Base Camps

Crossing Big Ku’s home waters. Photo: Ken Morrish

While the majority of these operations will be reached by small aircraft, their fishing programs are not reliant on them. Once you are on site these operations will use boats to reach their fishing grounds, keeping the price down and ensuring that their anglers are on the water irrespective of weather conditions.

Big Ku Lodge Big Ku is a small, strategically located six-person lodge in the heart of the Katmai region’s most famous rainbow waters. Guests enjoy jet boat access to the legendary waters of Moraine Creek, Battle Creek, Little Ku, and Big Ku. The lodge is open from June through September with August dates filling most quickly. To top it off, just steps from the cabins, all guests can take part in unlimited after-hours access to the trophy home waters of Big Ku. Rates: $7,450-$7,850 per person for a 7 night/6 day package

Grosvenor Lodge

NEW

Grosvenor Lodge is a small remote lodge located in Katmai National Park on the narrows between Grosvenor and Colville Lakes. Originally built in the 50s, this intimate fishing operation takes a maximum of four to six anglers. For anglers interested in a remote, semi-do-it-yourself operation with simple meals and accommodations, few places compare to this Alaskan classic. From this base, several small tributaries of Colville Lake and Grosvenor Lake are accessed via jet boat and fished in a walk and wade fashion. Additionally, the lodge has one of only a few permits to access the Lower American via jet boat. Guests can also add daily fly-out trips upon request. Rate: $3,380 per person for 4 night/4 day package

Togiak Wilderness Spey NEW Fly Water Travel and Epic Waters Angling are proud to introduce a new exclusive tent camp on Alaska’s prolific Togiak River. The Togiak is a big brawling southwest Alaskan river renowned for its abundant returns of king salmon in addition to a host of other worthy species. Long thought to be

too much river for fly anglers to effectively target kings, the Spey fishing revolution along with the anadromous experts at Epic Waters recently changed that assumption forever. Their 2019 exploratory season was extremely successful with much higher catch rates than they had hoped for. From the comfort of a simple six-person tent camp guests will now be able to target the west’s most underutilized king system. This hearty program will be best suited to advanced anglers who cherish long hours on the water, camp fires, and a high number of large hard-fighting kings. Rate: $5,600 per person for a 5 night/5 day package plus $750 round-trip charter

Copper River Lodge Flowing into Lake Iliamna, the Copper is known as one of Alaska’s most beautiful and productive rainbow systems. With a completely renovated lodge, this classic operation is entering a new era of comfort and service. For serious rainbow hunters, this destination remains one of the most inviting values in the state. Rate: $6,100 per person for a 6 night/7 day package

Goodnews River Lodge

NEW

The Goodnews system flows through the protected Togiak National Wildlife Refuge and is composed of three distinct forks, all flowing west out of the Ahklun Mountains. With very little outside fishing pressure, Goodnews River Lodge has the luxury of rotating their waters, enabling guests to fish different well-rested water each day. The comfortable base camp, comprised of tents and hard structures, is a great place to relax after an active day. Goodnews offers some of the least pressured and most varietal fishing in all Alaska, with rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, grayling, and five species of Pacific salmon all calling its waters home. Rates: $5,950-$7,495 per person for a 7 night/6 day package

Alaska Steelhead Co.

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For anglers interested in a unique new fall steelhead venue, consider the Alaska Steelhead Company. Located on an impressive perch overlooking the Cook Inlet, guests can fish as many as four steelhead systems. These rivers offer both walk and wade fishing as well as full day floats where guests can target wild steelhead in the 8-to 14-pound range with both swung-fly and indicator techniques. Additionally, this easy-to-reach, high value and high catch-rate venue features some of the nicest accommodations in the state as well as skilled, hard-working guides. Rates: $4,495 plus tax for a 6 night/5 day package

Kenai Riverside Lodge Located on the banks of the mighty Kenai, this is a great destination for groups with a range of outdoor interests and hardcore trophy rainbow hunters alike. This operation welcomes stays of varying lengths and a wide range of angling and ecotourism activities. It is also a perfect add-on to longer stays in the state. Rate: $1,945 plus tax per person for a 3 night/2 day package