Pink Salmon

Pink Salmon Fishing In Alaska

Not a targeted salmon at Rainbow King, but no one complains after a fight with a big Pink Salmon on a fly rod. The Alaskan pink salmon, also known as the humpback salmon, maybe the smallest variety of Pacific salmon. However, anyone who has fished for these little fighters knows that just because they’re the smallest doesn’t mean they go down without a fight. When fly-fishing for pink salmon with a six-weight fly rod, you’ll get more than enough fight for your money making them a good day’s fishing even if they’re not the fish you intended to catch. There’s no better place in Alaska to experience pink salmon fishing than Rainbow King Lodge, where you can be up to your ears in these pint-sized powerhouses while being surrounded by some of the most beautiful vistas you’ll ever see.

Pink salmon are also known as humpback salmon, thanks to the enlarged humps the males develop in freshwater. They average between 3 and 5 pounds. Because of their size and the fact that they can be found in areas where larger fish congregate, they’re considered a by-catch. Yet even though pink salmon are rarely the main attraction, they’re still a lot of fun to catch. Their aggressive nature and nonstop action mean you can count on a real battle every time you hook one.

Pink salmon make their grand arrival in the Alaskan waters in mid-July and August. Their migration is heaviest every seven years. Rainbow King Lodge gives you the best possible backdrop for fishing pink salmon, with our extensive, exclusive fishing areas. Our prime location is along the shores of Lake Iliamna, the largest lake in Alaska. There’s simply no better place to catch a wide variety of trout and other types of trophy fish — including pink salmon — than Rainbow King Lodge.

Book Your Stay With Us

Whether pink salmon is on your Alaska fishing trip wish list or just a happy by-product of your hunt for something bigger, Rainbow King Lodge gives you the opportunity to catch them in the best possible circumstances. You’ll not only come home with fish you can’t find anywhere else in the world, but you’ll also come home with memories of a fishing excursion that will last a lifetime. If you’re ready to book your dream Alaska fishing trip at Rainbow King Lodge, contact us today to get started.

Quick Facts

  • Size
    18”- 25” long and between 3- 5.5 lbs
  • Diet in freshwater
    Adults returning to spawn do not eat. Young salmon migrating to the ocean may eat aquatic insects and zooplankton.
  • Diet in saltwater
    Plankton, marine shrimp and krill, other smaller fish, squid, and the occasional aquatic insect.
  • Predators
    Anything larger than them including killer whales, bears, birds, and humans just to name a few.
  • Reproduction
    A female lays between 1,200 and 1,900 eggs during spawning June through late October. Eggs incubate over winter for 5-8 months and hatch in late winter or early spring. Fry migrate to saltwater as soon as they emerge from the gravel. They feed for 18 months in the ocean and return to spawn and die at two years of age.
  • Ocean-Phase Identifying Characteristics
    The mouth is white with a black gum line
    Very small or almost no teeth, and no “teeth” on the tongue
    Large oval spots on both lobes of tail
    Large black spots on back
    Pointed lower jaw
    No silver on the tail
    Very small scales compared to other salmon that are of similar size
  • Remarks
    The Alaska Department of Fish and Game manages pink salmon in freshwaters of the state and in saltwater up to 3 miles from shore.
  • Other names
    Humpback salmon, humpy
Pink Salmon