wrote:
Basic query:

I'm planning a trip to Alaska this summer (July or August). Primary
reason is
not to fish, but wife and rugrats want to catch some salmon. We'll
probably be
starting in either Fairbanks or Anchorage, hitting Denali NP and then
can either
head down to the Seward or Homer areas.

Anyone have any suggestions for places and/or guides that won't break
the
bank for two adults and two kids....bears would be a huge plus.

Any advice is appreciated.
- Ken

Late July to early August. You can check the salmon run information /
run charts at:

http://www.alaskaoutdoorjournal.com/

My suggestion, if you just want to catch salmon, is to fish Montana
Creek. It crosses the Parks Highway about 95 miles north of Anchorage.
Consider fishing at the campground (at the farthest point upstream
that can be reached in the campground). There's a large rock sticking
out into the creek at that point. This being an even-numbered year, at
the end of July / beginning of August there are typically about 5,000 or
more fish, mostly pink salmon, at any point in time moving through the
fifty foot run behind that rock (pinks, chums and coho). Fish size
ranges from around 3 pounds (pink salmon) up to 20 (chum salmon) with
the odd kings coming in around 30 pounds. Its easy to have a hundred
fish day if your arms are up to it. Don't fish with anything lighter
than an 8wt.

Another option on Montana Creek is to head toward Talkeetna on the
Talkeetna Spur off of the Parks Highway. About three miles north of the
Parks Highway turnoff, turn right onto Yoder Road. Follow Yoder road
about a mile and a half until you reach the bridge over Montana Creek
(can't miss it!). Work the stretch of creek for about a half mile
upstream and a quarter mile downstream of the bridge. Great fishing for
salmon, trout and grayling. But there's no retention of fish in that
area. But there are plenty of bears, so take extra clothes and waders.

Another good stretch of water is along Willow Creek, twenty or thirty
miles south of Montana Creek. There's great access along Willow /
Fishhook Road (turn east off of the Parks Highway) for about three or
four miles. Great trout, salmon and grayling fishing in that water.
Resurrection Creek access is about a quarter mile off of the Parks
Highway on the same road (good trout and grayling, no salmon to speak of).

Jerry Harod is a good guide in the Mat-Su Valley. He has permission to
use some private access water that is very productive.

The benefit of fishing in the Mat-Su Valley (especially Montana Creek)
is that you don't have to muscle your way into the line of fishermen
combat fishing the Kenai River or the Russian River. Both will be
packed during the time you're proposing.

Chip