When is the best time to visit Talon Lodge?

Talon Lodge, located on a private island minutes from Sitka Alaska, will be open from May 21nd to September 8th. We are often asked: “When the best time to visit the lodge?” The truth is – All Summer! There is a variety of fish caught from April through September in Sitka Sound. The best time to come is determined by you and your guests based on the type of fish you are interested in catching.

Alaska Salmon Fishing
Sitka is ideal for Salmon fishing because of the cold waters surrounding the area and the protection that the waters receive from the bay. However throughout the fishing season different types of Salmon are more plentiful than others. The Salmon caught earlier in the season have a higher fat content, accumulated during their winter migration, they also have brighter and firmer flesh.
• King or Chinook Salmon – largest, rich flavor, firm texture
• Red or Sockeye Salmon – smaller than king, deep red color, high oil content
• Silver or Coho Salmon – fast, aggressive fish, pink/orange and firm flesh with rich flavor (similar to King Salmon)
• Pink or Humpy Salmon – Lighter color and texture than King, Red or Silver
• Chum or Dog Salmon – light flavored, more delicate flesh, most valuable salmon roe

Alaska Halibut Fishing
Halibut is a flatfish, similar to a Flounder, in fact they are part of the same family. Halibut season is longer than salmon in Alaska. Like Salmon, Halibut thrive in arctic waters, but unlike Salmon, Halibut are bottom-dwellers. There are an aggressive catch; a challenge to even the most seasoned angler. Halibut meat is firm, flaky and has a clean taste to it. Average Halibut weigh between 30 and 50 pounds; however, the world record’s largest Halibut was caught in Alaska in 1996 weighing in at 457 pounds.

Alaska Freshwater Fly Fishing
Talon Lodge doesn’t just offer sport fishing vacation packages but you can fly fish in the nearby fresh water streams – in addition to sport fishing or as an alternative to fishing the saltwater. Late springs brings the beginning of the Steelhead and Rainbow Trout run. Sockeye Salmon dominates during the middle of the summer and the Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon and Chum Salmon run lasts from mid-August until the end of September. Some Coho streams have runs that last until late October.

Other Alaskan Salt Water Fish
In the same waters where you will fish for Halibut and Salmon, you can also catch Lingcod, Rockfish, Yellow Eye Snapper and Sablefish. These fish may not win a beauty contest but their meat is flaky, firm and tasty. There’s also the occasional surprise fish, eel or shark that may wonder onto your hook.