Fishing the Alaskan Interior

Province/state: Alaska
Country: USA

Fishing the Alaskan Interior 1If it’s a remote Alaska fishing vacation you’re after, you’ll find yourself far from the crowds and close to nature in Alaska’s interior. This region makes up for nearly 80 per cent of Alaska and is home to the state’s largest river systems. Surrounded by wildland, these rivers, along with a network of streams and lakes, are teeming with many species of fish including Dolly Varden, northern pike, burbot, sheefish, arctic char, arctic grayling, rainbow trout and all five species of Pacific salmon.

Though some freshwater fishing is accessible along the region’s road system, the most remote and productive fishing spots can only be accessed through a fly-in fishing lodge. Your interior Alaska fishing guide will take you along rivers and to lakes that offer landlocked salmon and a wide range of other sought after game fish.

Though summer might be short in this part of the world, the days are endless and the fishing is non-stop. Pacific salmon enter the waterways in early June and make their way up the rivers and streams with the best King (Chinook) salmon fishing being in June and July. Fish in August and September for Silver (Coho) salmon. The Yukon river system has a populous run of Chum salmon all summer and into the fall.

Fishing the Alaskan Interior 2Fish for sheefish in mid to late summer. Interior Alaska is known for its large sheefish and they are often called “The Tarpon of the North”. The average sheefish weighs 5 to 20 pounds, but anglers have hauled in sheefish weighing 60 pounds or more in some areas. You’ll enjoy catching these beauties on your Alaska fly-fishing vacation.

There are ice fishing opportunities here in the winter months. Anglers who brave the weather can enjoy great burbot fishing on frozen rivers and lakes. You will also see little villages of ice fishing huts going for trout and land-locked salmon in the winter.

While you’re fishing, expect to be treated to some spectacular wildlife viewing too. From your Alaska fishing resort or while on the river, you might see moose, black bear, grizzly bear, caribou, eagles and a variety of bird life.

Alaska fishing lodges

North America's Highest Peak

Alaska’s interior region is home of Mount McKinley, which was formally named “Denali” recently. Denali is the tallest mountain in North America with a summit elevation of 20,310 feet (6,190 metres) above sea level. This impressive peak is considered the third most isolated and third most prominent peak after Mount Everest in Nepal and Aconcagua in Argentina.

You can check out this massive mountain while visiting Denali National Park and Preserve. The park encompasses more than 6 million acres and offers a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, cycling, mountaineering, wildlife viewing, dog sledding, cross country skiing and fishing.

McDougall Lodge
4.5
61 reviews

Editor’s notes

McDougall Lodge is located on a mile long slough, where the Lake Creek waters runs into and meets the glacier waters of the Yentna River in front of the lodge. Thousands of all 5 species of Salmon come into the clean Lake Creek waters directly in front of the lodge to clean their gills. This is one of the best salmon fisheries in Alaska, though there’s also plentiful graylings and rainbow trout. Vacations are all-inclusive with flights from Anchorage included.

Alaskan Interior, Alaska, United States | Fly-in


Freshwater (rivers) | Guided (4:1 guest-to-guide ratio) | Fly fishing


All-inclusive fishing trip All-inclusive fishing trip Fishing trip includes equipment Fishing trip includes fish processing All-inclusive fishing trip All-inclusive fishing trip

What makes it unique

  1. McDougall Lodge is located on a mile long slough Lake Creek waters runs into and meets the glacier waters of the Yentna River in front of the lodge. Thousands of all 5 species of Salmon come into the clean Lake Creek waters in front of our lodge to clean their gills, and either swim back into the glacier waters a mile up the slough , or swim up Lake Creek to spawn. There are over 8 other clear water tributaries up river they will go to to spawn. So we are one of the best Salmon fisheries in NW Alaska.

PER-DAY packages start at:
US$781.67
CA$1,065.06
£620.32
€719.88
pp

Northwoods Lodge
4.9
83 reviews

Editor’s notes

Very comfortable, private cabins surrounding a lodge built by the owners. One owner is a professional chef, and the high-end meals reflect this. Very highly rated, and an outstanding location for salmon, grayling and trout fishing make this an exceptional, all-inclusive value.

Alaskan Interior, Alaska, United States | Fly-in


Freshwater (rivers) | Guided (3:1 guest-to-guide ratio) | Fly fishing


All-inclusive fishing trip All-inclusive fishing trip Fishing trip includes equipment Fishing trip includes fish processing All-inclusive fishing trip All-inclusive fishing trip

What makes it unique


PER-DAY packages start at:
US$666.67
CA$908.37
£529.06
€613.97
pp

Alaskan Adventures
5
19 reviews

Editor’s notes

This is pretty much a quintessential fishing lodge, a very remote lodge in the heart of Alaska bush country on the Holitna River. The lodge has hosted fishing trips for such notable figures as George Bush Sr., Chuck Yeager and Dave Dravecky. The Holitna river system is said to contains more species of fishthan almost any other system in Alaska (and Alaskan Adventures holds five world line records for Northern Pike & Sheefish).

Alaskan Interior, Alaska, United States | Fly-in


Freshwater (lakes), Freshwater (rivers) | Guided + Unguided | Fly fishing


All-inclusive fishing trip All-inclusive fishing trip Fishing trip includes equipment Fishing trip includes fish processing All-inclusive fishing trip All-inclusive fishing trip

What makes it unique

  1. We are about as remote as you can get. The fishing is incredible and many times we go all week on our river system and do not see another boat.
  2. The Holitna river system contains more species of Alaska sports fish and salmon than almost any other system in Alaska.
  3. We have a 2,300-foot runway for our Cessna 206.

PER-DAY packages start at:
US$428.57
CA$583.95
£340.11
€394.69
pp

Editor’s notes

Alaska’s Anvik River Lodge claims to be “Alaska’s most remote lodge”, and while we can’t be certain of that, it is pretty darn remote, and the only fishing lodge on all 120 miles of Anvik River. It will be just you, the other guests and lots of wildlife (grizzlies, moose, wolves, otters, beavers, eagles, osprey, and of course a whole lot of fish!) It feels like your own private fishing reserve! Add to this a very comfortable lodge, and the fact that absolutely everything’s included (even an open bar and the flight from Anchorage) and you have an ideal fishing vacation.

Alaskan Interior, Alaska, United States | Fly-in


Freshwater (lakes), Freshwater (rivers) | Guided (2-1 guest-to-guide ratio) | Fly fishing (Also spin fishing)


All-inclusive fishing trip All-inclusive fishing trip Fishing trip includes equipment Fishing trip includes fish processing All-inclusive fishing trip All-inclusive fishing trip

What makes it unique

  1. It’s like having your own private fishing reserve at this truly remote yet extremely comfortable lodge. There’s no “combat fishing” here.
  2. Having the distinction of being Alaska’s most remote full-service fishing lodge can likely mean that we’re one of the most remote full-service fishing lodges in world.

PER-DAY packages start at:
US$1,116.67
CA$1,521.52
£886.18
€1,028.40
pp

Talaheim Lodge
5
15 reviews

Editor’s notes

This small (8 guests max.) family-run fly-in lodge in the Alaskan interior is distinguished from other Alaska lodges by the remote, untouched river systems they can that fish. They’re the only lodge in Alaska that owns two helicopters for exclusive use by their guests. Located 80 miles west of Anchorage, surrounded by nothing but a valley of mountains, they fish streams rarely seen by other anglers.

Alaskan Interior, Alaska, United States | Fly-in


Freshwater (lakes), Freshwater (rivers) | Guided (2:1 guest-to-guide ratio) | Fly fishing


All-inclusive fishing trip All-inclusive fishing trip Fishing trip includes equipment Fishing trip includes fish processing All-inclusive fishing trip All-inclusive fishing trip

What makes it unique

  1. We’re the only lodge in Alaska that owns two helicopters for our guest’s exclusive use. Located 80 miles west of Anchorage, surrounded by nothing but a valley of mountains, we fish streams rarely seen by other anglers.
  2. Whether you’re an avid fly fisherman looking to hook one of our famous Rainbow Trout, or a novice angler after an Alaskan King, Sockeye, or Silver salmon, see why Talaheim Fishing Lodge has been the anglers choice for over forty years.
  3. With only six to eight fishermen per week, our guests enjoy personal service from a staff of experts. From fishing guides, helicopters pilots, to chefs, we’ve been blessed that our staff continues to return, year after year, just like our salmon.
  4. Cozy and rustic in style, all of our guest cabins are equipped with electricity, refrigeration, indoor plumbing, wood stove or central heating, while meals feature gourmet cuisine including many Alaskan favorites.
  5. We’ve been a family run business for over forty years, and that family feeling extends to our guests. Over half of our clients return, many of which come several times across decades and bring with them a new generation of fishermen.
  6. With over forty years in business, Talaheim Lodge is known throughout the world as a premiere fly fishing destination, and lodge founder and owner, Mark Miller, an Alaskan pioneer, expert bush pilot, and teller of many incredible stories.

PER-DAY packages start at:
US$1,433.33
CA$1,952.98
£1,137.47
€1,320.03
pp

Wilderness Place Lodge
4.9
246 reviews

Editor’s notes

Wilderness Place Lodge prides itself in offering the highest level of customer service and hospitality. Their river is a postcard-perfect, clear-water tributary offering fantastic fishing for all salmon species, rainbow trout and arctic grayling. Their modern cabins provide the utmost comfort, and the meals are top-notch. Overall, excellent value here.

Alaskan Interior, Alaska, United States | Fly-in


Freshwater (lakes), Freshwater (rivers) | Guided (2:1 guest-to-guide ratio) | Fly fishing (8 hours)


All-inclusive fishing trip All-inclusive fishing trip Fishing trip includes equipment Fishing trip includes fish processing All-inclusive fishing trip All-inclusive fishing trip

What makes it unique

  1. 1:1 customer service (20 staff : 16 guests average)
  2. Flexible daily schedule
  3. One guide per 2-3 guests
  4. Flexible meal options, schedule
  5. Custom fishing vacations; any duration stay
  6. Arrive / depart any day of the week
  7. Discounts for children, military and large groups
  8. Bundled multi-activity Adventure Packages!

PER-DAY packages start at:
US$1,055.33
CA$1,437.94
£837.50
€971.91
pp

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