The biggest myth about salmon fishing in Alaska is Sockeye (Red) Salmon won’t take a fly. Sockeye will take a fly, and when they do, it is one heck of a rodeo. Everyone knows about Coho (Silver) Salmon in Alaska. They are aggressive, you can get them from stripping flies, or creating wakes with a popper. There is a big debate on whether Sockeye (Red) or Coho (Silvers) are pound-for-pound the best fighting fish in Alaska. Sockeye get a bad rap, because they are not as easy to get to take a fly. We’re here to say, that Sockeye will take a fly, and it’s a hoot when they do.
What fly do you use to get Sockeye to take do you ask? The Mini Krystal Shrimp. Yes, Sockeye are plankton eaters. Guess what, Mini Krystal Shrimp live among the plankton Sockeye seek. Sockeye, like a lot of other fish, see then eat.
The nice thing about fishing for Sockeye with a Mini Krystal Shrimp is, you only get the ones that just came out of the ocean. That being said, If you’re looking for the freshest sockeye, fish during the beginning of the runs. You won’t regret it. Sockeye Salmon are awesome fish to catch. When you get them on the take, it’s even better.
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I appreciated your statement about the myth that sockeyes will not take a fly. I have fished sockeyes in the Kenai on five August visits to Alaska between 2005 and 2012. I did not want to line them. I had good luck getting silvery sockeye to hit a pink and purple maribou drifted fly and they were hooked inside the mouth in most cases. I made every attempt not to snag fish. I am headed to the Kenai for 10 days in mid August this year and I have tied up several other recommended small flies for getting sockeye to hit. At 83 as of this July I am so excited to make at least one more trip to the Kenai. Thanks again for your article that I have shared with three other guys going with me to Alaska this August.
In mid August 2024 I took three guys to fly fish the Kenai. I had to argue hard to convince them that fresh sockeyes will take small flies and that they did not need to line them. With your article, my own past experience, and 4 or 5 other articles I finally convinced them that fresh sockeyes would take small flies like the chrystal shrimp. We were successful and are returning in 2025 for more salmon and trout action.
Again in 2025 I took two friends to fish sockeye on the Kenai without lining them. I can’t stand snagging sockeyes by lining then. I used mostly green Chrystal shrimp in sizes 6 and 4. However, small marinou flies with a pink or chartreuse tail and a purple front were also effective on the drift. In a few cases we had sockeye actively chase and hit these flies on the retrieve. I even had a sockeye chase a fly on the retrieve through 6 ft of shallow water up to my feet.
On my observations on sockeyes taking flies I am referring primarily to chrome colored fish. Of course sockeyes in spawning colors are especially aggressive to various fly patterns and can be a problem if they are numerous.