The upper Nushagak is referred to as the “Nush” by those of us who love it. There is a lot to love! The stretch that I fish is 41 miles of extraordinary Rainbow Trout, Grayling, Dolly Varden Char, King Salmon, Sockeye, Chum, and Coho Salmon water. It is a “Boreal Forest or Taiga” river meaning that there is a margin of Spruce forest along its banks as opposed to a “Tundra” river. The Nush flows through rolling country of tundra uplands and mountains. There are no roads, or dams, or villages, or mines nor anything else to disrupt this magnificent ecosystem in the upper Nush.

It is one of the finest rivers in Alaska. Its waters are not cloudy with glacial runoff. It supports staggering returns of salmon numbering in the millions. It has a tremendous fishery for “resident” species such as Leopard Rainbow Trout and Grayling as well as the migrant salmon & Dolly Varden Char.

Camps are very protected from wind and rain by virtue of the margin of spruce trees and there is nearly unlimited firewood for camp fires. The riverbank wildlife seen is Caribou, Moose, Brown/Grizzly bears, Mink, Otters, nesting Osprey and Bald Eagles.
This is a great river for a first Alaska Trip or for a mixed group of beginning, intermediate, and expert fishermen and women. It fishes well for the expert as well as the neophyte. It is also a river which we can fish and enjoy for a shorter trip if the calendar requires. It can be a great 5 day option or a 7 day trip.

Read the Season Reports from prior trips for more information.