Alaska’s Goodnews River on the Togiak Wildlife Refuge is extraordinary. There are 3 tributary forks. The Middle Fork and North Fork are of considerable interest to fly fishermen. The Goodnews is appropriately world renowned as a fishery for migratory King, Sockeye, and Coho Salmon as well as resident Rainbow, Grayling, Dolly Varden, and Lake Trout. It is a “tundra” river meaning it is beyond the boreal forest spruce tree line with wide-open views. The adjacent tundra mountains have very beguiling emerald green slopes in July changing to gold and red hues in August. The lowlands are postglacial wetlands; moraines, lush beaver ponds, and bedrock bluff outcroppings. There is lodge-based fishing in the lower river but there is so much to do in the upper and mid river that fishing pressure in the lower is a tolerable tradeoff.

The wading conditions are good throughout it’s length and the water is very clear. For 50 miles you’ll float, wade, fish, and camp. The upper 30 miles are within the federally designated “Wilderness.” The weeks that I offer float trips down the Middle Fork and North Fork of the Goodnews are. July 10-16, July 17 -23, August 7-13, August 14-20. Choose July for Rainbows, Kings, and Sockeye. Choose August for Coho, Dolly Varden Char, and Rainbows. There are a very limited number of guided trips allowed and the river is managed by the Togiak Refuge for a high quality catch and release sport fishery. We’ll fish barbless flies only, releasing great numbers of fish, while keeping some for our meals.

Read more at the US Fish & Wildlife Services - About fishing Togiak National Wildlife Refuge

In summary: I have heard the phrase: “best day of fishing of my life” from highly experienced anglers on the Goodnews, many times. As one of the highest rated guides in the region I have an exclusive use permit to float and fish the Goodnews. For comparison consider the Goodnews watershed along with the Kanektok River and Togiak River. They all are tundra rivers and have stellar fisheries while each has very compelling qualities of it’s own. The Goodnews is covered in more detail in this report: 2011 Voss, Ifan Trip Report (pdf)

The tundra river environment of the Goodnews and Kanektok is distinctly different from the taiga or boreal-forested rivers like the Nushagak, Mulchatna, or King Salmon. If you haven’t fished the Goodnews I’ll show you some secrets that I’ve unlocked from this spectacular river. If you can’t decide among the various rivers, give me a call and I’ll help you sort it out.