WORLD CLASS FISHING AT GLACIER
BEAR LODGE IN YAKUTAT
Alaska fishing at its best!
Anglers and outdoor enthusiasts from around the world come to the Glacier Bear Lodge each
year to enjoy the splendors of the Alaska back country, and to experience world class stream
angling for steelhead and four species of pacific salmon and trout on the Situk River. Additionally
halibut, ling cod and rock fish are available in the ocean.
Alaska wild Steelhead fishing
The Situk boasts the largest run of native steelhead left in the world, thousands of fish come into the Situk every spring and are aggressive biters. Hooking and releasing a dozen per day is normal! Click here to read about fishing in The Situk for Steelheads.
Anglers are reminded that footgear with absorbent felt or other fibrous material on the soles are prohibited while sport fishing in the fresh waters of Alaska. The regulation was adopted by the Alaska Board of Fisheries in 2010, to reduce the potential for introduction and spread of invasive organisms, including plants, into Alaska waters. Invasive organisms spread by contaminated waders and other gear, can threaten resident fish stocks and important fish habitat. For additional details click here.
Recommended Freshwater Gear
The ocean salmon, halibut and bottom fishing is stand alone fantastic, so between those
days on the Situk you can take an ocean charter boat.
What to bring – recommended fishing tackle, clothes and gear
Depending on the type of fishing you plan on doing (fly fishing, spinning, and/or casting rod), we
recommend the following gear and tackle:
Recommended Freshwater Gear
The ocean salmon, halibut and bottom fishing is stand alone fantastic, so between those
days on the Situk you can take an ocean charter boat.
What to bring – recommended fishing tackle, clothes and gear
Depending on the type of fishing you plan on doing (fly fishing, spinning, and/or casting rod), we
recommend the following gear and tackle:
STEELHEAD (April-May)
Spin Casting:
Poles run Medium through Medium light 7 ½ – 8 1/2 feet.
Line 8-15 lb.
Hooks and colors are the same as Fly Fishing.
Lures: Glow Bugs, Okie Drifters, Pixi, Vibrax, Mepps, Panther Martin, Blue Fox and Sneak Spinners 1/16 – 1/3 ounce (#2-#4). Swivel s size 12-8 is recommended. Flies or Red Gamkatsu with yarn are commonly used with smaller weights (1/8 – 3/8). Aeropuffs are also popular and are sold in our tackle shop.
-A bobber/jig setup is commonly use with both rod types. This entails a min. 1 oz. bobber, beaded off 24-24 inches above the jig. A 3/8 – ½ oz. in line weight/swivel is commonly used between the bobber and jig so any snags will result in only losing the jig.
-Steelhead is typically fished in faster water, against cut banks. To be able to get down to them is a must. A slow retrieve allows your tackle to just bounce along.
PLEASE DO NOT TARGET STEELHEAD ON THEIR REDDS (SPAWNING BED). THEY ARE SPAWNING AND SHOULD BE LEFT ALONE AND FLOATED AROUND AS TO NOT DISTURB THE REDD. THIS ASSURES MANY STEELHEAD IN YEARS TO COME.
SOCKEYE GEAR (June-July)
Spin Casting:
Poles are medium action 8-9 feet.
Line is 8-15 pound spin and bait casters w/#12-8 swivel
Hooks and colors are the same as Fly Fishing
Common Lures: Syclops, Little Cleo, Trixi, Vibrax, Single hooks, Single hooks with yarn, Dare Devils, Rooster Tails and Panther Martin are just some of the lures used, as commonly, a fly is used with spin and bait casters.
Sockeye are typically schooled up in holes and are fished in easy water, from top to mid depth, retrieved at a medium speed.
Silver Gear (Mid-August – September)
Spin Casting:
Poles: 8-9 ft medium and medium heavy
Line: 12-18 pound with a #12-8 swivel
Hooks: 3/8 to ½ ounce twitching jigs, #3-#5 spinners and pixies
Colors: Orange, Green, Yellow, Red, Purple and White
Lures: Any twitching jig, Mepps Spinners, Pixie, Vibrax, Buzz Bombs, Sneaks, Panther Martins, Cyclops, Rooster Tails and other brightly colored spinners and spoons.
Silvers are fished with the widest variety of colors and sizes of any of our salmon. They typically school up in deeper waters and are very productive mid depth and with a medium to fast retrieve.