One of the greatest parts of fishing remote Alaska is the freedom to explore. Many of the most productive stretches of river aren’t just a few steps from a lodge porch—they’re found around the bend, across a gravel bar, or after a scenic hike through tundra and willow.

When you’re still in good shape and eager to move, the entire landscape opens up.

You can hike into rivers that see very little pressure. You can walk miles of water, sight-fishing to trout that rarely see a fly. You can chase rising fish during a long summer evening while the light never quite fades.
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That kind of experience is hard to put a price on.

Right now, the fishing across the Bristol Bay region is nothing short of phenomenal.

Massive runs of Sockeye Salmon continue to return to these rivers each summer, and that abundance fuels the entire ecosystem. When millions of salmon push upstream to spawn, they bring nutrients with them from the ocean—nutrients that feed everything in the river.

For anglers, that means one thing: incredible Rainbow Trout fishing.

The trout in our region grow big, healthy, and aggressive because they feed on salmon eggs, flesh, and the insects that thrive in these clean, fertile rivers. With pristine waters flowing through protected landscapes like Katmai National Park and Preserve, the fishery remains one of the healthiest on the planet.
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Simply put—there has never been a better time to experience it.

Early summer trips in June are some of the most exciting fishing we see all year.

This is the season for dry flies and surface eats. Insects begin to hatch, trout start looking up, and anglers get the chance to watch big fish rise in clear water.

It’s also prime time for one of the most thrilling ways to catch large trout in Alaska: daytime mousing.
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There are few things in fly fishing more exciting than watching a giant trout explode on a skating mouse pattern. It’s visual, aggressive, and unforgettable—and the long daylight hours of an Alaska summer make it possible almost any time of day.

When fall arrives, the fishery shifts into another gear.

Salmon are spawning throughout the river systems, and trout stack up behind them feeding on eggs and drifting flesh. It becomes a buffet line for large rainbows, and anglers can experience some of the most productive fishing of the year.

Our fall trips offer a great variety of approaches:

• Float fishing down scenic wilderness rivers
• Wade fishing gravel bars and side channels
• Jet boat access to prime trout water
• Targeting large trout behind spawning salmon

It’s dynamic, visual fishing with the chance at truly special fish.

The message behind “Don’t let the old man in” isn’t about rushing through life—it’s about embracing adventure while you can fully enjoy it.

Many anglers dream about Alaska for decades before finally making the trip. And while the fishing will always be here, the experience of hiking remote tundra rivers or exploring untouched water is something that’s best enjoyed while you’re still eager and able to roam.

That said, Alaska should be accessible to everyone.

For guests who prefer a more relaxed pace—or simply don’t want to hike miles of tundra—we also offer float fishing trips that allow anglers to experience these incredible rivers comfortably.

We’ve put a lot of thought into making the experience as easy and enjoyable as possible:

• The lightest possible fishing gear
• Ultralight hiking sticks for stability and comfort
• Drift boats and floats that allow anglers to fish while covering miles of water

It’s the same incredible fishery, simply approached in a way that works for each guest.

There will always be reasons to wait.

Work schedules. Busy seasons of life. “Maybe next year.”

But if Alaska is on your list, there may never be a better moment than right now. The Bristol Bay region is producing extraordinary fishing, the salmon runs remain incredibly strong, and the rivers are as wild and pristine as they’ve ever been.

So take a little advice from Clint Eastwood.

Don’t let the old man in.
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Grab a fly rod, lace up your boots, and come explore some of the greatest trout water on earth. Alaska is waiting.

For much of the season, trout behavior revolves around spawning salmon. They sit behind redds, keying on eggs and flesh. June is different—and that’s what makes it so special.
Before the salmon influence dominates, trout are:

• Actively feeding on the surface
• Chasing large, mobile meals
• Positioned in classic lies that reward good presentations

Instead of fishing behind fish, you’re fishing to fish that are hunting.

This is hands-down our guides’ favorite time of the year, and for good reason. Last season during both June Trout Weeks:

• Dry flies were fished every day
• Surface eats were the norm, not the exception
• Guests experienced some of the most visual trout fishing Alaska has to offer

From delicate dry fly presentations to heart-stopping mouse eats and violent streamer takes, June delivers variety and excitement that’s hard to match anywhere in the world.

​The numbers speak for themselves:

• More trout over 20 inches than under during June Trout Weeks
• The largest trout on a dry fly last June measured a true 30 inches—a legitimate monster
• Countless eats that are burned into memory forever

There is simply nothing better in fishing than watching a giant trout commit to a topwater offering. That moment never gets old—whether it’s your first or your hundredth.

• ✔️ All fly-outs included for the week
• ✔️ Prime surface-oriented trout behavior
• ✔️ Wild, remote Alaska fisheries
• ✔️ The most visual and engaging trout fishing of the season

If you’ve ever dreamed of targeting trophy trout that are actively feeding on the surface—and doing it in one of the most untouched fisheries on the planet--June Trout Weeks at Angler’s Alibi are as good as it gets!!
Come see why our guides count the days until June, and why guests leave saying it’s the most fun trout fishing they’ve ever experienced.

Our June weeks still have space as well as some extremely limited silver salmon space in August.  All but 1 of our fly-out weeks in 2025 produced trout of 30” or more on the tape!!

Here is what we have left for the coming summer:
- June 17 – 24, 6 spots remaining, dry fly week and all fly-outs are included for the week with only 8 guests total this week.
- June 17 – 24, 6 spots remaining, dry fly week and all fly-outs are included for the week with only 8 guests total this week.
- June 24 – July 1, 7 spots remaining, our second dry fly week with all fly-outs included, only 8 guests total this week.
- July 1 – 8, 8 spots remaining, peak sockeye and king salmon week historically
- July 8 – 15, 3 spots remaining, peak sockeye, king, and start of the chum salmon run
- August 26 – September 2, only 2 spots remain this week
- September 2 – 9 has 6 remaining spots, our last silver salmon week and amazing fly-out options
- September 9 – 16 has 3 spots remaining (fly out week, all fly outs included 8 guests max)
- September 16 – 23 has 8 total spots available (fly out week, all fly outs included 8 guests max)
 
If any of these remaining spots might be of interest, please get in touch with me by phone or email.  Text or call me at 561.222.9416 OR send me an email to john@anglersalibi.com

​As we closed out yet another spectacular season at Angler's Alibi – I can’t help but smile as I reflect on all the incredible experiences and laughs that defined this year! As most of you know, our lodge is fortunate to be located right in the heart of Alaska’s stunning Bristol Bay wilderness and this affords our guests the combination of a homey and charming lodge, crazy good fishing, and breathtaking views of the Alagnak river and beyond. This season was especially exciting on two fronts - the introduction of our six brand new log cabins (with full bathrooms) and the “all inclusive” fly-out fishing weeks that exceeded even our lofty expectations (translation: the fishing and wildlife viewing were spectacular!). 

​We started the construction of these six new log cabins in May and had them all completed by the first week of July. This was truly remarkable if you only knew the challenges of building structures in the bush - and I called in a lot of favors to get it done! Each cabin was thoughtfully designed to blend Alaskan charm with modern comforts – providing our guests with a rustic yet cozy atmosphere. Equipped with comfortable furnishings, private bathrooms, and stunning views from the huge, covered porches, these cabins offered up a great retreat after exhilarating days on the water. 

​Another exciting addition to our offerings this year was our all inclusive “fly-out” fishing weeks. Guests had the opportunity to venture beyond the lodge and into remote fishing spots every day of their stay to rivers only accessible by plane. These fully guided excursions were nothing new to our program - but have always been an “extra” option. Fly-out weeks allowed anglers to experience the awe-inspiring Alaskan landscape while targeting huge native rainbow trout in pristine waters. As the photo’s will prove – all our guests reported exceptional successes landing trophy fish, seeing wildlife up close and creating unforgettable memories in these remote locations. The “dry fly weeks” in June did not disappoint either! Every day we used dry flies for huge Alaskan trout! The crescendo was a new lodge dry fly record - a true on the tape 30” hog caught on a #14 caddis! The combination of expert guides with over 90 years of combined fly-out experience in Bristol Bay, breathtaking scenery, and incredible fish made these weeks perhaps the highlight of the season!

​As we eased into July, we welcomed eager anglers to join us for a “only in Alaska” salmon fishing experience. As most of you know, July is prime time for targeting sockeye, king, and chum salmon. July’s warm weather and abundant fish make it one of the most popular times to visit Alaska and the Alagnak river is one of the best choices if a lodge only accessible by float plane is your kind of trip. We are remote fortunately and there are 0 roads! Our knowledgeable guides only take you to the best spots, ensuring you have the chance to catch these magnificent fish. Whether you are a seasoned angler or a novice, our talented and tenured guides will always put you on fish. July 2025 did not disappoint with plenty of excitement and plenty of opportunity to not only catch and release king salmon, but to harvest (and keep!) plenty of chrome bright sockeye salmon as well. Moose, brown bear and bald eagle viewing were plentiful and all at no extra cost ;) July is our “save a king, eat a sockeye month”, and the past years have seen the daily limits of sockeye go from 5 to 10, what a roll we are on! 

​Looking back on the Angler's Alibi dining highlights, we really want to spotlight the new culinary delights that made our dining experiences exceptional this year. Our commitment to showcasing local flavors and using the freshest ingredients available - has truly “elevated” each meal!

This season, we introduced halibut cheeks to our menu, and they have quickly become a guest favorite (and John’s favorite)! These tender morsels offer a unique and delectable experience that highlights the delicate flavor of one of Alaska's premier fish. Prepared with care by our talented chef Alexa, the halibut cheeks are featured in a variety of dishes, including:

• Pan-Seared Halibut Cheeks: Finished with a zesty lemon butter sauce and accompanied by seasonal vegetables.
• Halibut Cheeks Tacos: Served in soft corn tortillas with a fresh slaw and spicy aioli for a delightful twist on classic flavors.

Guests raved about the halibut cheeks noting that they are a must-try item during your stay! 

​In addition to the exciting addition of halibut cheeks, our lodge also offered fresh halibut fillets. Alexa took tremendous pride in preparing halibut in multiple mouthwatering ways allowing guests to enjoy this prized fish while experiencing it in various culinary styles. Samples include:

• Grilled Halibut Fillet: Marinated with a blend of local herbs and spices, then grilled to perfection, served with our signature roasted potatoes.
• Halibut En Papillote: Baked in parchment paper with fresh vegetables and aromatic herbs, creating a flavorful and fragrant dish that captivated everyone.
• Traditional Beer-Battered Halibut: A lodge favorite, served with crispy fries and homemade tartar sauce for those craving a classic Alaskan seafood experience.

Fresh salmon and halibut in the same week? Yes – every week! We had absolutely 0 complaints from the guests AND the staff!

Our guests filled our lodge with joy and laughter all summer. The new cabins and fly-out fishing weeks have been met with crazy high enthusiasm, and we have enjoyed hearing fantastic stories of successful days on the river and new friendships forged:

• “Staying in the new log cabins felt like a dream! The fishing was incredible, especially our fly-out trip to the ‘secret’ monster rainbow river.” Fred, GA.
• “Fishing for 3 species of salmon in July was the highlight of my 2025. I cannot wait to come back next year!” – Richard, Australia.
• “We have been to other fly-out lodges costing way more and had an even better time with Angler’s Alibi, what a value!” – Jim, CA.
• “The guide staff at Angler’s has to be one of the best in the lodge business” – Carl, NJ

​While we faced the typical Alaskan weather challenges, we always adapted swiftly to ensure every guest had an outstanding day. Our team stands ready to adjust plans and provide alternative activities to maximize your fishing experience. We plan each day the night before making sure each guest is doing what THEY want to do and with what guides they want to do it with. Weather, wind direction, species, lunch choice, and a whole lot more goes into the plan for each day.

​As we prepare for next season, our commitment to improving and enhancing guest experiences is still our number one priority. We are eager to build on the successes of this year and introducing exciting new packages and potentially expanding our fly-out offerings into more existing weeks in August of 2026.

The 2025 season at Angler's Alibi was a remarkable journey filled with unforgettable fishing adventures, stunning natural beauty, and the warmth of our “internal community”. We sincerely thank all our guests for their support, laughs and enthusiasm and look forward to welcoming all our returning guests’ back next season. You do not want to miss the thrill of June rainbows on dry flies and mice, July and August salmon fishing at its peak and the lunker trout season that is September (“lunker” is actually not even a real word, but every fisherman knows it!).
Book your spot today and make your fishing dreams come true at Angler's Alibi! We still have limited space - especially in our new weeks with included fly-outs all week long. These fly-out weeks are by far the best value in the industry.
Have a wonderful holiday season and feel free to call any time to talk fishing and new things for the 2026 season!
Best,
John Perry (561) 222-9416 

Our king salmon season opened with solid numbers and steady action right out of the gate. While the Alagnak isn't known for massive king returns like some other rivers, what we lack in volume, we often make up for in quality—and this year is no exception.

Guests have already landed several kings in the 20–30 pound class, and we’ve had multiple days with multiple hookups. Tides and timing are everything here, and our guides have been dialed in, putting clients on moving fish in the lower river. The typical deep runs and inside seams have been most productive, especially on the swing with chartreuse and blue being the fly of choice and with our gear anglers, pitching and drifting Beau Mac cheater balls in pink, orange, and peach colors.  
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This early push feels a little stronger than the past couple years—a promising sign, especially given the conservation concerns for kings elsewhere in the state. We're practicing 100% catch-and-release for kings, as always, and loving every minute of watching these powerful fish return to the system.

The sockeye salmon season started off a little early with huge pushes on the tide, and giant schools of salmon boiling up behind the dock and at times as wide as the river!  We started seeing the first consistent pulses the last few days of June, and by the last day of June, we were hitting limits on the fly easily and even releasing them for fun! The fish are thick, healthy, and traveling fast on the incoming tides!

The traditional runs below the Braids and down through the lower river have been loaded at times, and guests have been perfecting their flossing technique with impressive results. For many first-timers, there's something unforgettable about battling a dozen sockeye before lunch with a stunning Alaskan backdrop and no crowds in sight.
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As always, the strength of the sockeye run will dictate much of the river’s rhythm for the next month—bringing with them not just nonstop action but also feeding the entire ecosystem in anticipation of trout, char, and coho season.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the young season has been the early arrival of chum salmon. Normally we expect to start seeing them in solid numbers later in July, but several bright fish have already been caught—and they’re hot!
These early chums are chrome, full of attitude, and willing to crush swung flies, a great sport for both two handed anglers as well as single handed guests. A few guests have been lucky enough to hook into them while targeting kings or fishing sockeye water. They’ve added a fun, unexpected twist to our early-season lineup, and we’re not complaining!
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Chum salmon on the Alagnak are no slouches. They’re powerful, aggressive, and can easily test a 8- or 9-weight rod. If this early push is any sign, we may be in for a strong return of every species this season.

With the first two weeks in the books, Angler’s Alibi is fired up for what’s coming. More sockeyes are pouring in by the tide, kings are still in play, and we’re watching the chum situation closely as they are also in play on a daily basis for some line ripping fun. The upper river is starting to see some movement, and trout fishing should start to pick up again after nearly 2 million sockeyes have already made it up our system!
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This is what early season is all about on the Alagnak—untouched water, fresh fish, and a front-row seat to one of nature’s most spectacular migrations. We’re grateful to be back and doing what we love, sharing it with anglers from all over the world.

Our first group of guests couldn’t believe their luck — dry fly fishing with incredible action every single day. Hatches of caddis, mayflies, and stoneflies had the trout feeding hard, and our anglers took full advantage. From skated dries in glassy eddies to foam lines stacked with risers, it was nonstop topwater eats.
One night, a pair of anglers overnighted on a remote fly-out stream that turned into something out of a fishing fairytale:

• 25+ trout landed in two days
• Every single fish caught on a dry fly
• Smallest fish measured 20"
• And the grand prize? A 30-inch trophy rainbow trout on a size 14 dry fly — not just the biggest dry fly fish in our lodge’s history, but a true fish of a lifetime.

The next group picked up right where the first left off, fueled by a week of blue skies, glassy water, and bug-choked banks. With a Beaver floatplane at their disposal, anglers accessed multiple rivers daily — some so remote they didn’t see another angler the entire day.
Picture this: you're on a riverbank watching multiple heads rising in a pool, sipping caddis and mayflies with abandon. You cast, your fly disappears in a swirl, and seconds later you’re into your backing from a trout that pulls like a steelhead. This isn’t a fantasy — this is Alaska in early season!
 
"These trout fight harder than anything I’ve caught in the Lower 48 — hands down," said one of our seasoned guests.
 
These weeks are not for anglers looking to throw egg patterns under an indicator, but for those willing to see what it’s like before the salmon arrive.  This is THE window to catch these Alaskan beauties on dry flies, and the window is short!
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In 2026 we will be doing the same program with a maximum of 8 guests per week and a plane at their disposal allowing for flexibility to fish more than one river per day.  Please get in touch with us soon while there is still space for the June trout weeks in 2026.  I hope you enjoy some of these photos.
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Cheers,
JP

Many Alaska fishing lodges have days with no fishing because they simply cannot fly out to fish or there is too much wind or fog to fish their “home river”.  It happens. However, our location from June through September provides boat access fishing to over 60 miles of our remote river - so when flying out is not an option we can always find a secluded area to fish our home river.  Our “home river” is the Alagnak and it not only gets runs of all 5 species of salmon - but life changing trophy trout and grayling within a short boat ride in any kind of weather.  Even better, we can always zip back to the lodge for a hot lunch in front of a roaring fireplace.  The Alagnak can take a lot of rain and remain fish able.  In my 30+ years of guiding on it I have never had one day where our river was too dirty to fish or too high to wade.  This is a huge benefit considering the large financial and time investment one makes when flying all the way to a remote location in Alaska.

We only take a small number of anglers every week in July and August (12 guests), and this allows for a more personal schedule with our guide staff, and we alternate guides daily to keep the chemistry fresh with both the guests and guides.  It’s truly a win/win and one of the many things that keeps us with a 85% return rate of guests.  Additionally, there are lots of upgrades in 2025! We are adding 6 genuine log cabins with full bathrooms.  These cabins will all have views of the river, large, covered porches, heat, and endless hot water in the showers.  Our custom handmade sauna is a short walk from all the cabins as it sits centered below them with a large window view of the river and is a popular pre-dinner gathering spot – especially when the temperatures start to dip.   Trust me, there is nothing like a wood fired sauna to warm up after a cold day of fishing!

Also new in 2025, we are hosting weeks with an 8 guests maximum AND unlimited fly-outs for the week with our own Beaver float plane at the dock! This is huge!  Two weeks in June and most of September we will be a full-on fly-out lodge for a cost that is the best value in the industry.  We do not pride ourselves on a wine room or what kind of high stem wine glasses we provide for our guests but instead want to appeal to the more hardcore anglers that would like to do this kind of trip but don’t want to break the bank doing it. Our meal program is on par with any of the lodge’s that are in the $15,000 plus for the week range!  Ironically, we fish the same waters they do!  We have been doing these flyouts for over 30 years and have established not only the exact location of where, but more importantly the when to go for peak fishing.   With a guide staff that has a combined tenure of over 90 years in the Bristol Bay region, we can confidently say we have the most talented and tenured guides employed.  And, if our guests simply cannot fly due to a low cloud ceiling or high winds - we also have jet boats at the dock ready to target our own river for true trophy trout.  This is something we have started doing the past several Septembers when the silver salmon run begins to wane, and the rainbow trout are as big as they will get for the season!
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We hope the new changes will create additional clients that feel more like “family” after several seasons of annual trips to Angler’s Alibi.  Hope to see your next summer!

The solution? Angler’s Alibi is proud to announce that for the first time ever we are offering brand new 3,4, and 5-day options for July anglers and wildlife viewers. Why? Well, the Alaska travel industry trend is moving towards offering clients these shorter stays - especially in July when anglers might be pursuing sockeye and king salmon simply to “round out” their vacation at our unique and remote area of Alaska. Maybe they have a work trip in Anchorage and want to extend their trip?  Maybe they came to Alaska to fish in the ocean for species like halibut, rockfish, and cod in a place like Seward and now want to experience the ultimate river experience?   Maybe they just want to get in and out of camp loaded up with sockeye salmon filets to bring home!  Sockeye numbers have been at an all-time high the past several years on the Alagnak river and our guests routinely leave with full coolers of sockeye after only a few days fishing.  Some want to come just for the thrill of catching and releasing a king salmon. Do it!
We also have an extraordinarily strong grayling fishery in addition to some incredible trout options this time of year in both our home river as well as the many fly-out options for trophy trout (did I mention mice?). Strong returns of salmon - which spawn and die - are providing an amazing food source that has led to us to some of the best trout fishing in my 30+ years of guiding up here! There is simply no better time than now to partake on some of this incredible fishing while other lodges in Alaska are experiencing mandatory closures of sport fishing - we are still thriving!

2025 is going to be epic with all the upgrades and improvements we have made! Real log cabins featuring full, in-suite bathrooms is the game changer! When you add to that covered porches with a spectacular view of the Alagnak River – well it really is going to be a season to remember! Creature comforts abound as you complete your day with a sauna and then find your way to the main lodge to relax in front of the wood burning fireplace with your favorite adult beverage. It is both exciting and nostalgic to think that Anglers Alibi is no longer in the “tent camp” category and now officially in the “full lodge” category.
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What we are also proud of is the fact that we have made all these changes and yet are keeping our rates competitive with all other lodges in the Bristol Bay area - especially considering our “small lodge feel” with a maximum of 12 guests per week!

Call me now to learn more. We feel strongly that these new shorter July trips will fill up fast.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday wherever you may be with friends and family!

​This July was very similar to July 2023 in terms of salmon fishing. We landed some super nice kings and an endless supply of sockeye salmon to fill our guests’ coolers. This strong salmon run also helped feed the trout population in our fabled Alagnak River system. The king salmon run was not any better than 2023 but it was also not any worse, so fingers crossed we are at the bottom of the curve in our king salmon cycle. We will continue to practice catch and release for all king salmon in 2025 in hopes we might be making a difference in our returns. Few people realize this, but the Alagnak River sockeye run feeds into some of the best fly-out streams in the state. These rivers include Moraine Creek, Kulik River, Little Ku, Battle River, and others; and the trout fishing there is as good as I have seen in my 30 plus years of guiding!
Our chum run started in mid to late July and was starting to really take shape but for some reason stalled a bit and towards the end of the month and then got going like gangbusters again with some of the best chum salmon fishing in many years! From the end of July on, our chums were back in force breaking rods like the good old days. That coupled with copious amounts of pink salmon covering all the tidewater bars in the lower river, I can honestly say the Alagnak river has not fished this well since 2019!
Our silver salmon run was nothing shy of extraordinary! With easy limits from early August on (aided by plenty of cool, wet conditions) we simply just all enjoyed a really, great silver salmon run. Returning guests that have been coming up for 12+ years were quoted: “this is the best silver fishing we have ever had on the Alagnak”. Pinks, chums, and silvers were all at peak numbers this past summer and we are so fortunate to have this as our “home river” – especially when we are not able to fly out due to bad weather and must stay “home”.
September trout fishing was nothing short of incredible with the biggest trout of the season landed during these weeks including a new lodge record rainbow trout (see picture) landed the last day of our 2024 season! These late weeks with smaller groups of anglers has really made it possible for us to keep all guests into amazing trout fishing all week. We cannot wait to get after the fly-out program in 2025 and hopefully all season long in 2026! 

While the inflation rate has slowed in the lower 48, unfortunately we continue to see increasing fuel and grocery costs throughout Alaska. Sadly, fuel and groceries are literally only part of what we transport into the lodge.  We are not on a “road system” like most lodges in the area and although we love our remoteness – it certainly comes with more overhead. We have really tried to hold the line on rates the last few years - but it is now simply no longer sustainable to operate at these rates.

Our new 2025 rates will be:

• June 17th – June 30:   $10,500 per guest, 8 guests max, unlimited fly-outs and unlimited braids trips.
• July 1 – September 9:  $8,500 per guest, 12 guests max, and fly-outs extra (per seat price with air taxi as usual).
• Sept. 9 – October 7:  $10,500 per guest, unlimited fly-outs and braids trips included

I have spent a lot of time doing “competitive price benchmarking” on all other lodges on not only the Alagnak river, but in the entire Bristol Bay region - and our rates are not only aligned - but offer the best value of any Alaska fly-out operation. Period. I have contacted a fair amount of our 2025 guests and as of now there has not been a single person that has cancelled due our needed price adjustment.  Our commitment to all of you is that our staff and I promise to deliver an amazing experience at Anglers Alibi in 2025!

We still have some limited space available during our standard July and August weeks, and obviously a lot of availability in our newly added weeks featuring unlimited fly-outs for those wishing to hit some of the best trout fishing action. If your jam is dry fly, mousing, and streamer fishing, June is THE window to be here. Nothing like watching a 27” trout come up for a dry fly or CRUSH a mouse. For those anglers focused on landing the trophy trout of a lifetime and don’t mind the cooler temps, then late September and the first week of October are almost wide open at the time of this newsletter. That will change, I’m sure!

​Weeks two and three provided great sockeye and good king salmon action consistently.
 
By the fourth week of the season – the kings and sockeye run began to slow - but there were still enough fish caught daily with limits of sockeye salmon still being caught in the upper “braids” region of the river for those wishing to take salmon home.  The chum salmon run was just getting started for those willing to swing flies on the sandbars.  Bright sunshine often put a damper on this bite but hard to argue with Mother Nature and a gorgeous day on the river!  As the 5th week rolled in, the action quickly heated up on these sandbars for fresh, line-screaming, chrome bright chum salmon and they often looked more like silver salmon than chum salmon. Booooom!   A few late run kings were caught at the end of July as well and the overall rating for our 2023 king run was a B+! Considering where we were 5 years ago – this is GREAT news!
 
Silvers salmon were certainly the highlight of the 2023 season with a banner run of them starting in early August and running all the way through the first week of September.  The numbers reminded me of our record 2019 silver salmon run and guests were grinning from ear to ear daily coming off the boat’s.  Catching silvers is still a thrill for me even after all these years at Angler’s Alibi with the chase and wake from a “hot” silver salmon while stripping your fly from the bank is something every angler must experience at least once in their lifetime.  Silver salmon limits of 3 fish per angler were kept daily - but we maintained our lodge policy to release all hen silvers and only harvest males.  This is something we do to hopefully sustain our runs as we have seen other Bristol Bay rivers see declines over the years.  This policy obviously makes sense and I feel like now we have tangible proof.
 
Our late trout weeks in September were nothing short of AMAZING.  We were catching huge rainbow trout on fly-outs as well as in the Alagnak.  Unfortunately, some of these “tanker class” trout were just too hot to handle and either broke 15-pound line or simply threw the hook while anglers stood in rivers with mouths agape – This “XL class” of rainbows we have in Alaska is something that must be experienced to be appreciated.  These fish pull like saltwater bonefish and can jump like a Dorado once hooked…needless to say, we just can’t get enough of them!

​I am pleased to report that the new amenities for the 2023 season did not go unnoticed by our guests!  These interior tent upgrades featured new seating areas and shelved wardrobe hangers (with robes in each tent for the sauna or shower commute).  New reclining dining room chairs and a new sofa were all big hits.  The new Starlink antennas are up and running and are lightning fast - you can now use cell phones via WIFI calling just as if you were sitting in your living room at home! Big thank you to Elon Musk!  By the way, this is a huge upgrade to our legacy system that would jam up with 2 or more people trying to use it.  

​I can keep going on about the upgrades but that would be hard to do without introducing our new lodge engineer Steve Bartz.  Steve was a terrific addition and a HUGE asset to have in camp all summer long as he was either building, fixing, or improving something daily with a great attitude and teamwork mentality.  Steve has some great ideas and plans going forward as well! Additionally, the entire guide staff was nothing short of amazing; continually putting our customers on fish all season long - even during some of the slow days they kept a positive attitude up and kept the guests happy.  We will have one new full-time guide on our staff next summer. He is certainly not a stranger as Carson Brzeczek has put in 3 years at camp and has a lot of guide days on the river already and we feel fortunate to have him return full time for the 2024 season.  What created this new position you might ask?  Well unfortunately we had to say goodbye to Jackson Gilmore as he is literally “flying off” to chase his next dream as a pilot.  Who knows, he may be back flying for Angler’s Alibi in the future!

Now for some of the really big news. Next season we will be making Angler’s Alibi a 24-hour powerhouse without the use of a loud generator running all day and night.  We will be using a battery bank with inverters that will run the camp all afternoon and night with a re-charge happening once the guests have left in the morning.  Having this full 24-hour power will make Alibi feel even more comfortable with access to the water system during the night.  We will also have two beer taps at the bar in 2024 – but the jury is out on what draft beers to offer.  I am open to suggestions!  I think for tradition’s sake - we need to have an Alaska Amber on tap, then maybe and IPA?  Please let me know your thoughts.  There will be more infrastructure upgrades as well in 2024 keeping our carpentry crew very busy in June.  Most notable will be replacing and expanding our front deck that now acts more like a cigar lounge most weeks after dinner.  The new front deck will also have a fireplace to ward off the chill on those after dinner sessions as well (especially in our later weeks).
 
My goal has always been to be considered one of the premier sport fishing lodges in Bristol Bay. With all the additions mentioned above and changes we have made over the last 2 or 3 years and what we have planned moving forward – I think we are getting close to achieving that goal.

Reservation update:  Next season may seem like a long way off now - BUT we have had a lot of bookings from both returning customers as well as some new ones.  That said, space is tightening up rather quickly for 2024 so if you want to get your desired week – which could be late season rainbow weeks in September or an amazing week full of kings and sockeye salmon in early July, please email me at jmperry05@gmail.com to discuss these dates.
 
Lastly, we cannot thank our guests enough for the amazing summer we had in 2023, and we are certainly looking forward to making more memories in 2024! Enjoy your holiday season and more updates to follow!
 
John Perry

​The 2023 sockeye salmon forecast for Bristol Bay is sitting at a cool 50 million+! That means it should be another amazing run and will offer our guests a great way to harvest salmon to take home for several weeks starting in late June.  These fresh sockeyes are a big part of your appetizers and entrées too!  Our motto for many years has been “save a king, eat a sockeye”!  We still have a few remaining spots in our prime sockeye week (July 28 – July 5th) that also offers some amazing rainbow trout options when trout are still looking up for mouse patterns and dry flies.  Late June/early July is just a MAGICAL time to be in Bristol Bay!

Our chum salmon run featured an even bigger comeback from the 2021 season, and it truly felt like the “good old days” were back!  From our 3rd week through our 8th week, we could always rely on some great chum salmon fishing in the lower river.  Virtually every sand bar was loaded with chums by mid-July, then doubled in quantity when the pink salmon starting arriving the last week of the month.  This is/was a great time to learn how to swing flies on a spey rod…as almost every cast resulted in fish that ate the fly!

And now for the crescendo (drum roll please): Silver salmon fishing was great too!  We had some true 50 fish days per boat!  Many of our most tenured guests were rewarded with lots of doubles on silvers throughout August and even into early September as the lower river was simply thriving!  We expect another strong run of silvers in 2023 as their cycle seems to be nearing a peak for 2023.   The other good thing is that if anyone has made it this far through the blog might and wants to get in on some of this silver action - there are a few (4) precious spots remaining this season for prime silvers.
 
With the hiring of our new Chef John Luzader (aka Jerry Garcia) in 2022, we set a new bar in Bristol Bay with our menu and culinary expertise that rivals any of the top lodges ANYWHERE in Alaska!  John has been the Head Chef at places like the Greenbrier, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, and the Canyon Ranch to name a few.  We are happy and proud to announce that he will be coming back for another season of gourmet quality meals and desserts – all starting with appetizer spreads one would expect to see on the French Riviera.  John brings over 35 years of experience in the business and has had all winter to conjure up even more savory meals and sweets for 2023!  One more thing, he loves to fish as much as any guest and this adds even more to the daily après fishing discussions around the bar.
 
The good news just keeps on coming: Our entire guide staff will be returning for the 2023 season – and I am proud to announce our newest guide, Will Evans, has graduated up through the ranks and will be a full-time guide here this summer.  In addition to Will, we also will have a new “Sockeye Specialist” on board this July.  Some of you may already know Rich Cardillo (RC) and he will gladly take clients for a full or half day of sight fishing with a fly rod - as waves of sockeye salmon swim upriver through gin clear water on their way to spawn in the rivers and lakes above the Alagnak River.  Whether you are helping us procure your evening meal or loading up your cooler for the trip home – sockeye fishing provides another fun leg of your trip!

​Fortunately, the Bristol Bay watershed has had tremendous sockeye salmon returns from the Bering Sea the past few years.  This created an incredible biomass of salmon flesh and eggs that has thrust our rainbow trout population into one of the healthiest cycles I have seen in my 30 years up here.  This also creates a unique opportunity for you to do one-day fly outs from Anglers Alibi or maybe even an overnight to nearby rivers (most in and around Katmai National Park) and experience an epic and secluded rainbow trout day!  The staff stays on top of what rivers are peaking with trout throughout the whole summer and reacts accordingly.  These are just a few rivers we target highlighted below:
 
American River:  Only a 35-minute flight from the lodge - this river consistently provides us with some of the largest trout and char of the season!  In June and July, we cast mice and dry flies to catch these gorgeous and giant rainbow trout that only Alaska can produce! 
 
Kvichak River:  This is a river that we primarily fish early and late season with our guests.  It is by far the largest river we fish and produces the highest jumping trout on the planet!  These trout are fished early on swung flies and later by drifting beads either from a boat or from a shoreline.   The Kvichak drains from Lake Iliamna (the largest lake in Alaska).  This lake produces some of the largest trout in the state!
 
Kulik River:  This river provides our anglers with some of the best action of any river we fish for trout.  The numbers of true Alaskan wild trout will boggle your mind!  This river clogs up with spawning sockeye salmon in mid-August and is fished until our last day of operation in late September.  It is not uncommon to literally be forced to take a break from catching so many strong trout during the day on this river.
 
Again, the guide staff stays very dialed into how these (and other) rivers are fishing and can offer you the best option during your week here.  We are checking the weather daily to make sure the good sunny windows to fly are utilized with our guests’ desires to fish some of the other amazing rivers in our reach.  We do have to pay additional for fly-outs per seat (float plane hourly rate) but know that our flight service accepts credit cards, so it is an easy way to enhance an already amazing week in Alaska.

Okay, that’s it for now.  Please call or email me if you want to inquire about some of our few remaining openings (week 1, week 5, and week 9) and don’t forget to pack a bathing suit for our new sauna, a great way to unwind with a cold beverage after a long day on the river.

See you soon!
John Perry - Owner