Answers to some frequently asked questions

Please use these links to jump to the following topics:

Travel to the lodge || Best dates || Daily schedule || Taking fish home
Flyouts || Equipment || Getting a license || Weather

How do I get to the Lodge?

Access to the lodge is from the town of King Salmon, via Anchorage. Many major airlines service Anchorage, but only two airlines service Southwestern Alaska's regional airport located in King Salmon. For help with your travel arrangements, please visit our travel page. Branch River Air Service, who will assist you with your transfer to the lodge, will meet you at King Salmon airport. The float plane flight to the lodge is a scenic twenty minute overview of our wilderness.

We ask that you arrive in King Salmon no later than 11:00 am on your arrival day. Commonly this will require you to fly into Anchorage the evening before, and spend the night in Anchorage. On your day of departure, we ask you to plan an early to mid-afternoon departure out of King Salmon. Float plane transfers between the lodge and King Salmon are typically late morning or early afternoon. Arrivals or departures at other times may result in an extra charge.

(Click here to view the map.)

When are the best times to fish the Alagnak River?

Take a look at our fishing calendar to help you decide when to visit the Alagnak Lodge. We have limited capacity, so we recommend that you book early to secure the time you want. The five species of salmon run at different times, but it is possible to have them all in the river together at the end of July. The best rainbow fishing is through June and after mid-August. The Rainbows feed aggressively on the salmon smolt in June, and become aggressive again in August and September while the salmon are spawning. Grayling offer great dry fly fishing in June. Northern Pike linger in the side waters all summer, and offer a fun change of pace.

How is the daily fishing schedule organized?

At the beginning of the week, your guide will be assigned to you for the week. Because excellent fishing is so close to the lodge, this allows us to offer you a more flexible schedule than most other lodges. Most lodges will fish you from breakfast to dinner, we give you the opportunity to fish in the evenings, all we ask is that you give your guide a break at some point during the day. The fishing is broken up into three sessions, morning, afternoon, and evening. Your guide will take you fishing for any two sessions of your choice, and will be happy to advise you when you can expect the best fishing. Each session offers up to five hours on the river. The advantage of this flexible schedule is that the best times to fish are dependent upon both the tides and the weather conditions, so you can adapt your schedule each day to get the best of the fishing. For much of the season, unguided fishing is available close to the lodge for your third session. Please note that once as we get later into the season and lose some daylight hours, that the evening session will be shorter than the other two. 
On your day of arrival, we ask you to arrive in King Salmon early for the float plane journey to the lodge, this will give you time to fish the afternoon and evening sessions for a full day of fishing. On your day of departure, the guides will switch over to the newly arriving guests. The morning will allow them time to package your fish for the journey home, and will allow you time to pack for a departure from the lodge typically late morning or early afternoon.

Can I take fish home with me?

We encourage catch and release fishing by our guests, but those wishing to take salmon home may do so. We will clean and prepare your fish as you wish, then vacuum-pack and freeze them for your journey home. For layovers, cold storage is available in the Anchorage airport. Alternatively, fish may be sent home by UPS. Native stream fish such as trout or grayling are always released.

How do I arrange for fly-out fishing or sight-seeing opportunities?

While the Alagnak River offers some of the best fishing in the world for salmon and trout, we encourage those who join us to take their adventure a step further. Chartering a floatplane to many of the remote trout streams or scenic locations, such as Brooks Falls, certainly will enhance your trip and overall experience. Fly-outs are arranged through Branch River Air Service.

(Click here to find out more about Fly-Out Destinations.)

What equipment does the lodge provide?

The lodge provides all fishing equipment with the exception of fly rods and reels. We do have a limited number of fly rods, reels, waders, and wading boots, their purpose is to back up the equipment you bring with you. If you plan on doing a little fly fishing while in Alaska, we will lend you a rod, if you plan to fly fish all week, please bring your own. A fully stocked fly-tying bench is provided for you to tie flies while at the lodge. If you would like to tie some flies before coming to Alaska, please visit our page on fly patterns, or call us if you need further assistance.

(Click here to find out more about fly-fishing equipment.)

Where do I get a fishing license?

You can easily buy a fishing license right at the airport when you arrive in King Salmon. A state of Alaska non-resident fishing license costs $55 for 7 days. In addition, during king salmon season, king tags cost an additional $30 for 7 days.

Alternatively, fishing licenses can now be purchased online. Visit the Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game website

What weather conditions can I expect?

In southwest Alaska, the weather is both very changeable and very unpredictable. Most weeks will offer a combination of hot sunny conditions and cooler wet conditions. Expect 2 or 3 wet days per week on average, but don't be surprised if it doesn't rain at all, or rains for as many as 5 days.

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copyright 1998-2009, Alagnak Lodge, Alaska
Photo credits: Ed Sozinho, Thomas Woelfle