We welcome this fishing season with plentiful rain, wind, and as eager anglers. The water levels are on the higher side this week, but they are beginning to run clear after the week of rain we have endured. That being said, creek temps are high, and fish are very actively moving around. So, let's run through the list of everything going on...
First off, pink, Chum, and Coho Salmon fry are very actively dropping out of the creeks right now and hanging out in the estuaries. The hatchery has been actively releasing fry from net pens, and will continue to do the remainder of their releases by mid month.
Knowing that, the Dolly Varden are actively scooting along beaches and viciously gorging themselves on all the tasty salmon fry in the estuaries. Focus on bracketing the low tides (two hours before to two hours after low tide is usually the happening times), use fry patterns varying from small and sparse to stinger style. Hot patterns have been the Salmon Fry- green/gold and gray/pearl, Fryloator- olive, Stinger Clouser- olive/white, gray/white, and the AK Clouser Minnow- olive/white and gray/white. As far as destinations go, any creek estuary in town is most likely fishing... The Dollies are out, just have to go out looking!
Finally, we all have the Alaskan Unicorn AKA steelhead on the brain. With as much water inviting the steelhead into creeks, and the warm water temps we have had, the first batch of steelhead that have powered through and have paired up and begun to spawn. Typically the Juneau area gets a late run of steelhead, so we are assuming (and hoping) that we will see a second push come in soon. Beware of fish paired up and on the redds, if they look content, we encourage you to let them lay.
In other news... Beginning this week, the shop is open 7 days a week! And, beginning Monday we are back to our extended summer hours. We also have tons of free casting lessons coming up so check in to the Juneau News section to get those dates on your calendar!
Bonus Photo: What happens when you get a hungry Dolly, an active Hooligan run, and a Mini Dolly Llama?
