Alaska is rich in wildlife and is unique in the United States in the way its resources are managed, maintained and defended.  Fishing is extremely good and fish are plentiful.  Salmon are the main species but you also have the famous Arctic "Leopard" rainbow trout, Arctic grayling and char. 

Most of the Salmon fishing is in rivers and the flies most used for them are: Teeny nymphs, egg flies, egg sucking leach and flesh fly.  King Salmon (Coho) are fished a little differently - the main salmon flies work but gaudy flies such as the Showgirl and Tequila Sunrise are a good choice for these giants.  The trout, grayling and char are fished for with egg flies, mouse patterns, flesh flies and Teeny nymphs.  Pink is a favourite colour. 

In 2008, I went on one of Peter Cockwill’s hosted trips to the Kanektok River, to one of two camps run by Dave Duncan and Sons, who first discovered the potential of this river more than 25 years ago.  While the weather was appalling but the fishing was excellent.  For more information, go to Peter’s or the Duncans’ websites (see below). 

To do this trip from the UK you’ll need to allocate ten days to get a week on the river.  First you fly to Anchorage via mainland USA.  Stay there overnight, then fly on to Bethel (one hour) and on to Quinhagak on the coast, some 400 miles west of Anchorage.  Here you meet the guides who’ll take you upriver to the camps by boat.

Summer in Alaska is a lovely time and you will see many thousands of fish.  Expect to pay some US$4,700 for the Lower Camp, US$4,900 for the Upper.  Principal flights are around £850 plus another £300 for the internal flights and then you need overnight accommodation plus tips etc.

Alaska isn't cheap but this exciting location and the sheer number of fish contrasts very favourably with two trips to Scotland with very little chance of seeing even one fish. 

The salmon fishing is largely with sink tip lines but with such a wealth of fish there are so many techniques which work.  You can truly learn a huge amount on this trip and if you can avoid getting king salmon fever you can catch a lot of fish by mixing the species.

For more information, go to Peter’s website – www.petercockwill.com or call Peter on 01483 205 196 or email him at trips@petercockwill.com.  You can also check out the Duncans’ website - www.alaskaflyfishingcamps.com.