Welcome to Alaska

Location, Type of Fishing:

Located near the headwaters of the Naknek River in Southwest Alaska’s Bristol Bay Region, Alaska Sportsman’s newest lodge offers breath-taking views of the Aleutian Mountains of the Alaskan Peninsula along with some of the best fly fishing for salmon and trout that the state has to offer. With just 35 miles seperating the bay from Naknek Lake, this wild and untamed river is quite large despite its short overall length. Bear Trail Lodge is strategically located at a pivotal juncture just downstream of King Salmon Creek where it joins with the river. This luxury fishing lodge sits atop a bluff on the north shore of the Naknek, overlooking the river, close to the small town of King Salmon and the main entrance to Katmai National Park. The Naknek is famous for the very large rainbows it produces consistently each season, with some very large fish reaching up over a staggering 35”, as well as strong runs of all five species of Pacific salmon. The river also has great char and grayling fishing all season long. They offer guided fishing for all of these fish on waters right in front of the lodge, as well as fly-outs to numerous lakes and rivers where fly fishermen will wade and float fish a variety of streams and creeks in search of big, hungry fish who’ve likely not seen another angler or fly all year long. Bristol Bay is home to one of the world’s largest wild salmon runs, and the Naknek enjoys an enormous run of sockeye, reaching an astounding 20,000 fish per hour streaming past the lodge at its peak. The lodge uses a variety of jet boats to access many parts of the river in order to fish this abundant run, as well as the strong runs of chinook, coho and chum found here during overlapping times of the season. Incredible fishing is the main reason people visit Bear Trail Lodge, but what sets it apart from others is their desire to provide a top-quality experience that is custom tailored to fit your unique, individual needs.

 

• Season: June-October
• Species: Trout, Salmon, Char, Dolly Varden, Grayling, Pike
• Rods: 6- 11 wt. Single-hand and Double-handed rods
• Rates: 7 nights/ 7 full days of fishing $8,950.00

 

 

 

 

 

What Makes It Special:

No matter what time of the season you visit the Naknek, there is something wonderful going on here. Whether its chasing rainbows busting smolt up and down the river in June, following one of the five prolific runs of Pacific salmon migrating past the lodge in summer, or swinging flies with long, double-handed rods for trophy rainbows at the end of the season, the Naknek never fails to produce incredible fly fishing opportunities. The lodge offers a complimentary fly out program included in your fishing package, utilizing 3 Beavers and 3 Cessna bush planes on floats to access a variety of rivers, lakes and streams, most of which are in some of the more remote and scenic parts of Katmai National Park. Complimenting their prime location on the Naknek, fly-outs from the lodge make it among one of the most comprehensive fishing programs in Southwest Alaska. One of the drawbacks to any fly-out program is that they are heavily dependent on good weather and clear skies. There’s nothing worse than having to sit out the day from fishing because you can’t get to it. At Alaska Sportsman’s Bear Trail Lodge that’s not a problem. Guests can fish every day of their stay right on the lodge’s home waters, making use of a number of aluminum jet boats to access a wide variety of excellent fishing spots up and down the Naknek.

 

Fishing:

June can be an excellent time of year to hook and land big rainbows. Salmon smolt leaving the lake are frequently ambushed at points all along the river by rainbows and char. Swinging flies with spey rods will allow you to cover lots of water while accurately imitating the migration of these baby salmon, desperately trying to evade predators on their way to the open water of the bay. Mid-June brings a strong run of chinook to the river, and the lodge has wonderful opportunities for fly fishermen interested in targeting these very strong fish. There are also some fly-outs for kings too. By the end of June, things have changed dramatically on the Naknek as sockeye enter the river in astonishing numbers, returning en mass to their spawning grounds in the Katmai National Park.  Strong and energetic, these fish will quickly tire you out. Chinook and sockeye remain in these headwaters through the month of July, and just as the king season is about to come to a close, the chum, silver and pink salmon begin to arrive on the scene. The end of July and the beginning of August is primetime on the Naknek, with the chum and silver fishing at times being downright fantastic right in front of the lodge. Large rainbows return to the river about mid-August to begin feeding heavily on eggs, the easiest available food source for them at that time. Salmon are also dying in the river, and trout can be caught eating flesh flies too. September and October is a great time for trophy trout, with some pigs regularly getting up over the 20 lbs. mark.

 

 

Lodge:

The view from Alaska Sportsman’s Bear Trail Lodge is nothing short of spectacular. The snowy peaks of the Aleutian Range rise majestically from the wet lowlands south of the lodge and continue farther into the distance looking west, with spectacular volcanos revealed by their flat tops. The great room of the main lodge, provides a remarkably warm and  relaxed space to sit and enjoy this rugged wilderness from the coziness of a comfortable couch and a warm fire. An inviting chalet, the lodge was built from pleasant-smelling cedar, complete with a full service kitchen, large dining area, comfortable living room, loft with pool table and a deck that leads to a hot tub raised some 70’ above the soothing waters of the Naknek River. A boardwalk takes you from the main lodge to the cedar guest cabins nestled in the woods. Far enough apart to be private and quiet, each of these comfy getaways have spectacular views of the river, tundra and mountains, and are equipped with all the amenities you’ll need to have a perfect night’s rest. Each room sleeps two in full-size beds, appointed with log frames and furniture, private bath and walk-in shower, supplied with hot and cold running water. On the river in front of the lodge is the boathouse and docks, where you will find a number of jet boats and seaplanes awaiting your next Alaska adventure.

 

Dining:

Great food is just as important to an excellent stay as are the great fishing opportunities. The full-time chefs at Alaska’s Sportsman’s Bear Trail Lodge will prepare sumptuous meals for you during the entire length of your visit. You will not go hungry while staying at the lodge, as most meals are an all-you-can-eat affair served family-style, and there is always food around to snack on in between meals. The lodge host and guides will join you for hors d’oeuvres and dinner. The dining menu is broad with a variety of American-style dishes served home-cooked and straight from the kitchen. Typical entrees may consist of fresh salmon or halibut, crab legs, steaks, and prime rib, complete with side salad and all the fixings. They do sometimes also serve pork and chicken dishes,  although the chef generally prefers to serve a bill-of-fare more consistent with Alaska’s rich resources. The Bear Trail staff does not cut corners when it comes to delicious food and outstanding service. Delightful homemade desserts complete the meal, and you’ll want to save enough room to enjoy these very tasty treats. If you should find you didn’t get enough to eat at dinner, the kitchen is always open, and there are usually leftovers marked in the refrigerator, which you may help yourself to at any time, day or night. Beer and wine is included in your package, but not hard alcohol. They do have mixers available, and there is a machine that dispenses cold sodas, as well as an ice maker in the main lodge.

 

How to Get There:

Your trip to Alaska Sportsman’s Bear Trail Lodge begins with your arrival to Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage (ANC). After collecting your bags, walk or take the shuttle to the south terminal where you will check-in at the Penair ticket counter or other private air charter the lodge uses. King Salmon Airport (AKN) is roughly 280 miles southwest of Anchorage, and the direct flight can take just over an hour. After landing and retrieving your bags, staff will be there to greet you and take you in SUVs to the lodge about ten minutes away.  Once at the lodge, you will be given room assignments, and your bags will be waiting for you in your room. Feel free to freshen-up a little before making your way back to the main lodge to meet with Nanci Morris Lyon, your host and lodge manager, to discuss your expectations for the next day’s fishing, find out what options are available and whether or not you are able to do a fly-out the next day. You will be able to get your fishing license and salmon stamps for your entire stay during this time, and if you would like to do some shopping, there’s a nice little gift shop where you can pick-up something for a loved one or something you might have forgotten. We recommend you bring your own personal fly fishing gear, as the lodge has a limited supply of gear it can lend out. The evening before your first fishing day is a good time to prepare your gear by assembling rod sections, checking reels, cleaning your fly line and hanging up your waders. If there’s anything you should need, feel free to ask Nanci.

 

Typical Day:

The evening before, you will have met with Nanci

 or one of the lodge staff to discuss the type of fishing you will be doing that day and made a fishing plan. If you are scheduled for a fly-out, you will need to be at breakfast promptly at 5:45 am, when the kitchen first opens. You will head to the dock to board the plane shortly after breakfast, so be ready to leave for the day and have your gear with you when you leave the room. Plan on spending the day at a remote location, with your lunch having been prepared to your liking ahead of time and brought with you by the guide to be eaten on location at your fly-out destination. If you are staying to fish the Naknek for the day, you may have breakfast at any time after 5:45 am, just be ready to meet your guide at the dock by 7 am to head out in boats to fish the river close to or within sight of the lodge. You may return to the lodge for a relaxing lunch in the dining room, or arrange to have a picnic taken with you to be enjoyed on shore or in the boat. Fishing resumes in the afternoon until 5:30 pm, when all trips are expected to return to the lodge. Refresh in your room before returning to the main lodge for cocktails and appetizers in the great room beginning at 6 pm, followed by dinner in the dining room at 7 pm. During the months of June and July, guests are welcome to fish on the Naknek after dinner, but the guides must be back at the lodge no later than 9:45 pm to prepare for the next day.

 

What’s Included:

Round-trip air to/from King Salmon (AKN), accommodations, daily maid service, all meals including snacks, fly-outs from the lodge, guided fishing, fishing license and salmon stamps, Katmai National Park day-use passes, flies, beer, wine and soft-drinks. The lodge will also process any salmon you wish to keep, preparing it for travel by vacuum sealing the fish and then packing it on ice in airline-approved, wet-lock coolers for shipment home with you aboard the plane. They can also have it smoked and shipped for you as well.

Not included: Round-trip airfare to/from Anchorage, hard alcohol or liquor, and gratuities for the staff and guides.

 

Non-angling Activities:

The staff at Alaska Sportsman’s Bear Trail Lodge is extremely accommodating to non-angling guests as well as fishermen wanting to take the day off. You may wish to take a fly-out to the Brook’s River and watch the bears fishing for sockeye at the falls, when they are running. They also have a number of seasonal tours available in the park for photographing scenery and viewing wildlife. If there’s something you would like to do, just ask, and the staff will try their best to oblige.