After an unbelievable week in Bend, Oregon chasing big rainbows on the Deschutes and Crooked Rivers, I woke early to catch a flight to Anchorage to meet up with my wife and in-laws for a 10-day land/ocean cruise. I knew that this was a rare occasion to be in this part of the country, so I did a little research and tried to find a guide outfit that would make the most of my time while I was in Alaska. The only real time that I had to get some serious fly fishing in was going to be Denali, and my search led me to Rick McMahan and the Denali Fly Fishing Guides. I contacted him and after a couple conversations with him on the phone, I knew he understood what I was looking for and we arranged for me to get picked up at the hotel for a full day of grayling fishing in the interior of Alaska.
After a cup of coffee and one of the greatest cinnamon rolls of my life, I met up with my guide, Terry Boyd (who took most of the photos used here), and we headed out on the Denali Highway to wade in some of the arctic streams looking for a big grayling. The streams that we fished all fed into the Nenana River which is north flowing glacier river. The Nenana River was a slate gray due to all the sediment from the glacier and only when it clears up do fish actually move into its flows. The feeder streams though do hold arctic grayling in the spring and early summer months, and as the sun stays in the sky most of the day, these fish gorge themselves trying to fatten up for the long dark winter months.
We hit the water and were met my clouds of mosquitoes who feasted on our flesh as we rigged up our three weights. Terry advised dry flies as these grayling are fairly aggressive eaters, and I therefore tied on an orange mini-hopper. Within moments of stepping into the water and casting to a couple of likely spots I was hooked up with my first native arctic grayling. The fish fed heartily and I the mini-hopper worked wonders in these streams.
Most fish were between 12 and 16 inches and Terry put me in some really prime runs that held tons of fish. I added a #16 copper john behind the mini-hopper in hopes of picking up one of the bigger fish hanging out on the bottom. We fished one section of the stream and must have picked up 30 fish between the two of us. As the bites were starting to dry up, I laid a cast near the opposite bank and as the mini-hopper slowly drifted within inches of the bank, it dipped beneath the surface indicating that something had happened under the surface. As I lifted the rod, I saw the deep purple and turquoise of a bigger fish. I played him closer to shore and landed the biggest arctic grayling of the day.
The fish were out all day and we switched to a couple of different streams to change up the scenery. By the time we were done, I must have landed over 60 fish in the 6 hours on the water and about half came on the dry and the other half on the dropper. It was an unbelievable day in some of the most beautiful country that I have ever fished in. Terry Boyd and Denali Fly Fishing Guides were spectacular and put me on some great untouched water that took me into the heart of the Denali Wilderness. I highly recommend this outfit if you ever get a chance to get up into Denali.
Great post, I’m jealous. I’ve always wanted to catch a grayling.
Thanks Kev. I know there are some in the lower 48, but if you ever make it up to Alaska, check these guys out. Very fun on the dry fly.
Ben
Really nice…Those grayling are some really cool looking fish. Well done!
Thanks Sanders. I appreciate the kind words. It surely was a fun time on the water.
Ben
I remember reading about grayling in AZ once… I’m sure they do not come that massive! Freaking Alaska…
Apparently there are some stocked in one of the high lakes in the White Mountains. One of these days I’ll make my way up there. Those Alaska fish sure are fun…
Ben
Lee Valley Lake has Grayling. The good news is that the lake just re-opened today.
That’s the one. Good info. Thanks Mike.
Ben
Look foward to reading your blog. It keeps me going during the long summer days. And your mini hoppers are catching me some nice fish. Keep up the posts.
Bary
Thanks Barry. I appreciate the kind words. I am very happy to hear that the mini-hoppers are working well for you. They always seem to do the trick for me and I am glad others are finding their value too. We have to get out and fish sometime. Stay in touch.
Ben
I’m about to put those to the test on the rio grande, will let you know how we did.
oh yeah – I told you how stoo-pit those grayling are.
I hear lake placid is nice this time of year.
Let me know how they fish for you. You were right about those grayling. They were super aggressive. The Ausable was beautiful. I’ll tell you all about it…
Ben
Dang Ben – you have been living the life!
Don’t I know it. I have been a very lucky man this summer and I’m loving every second of it…
Ben
WOW, this has been a great summer for you and your fly fishing adventures. Grayling is a great looking fish, I hope to try to catch one some day. I can’t what to see where you end up next.
Thanks Bruce. The grayling were fun for sure. This summer sure has given me quite a bit to write about. Unfortunately I’ll be back in school before I know it. Got to take advantage of it while I can.
Ben
Those grayling are beautiful. I’m very jealous. By the way, I absolutely love the mini hopper. In the last 3 weeks I’ve taken a least a dozen large and smallmouth, 2 bows, a brown, 3 crappie, and more gills/rockbass than I can count. Great pattern.
Thanks Mike for the kind words on the Mini-hopper. It is a great bug to have in the box and my first to tie on when I don’t see much happening. Great looking blog by the way.
Ben
right there is more fun than you can shake a stick at my friend. Have enjoyed every one of these serial reads! mike
Thanks Mike. It surely was a good time and I was sad to see it end. Can’t wait to get back up there…
Ben
Grayling! I love them.
After looking at your posts from your whirlwind trip, I am green with envy. It was fantastic – thanks for sharing with all of us!
Thanks for the kind word Stephanie. It was a whirlwind trip and so much fun. Glad you enjoyed it.
Ben
Wow Ben. Had no Idea you went and did this. I’ve been to that lodge in Denali but didnt get to fish. Awesome work man. Did you get a tape on that biggest Grayling?
Kyle,
Yeah we had a blast. No tape on the fish, but we were thinking 17-18 inches. It sure was beautiful up there. One of these days I want to head back.
Ben