Red (Sockeye) Salmon
Sockeye or red salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) enter freshwater after a typical two years at sea, both males and females develop bright red bodies and green heads. Sockeye average about 10 pounds.
The sockeyes come up our rivers the first three weeks of July. One of the best sockeye fishing areas in all of Bristol Bay is located just 3 miles downstream from our fishing lodge in Alaska at the Nuyakuk falls. This class V rapid slows down the sockeyes assent and literally thousands of sockeyes will be holding below the falls waiting their turn to run the rapids. It’s an awesome sight and some of the fastest fishing you’ll ever experience. Pound for pound the sockeye is the hardest fighting pacific salmon and it’s not unusual to see fly rods broken or whole fly lines lost to these fish while fishing below the falls.
