Spring Steelhead
Fishing

Chrome Chasers steelhead season runs for 5 weeks during Mid April to Mid May. The steelhead operation is limited to 4 anglers per week to give each angler more opportunities at fish and to limit our impact on the species. Each guest is encouraged to book the trip with a fishing partner of similar physical ability.

At Chrome Chasers, we take our name to heart during the spring steelhead season. Fresh, ocean-bright steelhead are our passion. We target the freshest, brightest steelhead, as close to the saltwater as possible, in remote, small to mid-sized streams. We fish earlier in the year than many anglers hoping to find the earliest and brightest fish of the season. Our season ends early and we target different rivers or portions of rivers in an attempt to avoid fishing over fish that are nearing their spawn or those that have already spawned. As our name implies, we often cover a lot of water looking for the fresh fish, which may involve covering several miles of one river or creek or multiple waters on the same day. It is impossible to only catch fish that came in on the last tide, and we do find colored-up fish and the occasional kelt from time to time, but we do our best to find fresh fish throughout the season.

All of the streams and rivers that we fish are reached via the sea, travelling in our 37 ft. enclosed cabin boat, Chromagnum. The streams have very limited access and are basically untouched. The remoteness is a big part of the experience for anglers, and we find that our guest often enjoy the travel and adventure getting to and from the fishing spots as much as they enjoy the fishing itself. That said, it’s hard to think about breaching grey whales, soaring bald eagles, and majestic mountain views when you’re connected to 10 pounds of dime bright fury fresh from the salt water.

The Alaska Fishing and foraging experience

Chrome Chasers’ week long Alaska experience trips are packed with fishing and foraging opportunities and each week is custom catered to the desires of the group as a whole. The lodge is reserved each week or their private party. Chrome Chasers Alaska trips run all of August and September.

Each day anglers take the big boat, Chromagnum to various inland passages around Wrangell Island to ocean fish for king and silver salmon, halibut, as well as other bottom fish, regulations permitting. Shrimp pots will be set at the beginning of the week to harvest shrimp throughout the week. Anglers have the option of fishing a variety of streams on the islands around Wrangell daily. Silver salmon, sockeye salmon, pink salmon, chum salmon, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and dolly varden are in the streams throughout August and September. Different species run during different times in these months. Fly fishing or conventional tackle rods are available for guests. While fishing the streams, anglers have the option of foraging for mushrooms to bring to the table at the lodge.

Back at the lodge, Captain Rick and the guides fillet the catches of the day. As a group, staff and guests team up to vacuum seal and freeze the fish for guests to take home at the end of the week. Fresh shrimp, fish and foraged food are utilized in the evening meal. If guests are interested in cooking classes after the day of fishing and foraging, time can allocated to the lessons.

Chrome Chasers offers a fishing focused experience or a fishing, foraging, cooking and preserving experience. Guests have the option to visit Anan Bear Observatory or take a day to see Le Conte Glacier.