Brown bears patrol the banks, competing for prime space with great bellowing roars while ospreys and eagles wing low over the river searching for easy prey. For the fly fisherman it's a time of great diversity, and the chance to experience the best angling of your life. With sea lice still clinging to their sides, these fish are in top condition, with untapped energy reserves and eating instincts not yet completely subdued. S hortly after entering fresh water, the sea lice fall off their hosts, leaving open wounds near the base of the caudal fin. The salmon also begin using stored energy reserves, and their silver luster begins to fade.
W ithin a few days of entering the river, the kings begin turning a deep crimson.
Bucks develop a fearsome kype and continue to slash out at brightly-colored streamers. K ings in tidewater hold in the deep channelized portion of the estuary. For anglers, that means big weighted flies, long casts and fast-sinking lines. K ing salmon may the biggest fish in the river but there are many other attractions . The anadromous salmon share the Alagnak with rainbow trout, dolly varden, arctic grayling and plenty of wildlife.