Important Information/What to Bring

Arriving in King Salmon/Fishing Licenses

Upon arrival in King Salmon, a representative of Branch River Air Service will meet you at the airport. They will assist you with your floatplane transfer to the lodge. Branch River Air Service can be reached at (907) 246-3437 in the unlikely event that you should have any problems finding each other at the airport. Fishing licenses (and king stamps if applicable) are available for purchase at the gift shop in King Salmon airport. Please do not board the floatplane to the lodge without a license. In order to fill all available floatplane seats, you may be required to wait for other arrivals. This reduces your cost, so please be patient. The floatplane ride is an enjoyable twenty minutes over the beautiful open tundra, so have your camera ready.

What to bring

Clothing -- Comfort and practicality are important considerations. Weather in Alaska is both unpredictable and changeable; many weeks will have a combination of hot sunny days in the 70s (and maybe 80s), as well as cooler wet days in the 60s (and maybe 50s). Dress in layers and be prepared to add or shed layers to keep yourself comfortable. Good rain gear (jacket & pants) is essential and should be carried at all times, even on seemingly nice days. Gloves are recommended.

Waders -- If you plan to get out of the boat and fish some of our many sandbars, please bring waders with you. Gore-Tex chest waders are a popular choice; bring something warm to wear underneath. Please make sure boots are non-studded, studs are not necessary and damage the floors of our boats. Waders can also double as rain pants. Hip waders are of limited use and are not recommended. The lodge has several pairs of waders and wading boots to back up those that you bring with you.

Equipment -- We provide all the conventional fishing tackle used for catching king salmon, and spinning rods suitable for the other fish species. We have a limited number of fly rods, which are intended to supplement the equipment you bring with you. An attached sheet lists the fly-fishing equipment we recommend for you to bring, as well as information about fly patterns. The lodge provides all lures. For the fly fisherman, we have a fully stocked fly tying bench for you to use. If you would like to tie some of your own flies prior to your visit, please take a look at the patterns on our web site, then contact us with any questions you may have. Polarized sunglasses are strongly recommended.

Bugs -- It's well known that there are a few mosquitoes in Alaska, as well as no-see-ums and other flying insects. Many days the bugs are not bad at all, but on a still day, they can cause discomfort. We suggest bringing a good bug spray, and a head net is not a bad idea. Most days it will not be needed at all, but there may also be times when you'll be very thankful for it!

Alcohol & Tobacco -- Wine is served at the lodge with dinner, please bring any beer or liquor with you, these items can easily be purchased in King Salmon. Ask the driver for Branch River Air Service if you can stop by the store before flying out to the lodge.

Because you will be traveling from King Salmon to the lodge by floatplane, we ask that you please minimize your luggage weight and use soft type luggage (duffel, etc.). Laundry service is available at the lodge, which can help you keep down the amount of clothing you need to bring. Please limit the length of rod cases to 5 feet if possible. Longer cases will not always fit in the floatplanes.

A selection of Alagnak Lodge apparel is available at the lodge for purchase, items ranging from caps to sweatshirts to fleece jackets. If you think you might want to make any purchases from our store, or pay for any additional flyouts at the lodge, please remember to bring cash or your checkbook with you, we dont accept credit cards.

Taking fish home

If you wish to take some salmon home with you, we will prepare, vacuum-seal, freeze your fish, and pack it in insulated fish boxes for your journey home. If you overnight or have an extended layover in Anchorage on your way home, cold storage is available at the Anchorage airport. Also, most hotels in Anchorage will keep your fish in their freezer as a courtesy. While our fish boxes are usually more than adequate to get your fish home in good condition, a popular option is to bring a small or mid-sized cooler with you for this purpose. Please do not bring excessively large coolers, as they may not fit inside the floatplanes. Coolers are recommended if you have a long journey home with multiple connections.

Flyouts

You may have already chosen to do flyouts while at the lodge, or you may still be considering this option. Please let us know if you are sure about or are considering flyouts. This helps us coordinate smaller groups so we can fill up the floatplanes and keep down the cost to you.

Telephone

The telephone number for the office at the lodge is (907) 246-1505, from mid-June to early-September. You can also still reach us at our year-round office by calling toll-free, (800) 877-9903. If you need to reach us urgently, we suggest trying, and leaving messages at, both these numbers. While at the lodge, there is a phone available for outgoing calls or faxes. If you wish to make use of the phone for outgoing calls, please bring a calling card with you. If you wish to receive phone calls at the lodge, the number is (907) 246-1509.

If you have any questions about the above, or concerning your upcoming visit to the Alagnak Lodge, please contact us at (800) 877-9903.

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