We are now booking for the 2026 coho salmon season at Becharof Lodge on the Egegik River. The 2025 coho season was a memorable one, and the fishing was the best it’s been in three seasons. The number one compliment we received however, wasn’t on the salmon fishing, rather how fun it was to spend time with so many special people (staff and guests) in this part of remote Alaska. The second most praise was for Goni’s incredible cooking, something which always surprises guests who arrive thinking that just because they’re fishing in remote Alaska that the quality of food will decline. It doesn’t. Plan on going home with having gained a few extra pounds.

Much of Southwest Alaska was very dry last summer. While river levels were lower than normal–except on high tides–the fishing was good, overall. Those who fished eggs experience the highest catch rates, but anglers who fished Soft Beads, Mag Lips and spinners did well, too. Later in the season the flyfishing was excellent, with coho salmon being caught on surface poppers and many streamer patterns. Some fly anglers caught their limit each day.

Though the coho bite was consistent and aggressive early each morning, from mid-season, on, it bite did slow by mid-day, on average. This was the case in rivers throughout Bristol Bay, and has been for the past few seasons. Again, we spoke with many guides and lodges in the region, and many claimed the Egegik River was the best, most consistent coho fishing in Bristol Bay. Some even gave up on fishing their home rivers and flew to the Egegik to target coho. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of space for everyone.

A bonus we’ve been offering since 2024 are ptarmigan hunts. We have Browning Citori 2o gauge shotguns you’re welcome to use. Bring a couple boxes of non-toxic shotgun shells–#5 or #6 steel shot is good–and hiking boots if you’d like to hunt these great eating birds. Please keep in mind the amount of ptarmigan hunting we offer is based on their cyclical populations. Their numbers have been very solid the past few years, but still we ask guest to shoot enough for appetizers at camp, not limits every time out. These are non-guided hunts and begin from our lodge on the Egegik River. Expect to walk three to six miles per hunt.

For the third season in a row our prices are not changing. Despite rising costs of everything, including bush planes, fuel and barges, we’re dedicated to trying to help as many people experience this special part of Alaska, as possible.

Prime coho fishing dates always book up quickly as the Egegik River continues to be one of Alaska’s top coho streams. So check out the 2026 silver salmon fishing dates below, see which group fits your timeline and let’s go fishing, because in reality, there is no bad time to fish Alaska’s Egegik River.