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When the rains arrive in Southeast Alaska, the creeks swell and the salmon come home, crossing miles of saltwater to seek their freshwater origins. With proud abandon, they drive against raging river currents to the same spawning grounds from which they were born.

It's the coho's tenacious nature that draws anglers to the river's banks. Some will win, some will leave empty-handed, but for most it's about the fight.

Time, however, is running out. Heavy rains make the rivers run high. But local experts say it's not too late to catch silvers.

"We still have a few weeks left in the season," said Tony Soltys, president of the Rain Country Flyfishers. "A few I hooked are starting to turn, but you'll still find bright fish into October."

This species of salmon ranges in size from 8-15 pounds, and tends to be a bit on the finicky side.

"The biggest piece of advice I can give is to just keep trying. Persistence is key," Brad Elfers said.

He's the owner of Alaska Fly Fishing Goods, a downtown guiding and gear shop.

After years of fishing for silvers in Southeast, Elfers has found that every day brings a new challenge.

"When it comes to these fish in freshwater, you've got to have some different colors. And it varies from day to day," he said. "But there are two flies that have been ruling: the Dolly Lama and the Jig spanker."

Both are attractor patterns and best fished in the colors chartreuse and pink or pink and white, he said.

Regardless of what fly or lure is used, Elfers said silvers like movement and will prefer a lure that jigs up and down in the water, as opposed to something that swings past.

And when in doubt, go deep, especially with the rain that Juneau has experienced lately. "Fresh" fish will often move up the river with high waters, then settle into a resting pool once the levels drop a bit.

"If you're not getting a fly down deep and losing flies, then you're not going deep enough," he said. "Many people drift (flies) right over top of the fish," he said.

If a weighted fly or lead shot just won't cut it, his shop carries specially made sink tip leader that will help get flies down, and fast.

As far as rods go, Elfers said an "eight-weight is definitely preferable, especially against bigger, wild fish."

An angler could get away with lighter gear, but with the acrobatics cohos are known for, one might be in for a wild ride.

Particularly up the Taku River. Elfers said it's there anglers find the big boys.

"The Taku, they have the super freaks up there," he said.

Locally, Juneau rivers boast good opportunities for silvers, as well.

Cowee Creek gets a large run of fish and more than a handful of anglers.

"Cowee gets both types of fisherman," Elfers said, referring to both rod and reel and fly fishermen. The waters have also just been opened to bait beginning in the middle of September, but anglers of all types should still have luck.

Closer to town, Montana Creek also has a run of fish, as does Salmon Creek. Additionally, Gastineau Channel will certainly boast fish for a bit longer.

And with cooler weather and shorter days, perhaps that's the beauty of this last run of fish. Locals don't have to go far to find them and can relish in an adrenaline rush to stave off the chill of fall's damp weather.

"You can head out to a local river for a few hours after work and just fish. And that's the beauty of Juneau," he said. "You don't have to go very far."