American Creek Float Trip
Alaska
American Creek is without question one of the greatest wild rainbow fisheries in Alaska. Flowing roughly 36 miles through the wilds of Katmai National Park, American Creek is a relatively small, rugged boulder strewn system with great pocket water fishing. It also is a river that changes greatly from top to bottom, beginning as an almost alpine pocket water river, then dropping in to canyons, brushy braids, and finally into long gliding pools.
American Creek receives a huge return of sockeyes that in turn fuel lot of rainbows in the 19-24 inch class. Rainbows in the 28-30 inch class are also present. The river is also loaded with Dolly Varden, some of which can top seven pounds. Early June fly fishing is done primarily with streamers and the dry fly fishing can be great from late June through July. August is dominated by egg fishing and September is great with both eggs and streamers. American Creek is also loved by bears and most trips will see plenty of them.
There is little doubt that a wilderness float trip represents one of the greatest and most memorable Alaskan fly fishing adventures. At Fly Water Travel we are proud to work with two of Alaska’s premier outfitters including Frontier River Guides and Ouzel Expeditions.
Location:
American Creek flows out of Hamersley Lake in the heart of Katmai National Park in southwest Alaska. This region is located south of Lake Iliamna.
Fishing Program:
On the first day of the American Creek trip you will arrive at Hammersly Lake, the headwaters of American Creek. The upper reaches of the creek are home to large rainbows, and the occasional lake trout and char. All fly fishing in this section will be walk and wade. The lake is beautifully situated above the tree line and is surrounded by impressive mountains. Depending on the fishing and conditions, your guide may elect to spend a second day and night in this location. Day two or three will have the group moving a day’s travel downstream, through a class III waterfall, to the Goat Hole camp where you fly fish for countless large Arctic char and a number of large rainbows on dries and streamers. At this point you will be in the creek’s canyon section where you will spend two days fly fishing rainbows and big char. The remaining two or three days will be spent fly fishing the numerous braids and side channels of the river. The final stretch of the river above the pick- up point often offers excellent “mousing” for rainbows. The overall distance is approximately 45 miles and can be covered in a leisurely pace during a week long trip.
Note that American Creek is a superb pocket water fishery so it can pay to quickly work all the little fast water pockets!
There will be one guide for every two anglers (if the trip has an even number of anglers) and each guide boat will also be fully packed with camping gear. During the travel hours of each day, there will be ample time to wade fish. Given the many hours of available daylight, you can fish until you drop!
Fisheries:
An American Creek float trip is the pinnacle of Alaska fly fishing experiences. The river offers three entirely different ecological zones, providing a great variety in the fly fishing habitat and surrounding scenery. This trip begins at Hammersly Lake in the Walatka Mountains on the Alaska Peninsula. The upper portion of the 45 mile long river is classic wilderness Alaska fly fishing trout stream habitat which hosts unusually abundant insect hatches and features the finest dry fly fishing in the state.
The character of American Creek quickly changes as you float westerly into the mid river canyon section of rushing tail out pools that hold broad shouldered Alaska rainbow trout and arctic char. The braided lower section of American Creek offers an Alaska fly fishing experience like no other. The rainbows are very large in this river, up to 30 inches, with most fish ranging 17-23 inches. The char can be almost as large, and many tens of thousands of sockeye salmon will navigate, spawn, die and nourish the river system. This is one of the only rivers in Alaska where the sockeye salmon will aggressively pursue a streamer.
The American Creek Alaska float trip is comparatively strenuous, and is for the adventurous and sturdy group. There are many class II+ rapids to navigate, as well as a class III+ waterfall. Log jams and shifting channels in the braided portion of the river may lead to lining or portaging the rafts. A float fishing trip on American Creek will provide incomparable Alaska bear viewing opportunities, as well as the likelihood of seeing caribou, wolf, moose and other species. American Creek is one of the ultimate Alaska fly fishing trips.
Accommodations and Meals:
As you work your way down river through incredibly beautiful and varied terrain, comfortable camps are set up on the river bank by your guides. Sleeping accommodations consist of roomy three person tents, shared by you and your fishing partner. Frontier River Guides sets up screened and covered eating shelters, when necessary, and you will eat like a king, with robust breakfasts, hearty lunches and a world palate of incredible dinners.
Note: Anglers will be responsible for providing their own sleeping bags, camp pillow and sleeping pads (like Thermarests) while your guides will provide all other camping equipment.
Sample Itinerary for a Seven Day Trip:
Day 1: Arrive Anchorage and overnight.
Day 2: Fly to put-in, begin float trip and camp at night.
Days 3-7: Full days fishing and camping.
Day 8: Take-out and return to Anchorage and overnight.
Day 9: Fly home.
Complete Trip Details
