Can anyone tell me if the Gulkana river is going to be a good king river in the middle of June to late, I know that it is hard to predict but if you have any info that you could give me on the Gulkana itself would be great. Email me or Reply to this post, thanks :p

catcher-
Buddies and I try to float the Gulkana in canoes at least once a year. It's usually pretty warm (by Alaskan standards, around 70-80). So, shoot the canyon and cool yourself down! Very pretty river. The peak of the king run is June 20 - July 4. King fishing is usually best a few miles north of Sourdough CG.

Good luck

AK fishinfool can you email me so that I can get information on the Gulkana>

Catcher1 ... one hint for you, think eggs, lots of 'em

A few summers back, I fished the Gulkanna. Floated from the Lake down to the main takeout below the Canyon. Cant remember the name at this time.

We fished it in early July which is usually the tail of prime time for the 'nooks and the middle of the sockeye season.

It was a super low water year and the kings were not holding untill the last few holes before the takeout.

The fishing that year was very slow all the way around. There were few rainbows and they were all very skinny and missing the spunk they normally have. I did hook one below the drop at the end of the Canyon dredging a Teeny 300 and a huge articulated leach. This fish jumped 5 feet high if it jumped an inch. It reminded me of watching Dorado coming flying straight up out of the water like I have seen on tv. Sadly, I lost that fish.

I floated the river with Gulkana River regulars and their gear surprised me. It comprised of one ounce pixies and 1 pound bank sinkers attached to 12 inch leaders with size 2 corkies.

The water is super low and clear and those kings go off the bite so easily. But they do stack up like cordwood and in the bigger pools. Bring floats and eggs. Oh what I would have done to have a float and some good eggs.

The holes they stack are slow and deep. If you cant get them to take the eggs bring along some small spoons and spinners as well as some candlefish squid. I think you could slay them fishing these on a jighead under a float up there.

The first of the sockeye will be arriving at this time as well. Bring small corkies and small flies to driftfish. And if you dont mind doing it, read up on the tactic of 'lining' for sockeye. There is nothing like a Copper River Sockeye especially when it is cooked over a campfire just minutes after being caught.

Also bring along a light flyrod or an ultralight spin rod as this river is stuffed with grayling and can be a blast on light tackle. It is a little early for the large rainbows that call the Gulkana River home though.

Let me know how you do!!! It is one beautiful river!!!!

Hello:my wife and I are going up there the week of June 24th,we'er going out with and outfit called Diamond Willow Outfitters,They said that we would be there at the prime time,I'll let you guys know how it was when,I get back.Hopefully it will be GRRRRREEAAAT !!!!! as tony would say.
Bob