Float Fishing the River

This page sponsored by: hitaluga.com

Popular Spots: Friday Creek is one of the most popular spots on the river. When the kings are running, this area's small gravel bars will be occupied. There are 2 bars with enough room room for 3-4 small groups. If you are looking for more wilderness and remoteness than this, go past Friday Creek and camp below on river left. The fish are there, just as they are everywhere on the river. What makes Friday Creek so popular is the big hole in the Tal at the bend of the confluence. This hole has many kings stacked up and holding, so some great fishing.

Thursday Creek is another good stop although this one is much smaller and at low water levels can be easily missed. Fishing here is on the Tal not the creek and camping is very limited.

The Forks is a good area providing ample gravel bars and good fishing and is located at the confluence of the Tal creek and river.

The Talchulitna Creek is a small 18 mile section coming from Judd Lake to the Forks but one that has very good rainbow fishing. There are many log jams and with the creek being small, round rafts are better suited for this area, especially in low water conditions. Many have dragged their rafts miles down the creek and given up by the mid point looking for a way out.

The area below a small gravel air strip located on the west side of the river is a popular spot for salmon and rainbows. It goes by many names given to it by guides such as "The King Hole", "King Camp" and others. Just look for the air strip or the huge dirt cliff on river right with tons of swallows zipping about the small holes high in the cliff. The "King Hole" is located at the next sharp river left bend. There are two good camping bars, both small but nice.

At the mouth most parties that have run the river more than once opt to stay above the lodges for their last night on the river. The very large gravel bar located about a mile after coming out of the last canyon is a popular stop and provides access to great rainbow and salmon fishing. You can even walk back up river a ways for some grayling in the faster water.

Hell's Gate: This monicker is really not befitting of this small notch in the rocks. Although not to be taken lightly, it surely does not represent the image of its namesake. The area is a very tight boulder strewn rapid with fast water and can be a bit deceiving. Small it is but tight would describe it better. Large catarafts will take time and a bit of muscle to get through at low water. Even smaller round rafts can get stuck in the boulders which seem to be positioned just right to grab and lock onto one side of the raft. Logs frequently jam into the opening making it even more difficult. Caution must be used when pushing and pulling rafts in this water. Lodging a foot in even mild hydraulics can be life threating. Lining through the gate is preferable to tearing up your gear, raft or yourself. At high to mid level flows the Gate can be run.

The Fipper: This area is a sharp narrow "S" curve where all of the river's water is funneled through giving the spot its name. Boulders and the quick turn will put you side ways and with little distance to get corrected before the last area known as the "drop". Life jackets should be worn in this and any of the areas where becoming one with the water is a possiblity. Remember, should you go in, keep your feet up and pointed down river. The set up for this area is a river right approach into the first curve, bow downstream mid river approach into the center section and then a quick starboard turn to set up for the drop with bow downstream. With high flows this will all seem like a fast roller coaster without time to do much setting up and the drop will not be visible.