Goodnews River
river in Alaska
The Goodnews River is a wilderness gem, accessible primarily by float plane. It provides diverse fishing opportunities in a pristine environment, with consistent action for multiple species.
Conditions right now
No USGS gauge is linked to this water yet, so we can't chart flows.
Chilly fall conditions (39°F
- 01Chilly fall conditions (39°F, light drizzle, 7 mph SW wind).
- 02Anticipate seasonally high water levels.
- 03Primary food sources are salmon eggs, flesh, baitfish, and leeches.
- 04Target Rainbow Trout and Dolly Varden with egg patterns.
- 05Target Sheefish and Pike with streamers.
- 06Focus fishing efforts on sloughs and back eddies.
- 07Employ slow, deliberate retrieves for streamers and leeches.
- 08Use indicator rigs with egg patterns dead drift near the bottom.
Past reports week by week
9 weeksWhat to tie on
Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.
Woolly Bugger (Black)
A classic and versatile streamer, effective for imitating leeches and sculpins, which are active in colder fall waters and a key food source for predatory Sheefish, Pike, Rainbows, and Dolly Varden.
Egg Sucking Leech
This versatile streamer combines a leech and egg imitation, making it highly effective for predatory fish and those feeding on salmon eggs in the fall.
Buy at AmazonGlo Bug
Salmon eggs are a primary food source for Rainbow Trout and Dolly Varden in the fall, making this a highly effective pattern.
Buy at AmazonBlood Dot Egg
Another excellent egg pattern, mimicking salmon eggs which are abundant in the river during fall, appealing to opportunistic feeders.
Buy at AmazonHot Pink Bunny Leech
The aggressive pink color is a known trigger for Coho Salmon and is also highly effective for enticing strikes from predatory Pike and Sheefish, mimicking leeches and baitfish in colder water.
Perch Pattern
Pike are known to aggressively prey on smaller fish, including perch, making this a highly effective imitation for targeting them in the fall.
Clouser Minnow (Chartreuse/White)
A universal baitfish imitation, this pattern is excellent for enticing predatory Sheefish and Pike, which are actively feeding on smaller fish in the fall.
Orange Flash Streamer
This attractor streamer is excellent for grabbing the attention of aggressive Dolly Varden, Sheefish, and even late-run salmon in the fall.
Where to fish and who to ask
Lower Main Stem Pools
Deep pools and slow runs in the lower river are excellent for targeting all salmon species and large resident fish.
Middle Fork Confluence
The junction of the Middle Fork with the main river, a natural holding spot for migrating salmon and feeding trout.
Get Goodnews River reports by email
Save this water and we'll email you a weekly summary of conditions, hatches and what's working.
Alaska season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Read before you go
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Quick answers
Common questions about Goodnews River.
What flies work best on Goodnews River?
Our top scored fly patterns for Goodnews River right now are Clouser Minnow (Chartreuse/White) (95% confidence), Micro Egg (90% confidence), Glo Bug (Orange) (90% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.
What fish species are in Goodnews River?
Goodnews River holds Sheefish, Pike. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.
What are current flow conditions on Goodnews River?
Live USGS streamflow readings for Goodnews River are charted in the sidebar of this page and updated automatically from the nearest gauge.
Is Goodnews River fishing well right now?
We publish a fresh bite report for Goodnews River each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.