish are more of a hindrance than a help to the trout fishing, by late in the month and particularly by the time August rolls around they become a trout bonanza, providing an egg and flesh smorgasbord seemingly without limit. Royal Wolf guides are acutely aware that different streams experience different timing of sockeye runs, annually; one river might have salmon dropping eggs (inciting gluttonous feeding by the rainbows) a week earlier than another. The key is knowing where to be, and when. There is often a secondary migration of lake fish into streams, following the scent of billions of salmon eggs being broadcast into the gravel. This is definitely the “time of plenty” with every available trout crowded in behind spawning salmon, often visible in the shallows as they gorge. Single egg patterns and beads are the most productive patterns, though smallish flesh patterns can also be very effective.

As August turns to September, the sockeyes fade dramatically, spawned out and dying, and the days get cool and short. This is the time for the serious trophy hunter. While the resident trout are at their fattest – many in the 2-5 pound category - there is a final upward push of lake fish into many of the streams. While there normally won’t be as many hookups as in August, an angler’s chance at hooking those elusive 6-10 pound fish becomes significantly better. As always, the importance of a great guide is paramount – some streams get few if any of these brutes, and even in those that do, knowing when and where to find them is a science (albeit a bit of an inexact one). Royal Wolf’s experienced guides have a high rate of success this time of year, based both on the experience of years on the streams, and an intuitive sense of where these monsters are likely to be. Normally this time of year the angler will begin to fish less beads, and more large flesh streamers. As well, articulated leech and sculpin patterns can be deadly – it is the “big fly, big fish” time of year!