How to Choose an Alaska Fly Fishing Lodge

​Planning an Alaskan fishing trip can be exciting but can also be overwhelming because of all the lodge options available.  I hope that I can help give you some ideas to consider and help you narrow down your choices – contact Anglers Alibi with any additional questions…we’re happy to help make sure you have the information to plan your trip.

Three questions to consider before you start researching Alaska Lodges:

• Do you want to fish primarily for Alaska salmon, rainbow trout,  or a mix of Alaska fish species?
• Do you want to go somewhere that you can drive to or a remote Alaska fishing lodge accessed only by float plane?
• Do you want to travel daily by plane or by a short boat ride to start your daily fishing?

​If you choose to fish for salmon, then you should also consider if you want to fish (1) from a boat in the ocean or (2) while wading a tidal zone in a river targeting fresh salmon minutes after they enter the river system from the salt.

If you want to target trophy Alaska rainbow trout, then you should consider going to a lodge in the Bristol Bay area of Alaska as this is the only area in the state designated as a true trophy trout area.

There are several areas outside of Anchorage that you can drive to that offer good fishing, but they are more like fishing another river in the lower 48 because they are relatively easy to access.  A true remote Alaska fishing lodge is only accessed by float plane and therefore what one should consider when going on a remote Alaska fishing trip.  There are several lodges in the town of King Salmon Alaska, as this is a hub to Katmai National Park, but they are accessed commercially from Anchorage and not exactly a true wilderness experience.

Lastly, some of the best lodges in the business have to fly daily to get you to great fishing.  If you do not mind a 30 to 45 minute flight every day one way to get you to your fishing spot, then this is a great choice as they offer fishing for salmon, trout, char, and grayling.  If you choose this option, be sure to ask if the float plane will stay with you all day with a pilot guide.  There is only one lodge in the business to offer this deluxe level of service, and it is No See Um lodge.  The price point for this level of service is high, but is a great decision if you can afford it.

Some lodges are right on the tidal zone of a great Alaska salmon river and your daily fishing is within a ten minute boat ride from the dock.  Fly out fishing days are an option at this type of lodge and not necessary to have an amazing Alaska fishing experience.  Both of these are what Angler’s Alibi offers.

I hope this can help in your decision process in choosing a great Alaska fishing trip.  This is only a start to your decision process, but some very key points to consider with all the lodges there are in Alaska.

About the Author

​​John Perry grew up in Michigan on an island called Grosse Ile, in the mouth of the Detroit River and Lake Erie. It was here, surrounded by great fishing and waterfowl hunting that John developed a passion for the outdoors. John moved to Colorado to chase trout in the summers and ski patrol in the winters. John had the privilege to start guiding for Angler’s Alibi with his fly fishing mentor TR Rafferty the second year it was in business. He left a head guide job in Colorado to pursue bigger and better fish.