Who said fly fishing is expensive.....

Brian in OR.

Brian in OR.

Life of the Party
Got an email on some open dates for fishing this fall in Alaska and one of the weeks available was almost $18,000 per person,
Holy $&^%(&#.....
So got to wondering, what are some of the most expensive places you can fish for a week and what's the cost?
Does Alaska reign king for $$$$ to fly fish?
 
A week of salmon fishing on a prime beat on the Alta River in Norway for a non-local costs between $35,000 and $60,000 depending on the week and the beat. And there is a drawing to determine who earns the privilege to pay that price to try to hook an Atlantic Salmon that can run between 40 to 60 lbs. especially on pools like Nedra Sierra or the Steinfossen. And all fish must be released.
 
On the flip side I can do an 8 day GR float for gas money and a couple bottles of propane. Sure I have groceries and beer, but it's actually cheaper than what I'd be spending at home. My raft and all my fishing/camping gear probably runs about $15K but will last 15ish years. So lets say $1500 per year divided by about 50 days on the water per year is about $30 per day for my gear. A week of floating and fishing for about what it tales for me to take the family out to dinner...

We won't discuss the extra "situational" rods I don't really need but love or the box of fly tying gear... ;)
 
albula said:
A week of salmon fishing on a prime beat on the Alta River in Norway for a non-local costs between $35,000 and $60,000 depending on the week and the beat. And there is a drawing to determine who earns the privilege to pay that price to try to hook an Atlantic Salmon that can run between 40 to 60 lbs. especially on pools like Nedra Sierra or the Steinfossen. And all fish must be released.
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I'd give my left nut to fish Steinfossen!

 
Christmas Island, (@ $7000 per person ) or Kamchatka (@ $13,000) maybe ?

* prices based on amalgated costs found in multiple web searches

[ yep this was an edit]
 
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My Kamchatka trip was not very costly. Of course it was living in a small tent, sleeping on a folding cot and sharing outdoor plumbing but it is a fairly short flight from Anchorage to Petropovlosk back in the day when it was possible. I wonder how those wonderful Sopochanya steelhead are doing these days.
 
Guess I never really look much into these trips that are not even in the same zip code as my budget. That said, if I had the means, I'm certain that I would be taking advantage of some of these places....well, probably except AK....just never really been all that interested I guess. Probably just too mainstream...😉
 
clarkman said:
Guess I never really look much into these trips that are not even in the same zip code as my budget. That said, if I had the means, I'm certain that I would be taking advantage of some of these places....well, probably except AK....just never really been all that interested I guess. Probably just too mainstream...😉
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26”-30” wild rainbow that takes you into your backing…just saying…
 
Brute said:
26”-30” wild rainbow that takes you into your backing…just saying…
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Yeah, sounds great and all....

then again, that's larger than most steelhead in our area.

Then [then] again, I have minnows that get larger than that (significantly) and show me backing regularly.

Then [then, then] again, I have my own big trout spots where they measured in pounds, not inches.
 
albula said:
My Kamchatka trip was not very costly. Of course it was living in a small tent, sleeping on a folding cot and sharing outdoor plumbing but it is a fairly short flight from Anchorage to Petropovlosk back in the day when it was possible. I wonder how those wonderful Sopochanya steelhead are doing these days.
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It would be really interesting to know how those runs are doing. Seems like it would be a useful indicator on the ocean conditions vs headwater debate. I'd volunteer to go check it out but not sure I'd want to head to Russia these days.

In the mid-level category(I guess) my buddy does a week at Hickman's lodge on the Dean for $10K. He has to get up there and back, plus licenses, etc. Figure $15K all in. I could never do it annually like he does but maybe once for some special reason? Maybe I'll grab a lottery ticket with my next 12er of Coors light.
 
Back in the 90's I went to Alaska to fish the upper Kenai. I bought my aire 16' jaguarundi in Alaska, got a deal from a friend who knew people. We fished the Kenai all the way to the mouth dumping into skilak lake. Camped on an island 1/8 mi from the mouth. Bears couldn't get to us as the current is fierce. I have pics of 25-30" fish from an evening fishing the mouth, in the gold light just before dusk. Point is we did the entire week for under a grand. And we ate very well. Broke the raft down and shipped it home on the same plane I flew in. We did that trip 2x and caught countless numbers of rainbow and char.
 
I really don't like the trend toward greater luxury & comfort at fly fishing & safari locations. Much prefer experiencing great hard-core fishing in an untouched natural environment. Simple shelter and food are good enough.

The exclusive Indo-Pacific permit atolls in the Amirantes are super expensive (Blue Safari). Russian oligarchs with party girls on the Quo Vadis luxury catamaran are the norm.

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DimeBrite said:
I really don't like the trend toward greater luxury & comfort at fly fishing & safari locations. Much prefer experiencing great hard-core fishing in an untouched natural environment. Simple shelter and food are good enough.
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Same. I prefer the experiences where I’m the one doing the work rather than a curated trip where I’m just reeling in someone else’s work. Much more rewarding to do my own work.

I do enjoy good food at a lodge a few trips a year, but mostly because it gives me extra time to fish when I don’t have to worry about food.
 
DimeBrite said:
I really don't like the trend toward greater luxury & comfort at fly fishing & safari locations. Much prefer experiencing great hard-core fishing in an untouched natural environment. Simple shelter and food are good enough.

The exclusive Indo-Pacific permit atolls in the Amirantes are super expensive (Blue Safari). Russian oligarchs with party girls on the Quo Vadis luxury catamaran are the norm.
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One of my best fishing trips was a self support lake to tidewater trip in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska. We were hammered by the tail end of a typhoon, slept on gravel bars, and had to use our accumulated outdoors and survival skills in order to not SAT call in a rescue. Fishing became secondary, but got to fish every day of the trip. Sea run dollies, chrome bright coho, and resident rainbows, throw in quite a few chum, and a few pinks. Total trip cost was 3k for 10 days.
 
You tell em Jim! :ROFLMAO:

Yeah, I really enjoy fishing and I enjoy traveling, but I also enjoy a good value.

Not sure if it's the engineer in me or growing up poor, but my question is always "Why?" Why is it $18k per person? Am I staying in a luxury lodge, with a top chef, fishing for large or exotic fish that only 20-30 others will fish for all season with one of the best guides on the planet?
One of those better hit for me to even consider it. If none of them hit and it's simply because enough rich people (or companies) will pay it then no thanks. I'll look for a better value. I get supply & demand. I get that premium outfits have higher costs. I've paid thousands to stay in an all-inclusive resort. They're really nice! But there has to be value there.
 
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