UTERSteelhead fishing in Southeast Alaska
In Southeast Alaska, steelhead peak April–May and are around April–June and October–November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. April: Spring steelhead in the Situk (Yakutat) and the Prince of Wales streams.
Fall-run steelhead in the Situk and Yakutat streams.
Steelhead in Southeast Alaska, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilPeakSpring steelhead in the Situk (Yakutat) and the Prince of Wales streams.
- MayPeakPeak spring fish; catch-and-release culture on most streams.
- JuneLeavingKelts dropping back to the salt.
- JulyNot here
- AugustNot here
- SeptemberNot here
- OctoberAroundFall-run steelhead in the Situk and Yakutat streams.
- NovemberAroundLate fall fish.
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish steelhead near Ketchikan, Craig, Wrangell
The Inside Passage: a thousand islands of rainforest, deep fjords, kelp-lined points and the exposed outer coast off Sitka and Craig, with hundreds of salmon streams and hatchery release sites.
Fish Scouter charts 328 lake spots in the Southeast Alaska map area — the kinds steelhead hold on.
What to use for steelhead
- Salmon eggs (roe)A dime-sized spawn sac tied in mesh, or single eggs on a #10 to #6 egg hook, drifted along the bottom for steelhead, trout and salmon. Check the state's rule — bait is banned on many trout and salmon waters.
- NightcrawlersWhole on a #6 to #2 hook under a bobber or on a bottom rig; threaded on a spinner harness drifted for walleye. The bait that catches everything in fresh water.
- Ghost shrimpThreaded on a #4 to 1/0 baitholder hook on a Carolina rig in the surf or the bay — the surfperch, corbina and sturgeon bait.
- Leader20–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–4/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 38–62°F water, best at 44–56°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch steelhead in Southeast Alaska?
Peak season is April–May. Steelhead are in Southeast Alaska April–June and October–November. April: Spring steelhead in the Situk (Yakutat) and the Prince of Wales streams.
Where do steelhead hold in Southeast Alaska?
Look on river, pass / inlet, channel edge, beach / surf — around Ketchikan, Craig, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, Juneau.
What is the best bait for steelhead in Southeast Alaska?
Live bait: salmon eggs (roe), nightcrawlers, ghost shrimp. Salmon eggs (roe): A dime-sized spawn sac tied in mesh, or single eggs on a #10 to #6 egg hook, drifted along the bottom for steelhead, trout and salmon. Check the state's rule — bait is banned on many trout and salmon waters. Tackle: leader 20–40 lb fluorocarbon, hook #1–4/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for steelhead in Southeast Alaska?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) and change — read the current rule at https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishregulations.main before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=license.main.
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All about steelhead · Southeast Alaska, the whole year