S
ockeye salmon are the center of the entire Alaskan ecosystem. They move into the rivers from the sea in late June and will be in full migration mode by July 4th. When they first enter fresh water, Sockeyes are sleek salmon in appearance and excellent table fare. They are strong fighters and great fun on a 7 weight fly rod and a Teeny 200 sink tip line. It’s said that sockeyes don’t feed once they enter the fresh water, but they do strike flies out of anger, especially leech patterns that resemble their natural egg stealing enemies. Rainbow King’s lease of the waters below the Gorge on the Newhalen River gives its guests private access to literally the best sockeye fishing in the world. Thousands of sockeyes migrate up the Newhalen and have to push thru the class 5 rapids of the Gorge. Before taking on this chore, they rest up in a cove of calm water where Rainbow King’s anglers are waiting. Everyone gets their limit at the Gorge and your catch will be filleted, flash frozen, and vacuum packed for your trip home.