Fishing for salmon, halibut and more
All outdoorsmen likely have a bucket list. For deer hunters, it might be hunting big whitetails up north. For anglers, it might be landing that 10-pound largemouth. One I’ve checked off repeatedly is fishing in Alaska.
The last three years I’ve made the trip with some good friends from the Dallas/ Fort Worth area. We fish with Fireweed Lodge in Klawock on Prince of Wales Island (POW). At 2,500 square miles, POW is the 4th largest island in the U.S. and part of the Tongass National Forest. The temperature during our trips ranges from lows in the 50s to highs in the 60s, a welcome change from August in Louisiana.
Fireweed is one of several outfitters on POW, and from speaking with anglers at the others, all are successful. Limits are usually a sure thing when conditions are right.
Bob Anderson opened Fireweed in 1990. His son Josh and Josh’s wife Chace took over ownership in 2023 after running operations since 2013. They take amazing care of their guests and we’ve gotten to be great friends.
The season runs from April through September for “ocean fishing” but Fireweed and other outfitters also offer stream and river fishing for brown trout and Dolly Varden trout, in addition to the salmon runs. Fireweed can accommodate 40 guests, with lodging options from hotel type rooms to private cabins. Dinners featuring local seafood such as halibut, king salmon and Dungeness crab hit the spot after a long day of fishing. The lodge sits on Klawock Estuary and provides some amazing views.
The main targets
The three main targets are king and coho salmon and halibut but anglers also catch pink salmon, lingcod and rock bass. Fireweed has a fleet of 24-foot custom built aluminum boats powered by 300 hp outboards with heated cabins and helmed by licensed captains/guides. Anglers have breakfast then pack a sack lunch. Fishing is typically from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and takes place in the fjords around the islands and out in the Pacific.
Salmon setups are 9 ½ foot rods matched to a medium-sized line counter reel spooled with 15- to 20-pound mono. A rubber coated “swivel mooching weight” is tied to the main line, followed by a 10-12 foot leader ending with two snelled J-hooks. Headless herring are hooked with the thick portion facing the leader. The herring spins in the current creating lots of flash to mimic an injured baitfish.
When a school of either salmon or herring are marked on the fish finder, anglers drop down 10 or 20 feet below that depth, reel in the slack and start jigging up and down, aka “mooching.” Strikes on the fall are common, so set the hook should it stop.
King and coho are usually found together, but you’ll know when a king is hooked. They’re bigger, fight harder and make lightning-fast runs. Kings range from 12 pounds up to 60 pounds, with the cohos around 5-8 pounds, though both can get much bigger. Daily limits are six for cohos and most other salmon species but only one king per year for non-residents.
Halibut (1 a day) require heavier tackle and tend to be farther out. Anglers should drop heavy jigs, hit bottom, reel up a few turns and hold on. Halibut hit hard and cranking up a 25+ pound halibut from 400 feet will test an angler’s mettle. Rockfish (3 a day) inhabit shallower waters and are fun to catch.
Besides providing lots of action, these fish all taste amazing! Lodges clean, vacuum seal and freeze catches for the trip home, which average around 50 pounds.
Getting there
Alaska Airlines offers service from New Orleans to Ketchikan through Seattle. Island Air Express then flies anglers to Klawock. Fish boxes are flown home as checked baggage.
While in the area
On the boat, anglers can expect to see humpback whales, orcas, sea otters, seals and sea lions. Deer, bears and eagles are common sights on land, so keep a camera or cell phone at the ready. The scenery is spectacular. Mountains over 3,000 feet make for some great views, as well as the cliffs and rocky outcrops at the water’s edge.
When not fishing, visitors can hike or kayak, take cave or whale watching tours, and visit totem pole parks in the area. Ketchikan also has lumberjack demonstrations and various museums, shops and restaurants on Creek Street. Sea and air tours to Misty Fjord National Monument and other areas are also available.
If this makes your bucket list, go! The folks up there are some of the best around and the fishing, scenery and other activities will provide memories for a lifetime.
For more info, contact Chace Anderson at: canderson@fireweedlodge.com or go to alaskafishingkingsalmon.com.
