Stuyahok

The Stuyahok River float starts at a lake 100 miles northeast of Dillingham and terminates where the Stuyahok River flows into the Mulchatna River. This section of the river is about 45 miles long and is good for a 5-7 day trip. The river is well suited for fly fishing because of it’s abundance of fish and because it is small and easy to wade. The river gets a moderate amount of use but people seem to stay well spaced on the river because of its meandering nature. You will see very few people on the river while you are floating. On the other hand, the confluence of the Stuyahok and Mulchatna Rivers is very busy. There is a public use site located here and this is an excellent camping and pickup point. A straight raft is fine on this river.

The Stuyahok River offers a great float for the fisherman. It has very good Rainbow fishing; however, there is a special regulation for the area that requires single hook, artificial lures. The Rainbow fishing is good June through September, with the peak being August 15. The Rainbows in this river are of average size and will be located around the Red and King salmon spawning beds. The Stuyahok River also has very good Grayling and Dolly fishing. Both of these species are abundant in numbers and average in size.

The Stuyahok River is a tributary of the Nushagak River and has a healthy run of Salmon. The Stuyahok averages about 2,500 Kings per year. The Kings arrive in the river by July 7, with peak fishing occurring by July 12. The Stuyahok River averages about 1,700 Reds per year. Red numbers peak in the river about 2 weeks after the Kings. In addition to the great fishing and beautiful scenery, the Stuyahok River runs through some of the most prime game country in Alaska. You will likely see Moose, Caribou, Bear, and Eagles on your trip.

Cost

Cost to Float the Stuyahok River:

Drop-off $4,000
Pick-up $3,000

Raft rental $120/day raft with rowing frame

USGS maps: Dillingham 1:250,000 and Dillingham C-1, C-2, and D-2, 1:63,360 scale maps.