Alaska Excursions

Alaska Excursions

Wide range of glorious day trips throughout Southcentral Alaska.

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Interior Alaska fishing

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More on Fishing by Region

Regional fishing

Guide Mike Vaughan works the oars on a drift boat during an April snowfall on the Situk River near Yakutat while fishing for steelhead.

Where to find the fish and how to get there.

Western Alaska fishing

Fishing is legendary in Western Alaska -- big country where the largest salmon runs meet the largest bears.

Southeast Alaska fishing

Rugged landforms make Southeast Alaska a beautiful place to fish, and the deep, cold waters of the Alexander Archipelago are home to enormous halibut and schools of salmon. Inland waters feature rainbow trout, and rivers often have Dolly Varden and steelhead.

Southcentral Alaska fishing

Anglers in Southcentral Alaska can choose between flying out to the Bush, driving to dozens of salmon streams or fishing for 40-pound kings a few hundred yards from tall hotels in downtown Anchorage.

Northern Alaska fishing

Anglers pursue Arctic grayling, northern pike and sheefish across Northern Alaska.

Kenai Peninsula fishing

Interior Alaska fishing

Grayling, pike and lake trout make for good angling in the middle of Alaska

Alaska.com

The Interior is Alaska's vast midsection, encompassing lake-pocked flats, meandering and roaring rivers and the continent's tallest mountain. The fishing has a definite inland flavor.

Denali Hwy fishing
The Denali Highway -- mostly gravel, poorly maintained and open for only a few months a year -- gives anglers and hunters access to public lands rich in wildlife and scenery.


Location

The Denali Highway (Highway 8) bounces along for 135 miles on the south side of the Alaska Range. On the map, the highway is about halfway between Anchorage and Fairbanks.


The highway's eastern terminus is the settlement of Paxson, which is on the Richardson Highway. The west end is anchored in Cantwell, which is nestled against the southeastern flank of Denali National Park. In fact, the Denali Highway provided the only road access to Denali during the 1950s and early 1960s.


Many grayling streams cross the highway, and lakes all along the way harbor grayling and lake trout. Good fishing and some lodging are available at the Tangle Lakes area about 20 miles west of Paxson. There are rustic campgrounds along the road, and pullover camping is allowed for just about the whole route.


Fishing is best in June through August. Most of the road is driveable in May, and it closes when enough snow falls.


Top species along the Denali Highway


Arctic grayling


Lake trout


Location

Fairbanks, the Interior's biggest city, sends its anglers out of town. They go eastward along the Chena River for arctic grayling, or westward to the lakes of the Minto Flats, along the Tanana River, for northern pike.

The Denali Highway takes drivers through a relatively remote area just south of the Alaska Range. Wildlife includes migratory birds such as swans and terns, grizzly bears and caribou, the a top-level attraction is the fishing for grayling and lake trout in the 135-mile road's streams and lakes. The Tangle River and its lakes, west of Paxson, are worth the trip.

Top species in the Interior

  • Northern pike
  • Arctic grayling
  • Lake trout

Get a license

Buy an Alaska fishing license online from the state or at many sporting goods, grocery and gas stations.