Freestone · Mixed · Alaska

Goodnews River

Goodnews River terrain map
Terrain map

The Goodnews is the Kanektok's quieter neighbour — a clear southwest-Alaska river running off the Ahklun Mountains through the Togiak refuge to Goodnews Bay, with the same cast of leopard-flanked wild rainbows, sea-run Dolly Varden and all five salmon, and a little less company.

Species

Closed season

Season reopens 8 June. Plenty of other water available now.

Closed — confidence not applicable today.
Water temperature for rainbow trout
Ideal
11°C est.ideal 10–18°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for rainbow trout
  • Temperature10028% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity8518% weight
  • Feeding Time5013% weight
  • Pressure757% weight
  • Insect activity5812% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
10.9°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
21°C
Wind
N 23 km/h
Moderate breeze
Pressure
1015 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Rain · ahead
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

How to fish it · for rainbow trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
1
GrannomHatch
2
2
Evening SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Western Green DrakeHatch
2
2
Flav (Small Western Green Drake)Hatch
2
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Unbaited single-hook artificial/fly rules and salmon EOs typically apply — verify current dates, rainbow/king restrictions and EOs against ADF&G 2026 regs
  • Remote fly-out float; high bear density; lower river tidal near Goodnews Bay.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

The Goodnews is the Kanektok's quieter neighbour — a clear southwest-Alaska river running off the Ahklun Mountains through the Togiak refuge to Goodnews Bay, with the same cast of leopard-flanked wild rainbows, sea-run Dolly Varden and all five salmon, and a little less company. It's a week-long float and camp, swinging and stripping and mousing for rainbows and char while the salmon build through the summer toward the bright silvers of late season. Like its neighbour it's clear enough for proper surface and sight fishing, remote enough to demand a fly-out and real bear sense, and tidal where it meets the bay. Fish the smolt and egg-and-flesh windows for the trout, respect the salmon runs for what they are, and check the emergency orders before you commit.

  • Mixed
Seasons & zones
  • Trout8 June → 31 October