Alaska Fly Fishing Lodge Selection Guide
Selecting a lodge or camp as a base of operations
for fly fishing Alaska is a big decision. Make a poor selection and
thousands of dollars will seem wasted. Make the right decision
and you'll be fly fishing in an Alaskan paradise, catching the fish you had
dreamed of, and signing a check for next year's trip before you leave. The
following is an overview of the types of lodges and camps available, along with
additional key decision factors that will help you select where, how, and when to go.
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Alaska Lodge and Camp Overview
There are three basic types of camps/lodges found in Alaska: fly-out lodges,
river based lodges, and out-camps. The expense and luxury both are in
descending order respectively. Fly-out lodges are commonly lake or
river based and you can expect daily fly-outs, weather permitting, to
destinations that support the type of fishing preferred by the group of anglers
or that is determined by some other factor. The primary difference between
river based lodges and fly-out lodges is that river based lodges
primarily fish a network of rivers using boats for fishing access. Out-camps
are tent-based camps placed on remote stretches of rivers where the
anglers are dropped for the duration of the trip. Also include in the
out-camp category are traditional fishing camps. The following reviews of the lodging options are based on four key points:
price, comfort, food, and fishing access. The conclusions stated here hold true for
the majority of the lodges and camps, but as in life there are always exceptions
to the rule.
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Fly Fishing
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Fly Fishing Alaska |
Fly Fishing Alaska from
Fly-Out Lodges
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Price Range - $5500 - $6500 US for 7 nights
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Comfort - In most cases two to a room with real beds,
hot showers and maybe a hot-tub. The lodges can be quite luxurious or more
basic without a lot a difference on price.
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Food - The food can range from fairly basic to gourmet
levels. A lot of lodges call their food "gourmet", but in general it is
very good and plentiful, but probably not at the gourmet level. Most of
the lodges include wine and beer as part of the deal, but some do not.
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Fishing Access - Great flexibility based on floatplane
access to lots of rivers, plus home water access when the weather has the planes
grounded. This is the ultimate in flexibility and has the ability to put
you on less commonly fished waters targeting the species you prefer. This is the
key differentiator between the fly-out and river based lodges
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See a
list of fly-out lodges here
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Fly Fishing Alaska from
River Based Lodges
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Price Range - $3500 - $4500 US for 7 nights
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Comfort - In most cases two to a room with real beds,
hot showers and maybe a hot-tub. The lodges can be quite luxurious or more
basic without a lot a difference on price. Very similar to that of the fly-out
lodges, only more modest accommodations are easier to find here.
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Food - The food can range from fairly basic to
extremely good. Most of the lodges
include wine and beer as part of the deal, but some do not.
Very similar to that offered by the fly-out
lodges.
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Fishing Access - Fishing access is to a
network of rivers and their associated tributaries. Good fishing can
normally be found and these guides are masters of their own rivers. This
is the key differentiator between the fly-out and river based lodges. In
many cases, river based lodges offer or can arrange for a fly-out or two for
interested anglers, but there will be an additional charge as airplane time is
expensive.
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See a list of
river based lodges here
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Fly Fishing Alaska from Out-Camps or fishing camps
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Price Range - $2500 - $3800 US for 7 nights
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Comfort - The out-camps are tent based and
the comforts are similar to that of a camp ground. Most use
generators for power and have hot water for showers. In general they are
not primitive, but there are no permanent buildings.
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Food - The food is typically very good and plentiful,
but has less of a "gourmet" feel to it.
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Fishing Access - Fishing access is primarily to a
network of rivers and their associated tributaries. Good fishing can
normally be found in these rivers and the outfitters know their rivers.
The out-camps normally have a smaller capacity than the lodges making the group
more intimate and the remoteness places the fisherperson on less pressured
water.
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See a list of
out-camps / fishing camps here
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When to Fly Fish Alaska
Trip timing primarily depends on your
targeted species of fish. King salmon run early in the summer, while the
silver salmon run last. The chum, sockeye, and pink salmon run sometime in
between. Targeting the resident fish, rainbow trout, grayling, arctic
char, and dolly varden, is also seasonal as the peak salmon runs commonly
disrupt and displace the resident fish. In some rivers the salmon runs also incent an influx of lake based resident fish (aka
big
ass fish (BAF)) to
gorge on salmon eggs and salmon flesh later in the summer. In most cases
the resident fish are considered catch and release only. Large "trophy"
fish are commonly targeted late in the season, while planning to pack a cooler
with fish to take home necessitates an earlier season trip. For Bristol Bay
area the schedule of salmon is outlined below, but you really need to
work out
the trip timing with the outfitter or lodge you select.
Peak of Salmon Runs for the
Bristol Bay Area (these are
guidelines, please check with your lodge on the timings for their watersheds):
King Salmon - Early July to
Mid July
Sockeye Salmon - Early July
to Mid July
Pink Salmon - Late July to
Early August
Chum Salmon - Mid July to
Late July
Silver Salmon - Mid August to
Late August
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Other decision factors in selecting a lodge or
outfitter for Alaska
There are a variety of other decision making
factors when it comes to selecting a fly fishing lodge in Alaska. These
include the size of the operation, booking direct or through an outfitter, your
comfort on small planes, price sensitiveness, target species, need for comforts,
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Size of Operation - The size of the operation will
dictate the level of personal attention each angler will receive from the
principles. This may be important to some and not to others.
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Social Atmosphere - To some a social atmosphere is
important and can commonly found in the larger operations with central
social/drinking areas.
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Booking Agent or Not - Booking agents, also known as
outfitters, can be invaluable in you helping work out the details of this
pilgrimage. Booking agents, however, are compensated for their efforts by
the lodges they represent and not all lodges are represented by a booking agent.
When booking a lodge that is represented by agents, however, you would be wise
to go through the agents to get as much information as possible. Some
agents are also fly shops that will also give discounts on equipment purchased
for the trip.
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Small Planes - If you are not comfortable in small
planes, please stay away from the fly-out lodges. There are a multitude of
river based lodges that will give you great fishing without the stress.
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Targeted Species - Not enough emphasis can be placed
on the importance of understanding and coming to grips with your
goals/expectations. Are you after rainbows on dry flies, king salmon for
the cooler, or Silver salmon on pink pollywogs. It is critical that the
timing of your trip and the lodge/camp you select support those goals.
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Need for comforts - This is pretty obvious, but an
out-camp is tent/camping like living. If the most you have ever camped is
at a Motel 6, make sure you are comfortable before you book. Once you are
there, you are there. Some people like the security of the solid lodge
over canvas walls for an area where humans can't claim to be on top of the food
chain.
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