Alaska - once in a lifetime experience

RCF

RCF

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Where would you go?

I am an older guy, 74, with health challenges. Believe it or not, it is the only state i have never been to. I prefer flyfishing for trout. Day trips via plane would be fine. Guides would be great.

Time of year is open. Fewer mosquitoes would be nice. The experience is more important than cost, within reason...

Suggestions?
 
Mission Lodge fits your list.
Fly out every day
Full service
You could show up naked and they'd be able to outfit you, not recommended however
Expensive, but used to older anglers
You will catch many large trout

I enjoyed my trip
 
Mossback said:
Mission Lodge fits your list.
Fly out every day
Full service
You could show up naked and they'd be able to outfit you, not recommended however
Expensive, but used to older anglers
You will catch many large trout

I enjoyed my trip
Click to expand...

Definitely included in my list. Cost is fine with me. Full service is what i desire. TYVM!
 
It really depends on what you want out of the trip...

Do you want the best odds at catching a 30"+ rainbow on big water, even though there would be many other folks on that water?

Do you want to sight-fish big trout on small water?

Do you want to dry-fly fish? Swing? Fish beads? Mice?

How important is solitude to your experience?

Quantity or Quality? Would you prefer 4 or 5 fish a day if one of those fish was 28"+, or would you rather catch a pile of 18"-22" fish?

Do you want to spend a week in a quonset hut or plywood shack, or would you prefer a cabin with housekeeping? How important are amenities?

Do you have another angler you are going with, or are you a single? Most rates and guide programs are based on double occupancy...

A fella could just toss out lodge names all willy-nilly, but it helps to have a sense of a fellas expectations and desired outcomes. Happy to help narrow it down for you.
 
G_Smolt said:
It really depends on what you want out of the trip...

Do you want the best odds at catching a 30"+ rainbow on big water, even though there would be many other folks on that water?

Do you want to sight-fish big trout on small water?

Do you want to dry-fly fish? Swing? Fish beads? Mice?

How important is solitude to your experience?

Quantity or Quality? Would you prefer 4 or 5 fish a day if one of those fish was 28"+, or would you rather catch a pile of 18"-22" fish?

Do you want to spend a week in a quonset hut or plywood shack, or would you prefer a cabin with housekeeping? How important are amenities?

Do you have another angler you are going with, or are you a single? Most rates and guide programs are based on double occupancy...

A fella could just toss out lodge names all willy-nilly, but it helps to have a sense of a fellas expectations and desired outcomes. Happy to help narrow it down for you.
Click to expand...
following - hey GS - i would like some type of fly-in or boat in, cabin type trip where i/we could get out and about.
 
goinoregon said:
following - hey GS - i would like some type of fly-in or boat in, cabin type trip where i/we could get out and about.
Click to expand...
What do you want to fish for?
By "get out and about", do you mean guided or unguided?
There are places across the state which offer lodging (with and without meal plans) and DIY fishing opportunities. There are also a bunch of public cabins and multi-day float outfitters that offer true DIY experiences. A lot depends on fishing/amenities preferences and what you want to spend.
 
@RCF Oh man! The possibilities! I've sat down and then walked away from the keyboard a number of times….cuz there’s sooo much to experience.

First off, I have nothing to add regarding guided or destination fishing. I was, however, what I refer to as an extended tourist....meaning my wife and I lived in Fairbanks for a couple/three years in the late 80's....and we traveled around a bunch….so I say, if your situation allows, spend a month or so up there.

Like you said, it's the experience of a lifetime....maybe fish for a week, then travel/sightsee, fish some more…repeat😎

…maybe take a late train from Anchorage to Fairbanks and watch the alpenglow on Denali

…and from Fairbanks go up to Eagle Summit for the solstice and watch the sun not set

…or if the body allows maybe go dip net some reds in the Copper River

…or take a poor man’s cruise (the AK ferry) from Juneau to Skagway and go to the top of Chilkoot Pass when the clouds are low and you can barely see past the hood of your car

…and then hop over to Haines and go the back way up to the junction to watch grizzlies roam on the mountain side

damn…I’m excited for you but I’ll stop cuz like gSmolt wrote…I could throw out stuff to do forever.

Just go for it…we only live once 🙂
 
RCF said:
Where would you go?

I am an older guy, 74, with health challenges. Believe it or not, it is the only state i have never been to. I prefer flyfishing for trout. Day trips via plane would be fine. Guides would be great.

Time of year is open. Fewer mosquitoes would be nice. The experience is more important than cost, within reason...

Suggestions?
Click to expand...

Every fly fisher needs to experience Alaska at least once! Simply amazing! I was fortunate to fish there with my dad and later my son came too. Early years we fished out of Yakutat. We’d go in late August for silvers and I also did a halibut trip. We did that four five years until it started to get crowded. Then we switched to King Salmon on the Naknek river also in late August. There were five species of salmon, huge rainbows, char, lake trout and grizzly bears 🐻!! All on the fly, my best bows were over 30” and 10 lbs+! It made me to the guides wall of fame twice! My best coho was around 14 lbs and my fire engine red buck king was 55 lbs+ which the guide said in the ocean would’ve been 70!! All on a 8wt I built! The lodge in King Salmon is Bear Trail Lodge, owned by Nanci and Heath both from Washington! But…..we fished there twelve years probably 17 years ago and their week prices have tripled! And it was around $5,500 for a week, food, jet boat, guides, two fly outs excluding air fare. Waaay out priced for me now, just glad I went when I did. EVERYTHING is sooo ridiculously expensive nowadays. Check out a bunch of options, but really hard to beat the Bear Trail Lodge experience! Good luck and hope you go to Alaska! We’ll all be waiting for your report @RFC!
 
G_Smolt said:
It really depends on what you want out of the trip...

Do you want the best odds at catching a 30"+ rainbow on big water, even though there would be many other folks on that water?

Do you want to sight-fish big trout on small water?

Do you want to dry-fly fish? Swing? Fish beads? Mice?

How important is solitude to your experience?

Quantity or Quality? Would you prefer 4 or 5 fish a day if one of those fish was 28"+, or would you rather catch a pile of 18"-22" fish?

Do you want to spend a week in a quonset hut or plywood shack, or would you prefer a cabin with housekeeping? How important are amenities?

Do you have another angler you are going with, or are you a single? Most rates and guide programs are based on double occupancy...

A fella could just toss out lodge names all willy-nilly, but it helps to have a sense of a fellas expectations and desired outcomes. Happy to help narrow it down for you.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your offer. It is greatly appreciated!

30"+ trout are not my target.
Smaller water preferred, dry-fly and nymphing.
Cabin with some amenities.
Fewer fish is just fine with a surprise larger one would be nice.
Not looking to wear out my arm, shoulder or back... A more relaxed approach...
Crowds are not my thing at all. Some people around would be nice.
I have a friend that may be able to go... Not sure...

Hope this helps...

I will go halibut fishing on my way back home. My wife's favorite fish...
 
Last edited:
RCF said:
30"+ trout are not my target.
Smaller water preferred, dry-fly and nymphing.
Cabin with some amenities.
Fewer fish is just fine with a surprise larger one would be nice.
Not looking to wear out my arm, shoulder or back... A more relaxed approach...
Crowds are not my thing at all. Some people around would be nice.
I have a friend that may be able to go... Not sure...

Hope this helps...

I will go halibut fishing on my way back home. My wife's favorite fish...
Click to expand...
I have a fishing acquaintance who lives on the Kenai Peninsula and trout fishes quite a bit close to home, but for many years he would fly out to Iliamna and stay for a week at the Copper River Lodge. In his estimation, it is the best dry fly fishing in Alaska. If I remember correctly, he said its the only lodge on the river and they take fewer than 10 clients a week. That might be worth looking in to for you.
 
G_Smolt said:
I have a fishing acquaintance who lives on the Kenai Peninsula and trout fishes quite a bit close to home, but for many years he would fly out to Iliamna and stay for a week at the Copper River Lodge. In his estimation, it is the best dry fly fishing in Alaska. If I remember correctly, he said its the only lodge on the river and they take fewer than 10 clients a week. That might be worth looking in to for you.
Click to expand...

I would add that if you want to dry fly fish, don't go during the height of the sockeye spawn…go in June…I've had great dry fly fishing on the middle & lower American in the Katmai…
 
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G_Smolt said:
I have a fishing acquaintance who lives on the Kenai Peninsula and trout fishes quite a bit close to home, but for many years he would fly out to Iliamna and stay for a week at the Copper River Lodge. In his estimation, it is the best dry fly fishing in Alaska. If I remember correctly, he said its the only lodge on the river and they take fewer than 10 clients a week. That might be worth looking in to for you.
Click to expand...

Just checked out their website. Great recommendation! Nailed it!!!

What I was envisioning: smaller water, walk out the door to go fishing, smaller lodge with a few people around.

Time to research more and convince my buddy to go with me. (I will even pay for his trip...)

Thank you @G_Smolt for your help!
 
RCF said:
Just checked out their website. Great recommendation! Nailed it!!!

What I was envisioning: smaller water, walk out the door to go fishing, smaller lodge with a few people around.

Time to research more and convince my buddy to go with me. (I will even pay for his trip...)

Thank you @G_Smolt for your help!
Click to expand...

OK, I'll ask it first, Can I be your buddy??
 
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