Trophy Char
During this period, catch rates for char are among the highest of the season. While they may not yet display their bright orange spawning colors, these fish are often at their largest and most aggressive.
Catching a trophy char over 30" is highly likely in June. They’re laser-focused on out-migrating salmon fry and will aggressively chase down streamers, flies being swung on the spey, jigs, or trolled lures. While many anglers love their bright orange fall colors, early summer is truly the best time to land a giant.
Salmon Smolt Outmigration
Thanks to the strong salmon runs into our river systems in 2025, we’re gearing up for another incredible salmon smolt outmigration. The early season—June through early July—offers one of the most overlooked yet spectacular fishing windows for streamer anglers. Char, lake trout and rainbows are in full pursuit, tearing through dense bait balls at the river mouths. Above the action, seagulls and Arctic terns dive into the frenzy, driving smolt to the surface—a breathtaking natural spectacle familiar to saltwater anglers but rarely witnessed in freshwater.
Lake Trout
Lake trout, which usually descend to deep waters by late July to follow suspended baitfish, stay surprisingly shallow at this time of year.
Often holding in slightly slower water along the current, the season’s largest lake trout make themselves known—making this the ideal window to catch them on the fly before they retreat to the depths later in summer.
Mousing for Rainbow Trout
For anglers seeking a true challenge—whether through technical walk-and-wade or boat fishing—targeting rainbow trout on mouse patterns offers the ultimate dry fly experience in remote Alaska.
Early in the season, this is prime time to connect with these fish, whether you’re skating a fly downstream or carefully working smaller, technical waters with precise casts to the bank. This style of fishing demands both patience and skill, and hopping from creek to creek—or venturing to one of our remote camps in search of the ideal run—offers a true adventure far from the crowds, completely off the beaten path.
Northern Pike
Northern pike, fresh out of their post-spawn phase, prowl shallow, weedy bays, eager to ambush a fly. With no pressure prior to June, the action can be mind-bending.
These fish can move 15–20 feet to crush a fly—often right beside the boat. If you love visual strikes and heart-stopping surprises, this is your kind of fishing. Northern pike can be caught across a variety of our lakes and rivers, and trophy fish can push over 45 inches.
Spey Fishing
As many returning guests know, we welcome all anglers—whether you’re sticking to conventional gear, new to a fly rod, or a seasoned trout spey fanatic. Early season smolt migration in June is hands-down the best time to swing for big fish, and catching a 30" char on the swing is rare—June gives you the best shot.
Standard Skagit lines and heavier sink tips work best in the faster currents following snowmelt. For fly-swinging enthusiasts, experiencing Alaska in June is like earning a degree in swinging flies—by the time you leave, you’ll have learned more than most steelhead anglers gather in a decade.
King Salmon
Make your way to the lower Nush to target Alaska’s state fish — the king salmon. Not only are they the largest of the five Pacific salmon species, but they are also the most aggressive.
While the runs aren’t as prolific as in years past, fishing for these kings on a fresh tide as they move in from the saltwater — even on a catch-and-release basis — is an experience unlike any other in the slam.
Arctic Grayling
And then there’s grayling, Tikchik’s most underrated gem. Just in front of the lodge, dry-fly fishing can be nothing short of magical—rising to midges, beetles, and mayflies under overcast skies.
It’s as good as dry-fly fishing gets anywhere in North America. You can target grayling on dry flies in nearly 70% of our fisheries. It’s the perfect way to start or end your day, and if you love fly fishing, don’t miss the chance to stop when you see them rising.
