Lodge/ Guide recommendations

[JJonesls1]

Hey all,

My dad and I made our first trip to AK this past August and had a great time. We stayed just outside of Soldotna, at Denise Lake Lodge. While the trip was great, and the lodging and guides were more than sufficient, we left feeling like we hadn't seen the 'real Alaska'. Don't get me wrong, we had an awesome time and that's why we are dying to return. This time around we are looking for something a little more remote that offers less crowds, further from town, ect. Oh, and of course great fishing!

We are targeting July of 2016 for our trip, and doing some research now. We would be looking to target Kings and 'bows. Any recommendations you could pass along would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Brian M]

If you want to target kings and rainbows, I'd be looking at the Nushagak or another system in the Southwest region. You might want to move your dates forward a month, though, as most king fishing is winding down by July.

 

[ysr_racer]

High Adventure Air Nushagak King Camp

 

[kenaibow fan]

well I would give the guys at Katmai Trophy Lodge a call. They fish the Naknek and the Nush for bows, reds, kings and everything else in the rivers. The guides are great, the lodges are not to shabby either.
My other suggestion for Naknek would be Rainbow bend also on the Naknek. They run things a little differently, which saves on the overall cost and I think would be more up your ally if you want the "Alaskan feel".

Either place will treat you good, and if I honestly had to choose between the two I wouldn't be able too. The people that run both places are great guys and really go the extra mile to serve clients as well as having a good reputation with everyone on the river.

 

[Catch It]

THe naknek would be a good call for bows and kings in one place for sure. The bows on the Nush are much higher than most of the king fishing (those that one wishes to eat anyway) The best rainbow spots on the nush are no king fishing anyway. It's not as remote, the best way to get both if you can afford it would be a flyout that hits the Nush for kings but can also drop you in Rainbow land......not cheap but then again I don't know your story.

 

[POLE BENDER]

one of the best places i have fished in all of AK..
http://www.hoodoofishing.net/

 

[JJonesls1]

Thanks for the great suggestions gang! There are so many awesome choices available, it is going to make for a tough choice. Our budget for this trip is about $3k apiece plus air fare. I'm married with a 5 month old son, and while my wife is cool enough to give me an every other year permission slip to go play up North she would absolutely find a way to kill me if I spent the $5k+ that it takes for some of the upper end trips.

We are not partial to what area of AK we are in, and our focus is on great fishing. If you have any other suggestions to throw my way it's much appreciated. Browsing all of these websites provides me a mental vacation until it's time for the real deal.

 

[Kusko]

Check out Alaska Fin and Fur Adventures in southwest Alaska for some great fly fishing without crowds. The King season will be closed, but everything else is wide open. The best fishing is from mid-July til September.

 

[4merguide]

Think the Illiamna drainage for monster rainbows...... I have a picture of a 27 pound rainbow and know it had to come from somewhere around there.......

 

[POLE BENDER]

http://www.yakutatlodge.com/

here is one more on the budget you are looking for, definilty not all the frill, BUT the Situk offers some fantastic fishing, from spring steelhead to silvers int he fall. king and red runs overlap each other, and lots of local dollies, cuthroat and a few native bows.
i have been 15+ times over the years, and will be going back this spring..

 

[Roland on the River]

Thanks for the great suggestions gang! There are so many awesome choices available, it is going to make for a tough choice. Our budget for this trip is about $3k apiece plus air fare. I'm married with a 5 month old son, and while my wife is cool enough to give me an every other year permission slip to go play up North she would absolutely find a way to kill me if I spent the $5k+ that it takes for some of the upper end trips.

We are not partial to what area of AK we are in, and our focus is on great fishing. If you have any other suggestions to throw my way it's much appreciated. Browsing all of these websites provides me a mental vacation until it's time for the real deal.

Take advice from POLEBENDER he knows what it's all about.

Delay the trip a couple years and save to go to the HOODO. It would be worth it. Good luck with your plans.

 

[ak_in_ca]

I've heard really good things about these guys and the fishing is reportedly incredible. Ive been wanting to get out there but all my friends and family are too dang cheap to go with me. http://naknekrivercamp.com/

 

[salmonchaser]

There are several things to consider, not the least of which is what you get for your money. Think of it this way, your building a house, you get five bids, four are about 200k, one comes in at 40k, that should be a red flag.
Other questions to ask any lodge: accommodation (permanent or temporary); sanitation, water supply, kitchen (inspected and signed off by the state), how many people in camp, are groups mixed, guide to client ratio, equipment furnished, rain gear, waders, rods and reels etc, menu, fish processing (fillets, vacuum seal, frozen), access to fishing after the guiding day is done, how far by boat to the fishing. Sorry running out of time, a couple more points:
Do they have a good relationship with other lodges on the river, check with the other lodges on the river for a review. You can get this done early talking to operators in the area. An honest operator will be willing to compete a little bit, but only a few questions, kinda like progressive.
That being said, go out to the Bristol Bay region, I do think the Nak offers greater options than the Nush. Make it a trip to remember and go with an outfit that will include a fly out.