Alaska Fishing Lodges: The Alaska West Lodge

One of Alaska’s premier king salmon fly fishing rivers

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The Area

Alaska West Lodge is a remote Alaskan fishing lodge which guarantees first class fishing in complete wilderness.

It is located in the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, five miles upriver from the Alaska Native village of Quinhagak, on the banks of the Kanetok River in far western Alaska along the coast of the Bering Sea.

The Togiak National Wildlife Refuge encompasses over four million acres of land that the US government deemed appropriate to manage by the objectives set forth in the National Wildlife Refuge system's directive to, among other things, conserve fish and wildlife populations and habitats in their natural diversity.

The area has abundant wildlife and is habitat to over 48 mammal species, including caribou, wolves, moose, brown and black bear, foxes, beaver, muskrats, minks, river otters, voles and porcupines.

Three main river drainages host all five species of pacific salmon, rainbow trout, dolly varden, arctic grayling, arctic char and pike. Over 200 bird species nest in the refuge, including golden and bald eagles.

This is true wilderness fishing at its best.

 <<< Click here to find out where The Alaska West Lodge is.

The Fishing

The river has a tremendous run of Kings that come in from mid-June until the end of July. The absolute peak of the fishing is the first two to three weeks. The fish are tide bright and sealiced and can be caught on traditional down and across swinging tactics with the double handed rod and big spider patterns. This will appeal to the cognoscenti of the Atlantic salmon world.

Not to be overlooked is the fact that the river also has one of the best silver salmon runs along with superb rainbows and very strong runs of the other species. This means it can also offer out of this world fly fishing during the rest of the season.

With an angler to guide ratio of two to one, this Alaskan fishing lodge offers incredibly hard working guiding professionals who stop at nothing short of "making it happen" for their angling clientele. The equipment, although an integral part of the ensemble, is second only to the can do attitude, enthusiasm and expertise of this exceptional group of individuals. Alaska West is very proud of its entire staff. The crew is comprised of motivated, dedicated and highly skilled persons, whose commitment to a good job well done is seldom equaled in this industry.

Alaska West is one of Alaska's most fly fishable rivers offering a varied range of fishing options, including prolific runs of the five species of Pacific salmon, as well as dolly varden and resident rainbow trout.

Chinook (King) Salmon:

The biggest of the Pacific salmon, they got their name by default. Notorious for holding in the deepest darkest hiding places, most "anglers" coax them up with heavy, shiny, noisy, smelly, gaudy, greasy gear saving the fragile fly fishing tackle for easier prey.

However... at Alaska West they have honed and refined their fly angling skills and collective knowledge to a point where they consistently hook and land these behemoth masses that more resemble chrome plated sea lions than fish.

This is a big game fish adventure and once bitten by the bug, it's a hard habit to cure. The adrenaline rush of the fight and the conquering confidence of a battle won are feelings second only to the humiliating frustration of a war lost. Atlantic salmon anglers leave bewildered by the awesome power of these fly gobbling giants. Steelhead bums wonder how they can get their VW buses close to here. No one can wait to do it again, and most make sure they do.

Coho (Silver) Salmon:

Although unpublished in any medical journals to date, Silver fishing at Alaska West infects people the world over with an insatiable desire to have more... and more... and more.

From late July through the end of the season Alaska West is reduced to a den of iniquity. Fish-a-holics the world over throng to these waters to "put a hurtin' on some silvers". The charge of adrenaline transferred from the fish up the line into the anglers body injects such a sensation mere words can't describe. Highly respected people of position in the real world are reduced to begging the guide for just one more cast. The most conservative individuals have been known to "pull an all nighter", crazed with fish fighting frenzy.

Silveritis-cohosis; Those of us who have been stricken by this, one of the most consuming fish afflictions, can sympathize with our fellow sufferers. The acrobatic jumping, the screaming runs, the violent thrashing, the exhilaration of victory and the agony of defeat... and you should see what the fish do!

Chum (Dog), Pink (Humpies) and Sockeye (Red) Salmon:

Chum are willing to slam most any fly like a speeding freight and are capable of stripping every single inch of backing off your reel and send you leaping for the boat in a single bound. They are faster than the speediest large arbor pick up and unable to accept the concept of QUIT... what more could an adventurous angler wish for? As any Alaska West guide will tell you there is no fun like Chum fun. The sheer epic numbers of these salmon and relentless action is the thrill.

Pinks are petite little salmon that are loads of fun on light tackle. They are graceful and aggressive and are a hard fighting smaller version of all the macho big fish stuff that is so prevalent in Alaska. Break out the five weight without risking the big "break"!

It's often said that pound for pound sockeye are the hardest fighting most aerial of the five pacific salmon. Though at times coaxing a red to eat presents a formidable challenge, once hooked these acrobats prove it time after time.

Whether named for their bright red meat or for the fire engine color of their bodies at spawning, reds are any salmon connoisseur's most palatable reward. Reds are plankton eaters at sea and though that carotene rich food is great for lending the rich colour and great taste to these salmon, it's not so great in trying to match the hatch. Plankton fly anyone? And though the age old argument of whether salmon feed in rivers or not will not be entered into here... it is a fact that sockeye will eat a fly whether spurred from frenzy or feeding or just plain dumb luck.

Rainbow Trout:

There are several claims of other rivers in Alaska being home to the legendary Leopard Rainbow Trout. Although it may be true to only a degree, this is the place where they were perfected.

Few places on earth have rainbows this pretty. Thick blood red side stripes pour out of crimson gill plates accenting their broad shouldered heavy bellied deep green bodies that are covered with black spots that ooze into one another, like their big cat namesake. However, don't let these good looks fool you. One look at the size of the mouth on these fish will clue you in to the fact that these are rodent-eating, egg stealing, carcass guarding river serpents. They are far removed from their wimpy midge sipping kin elsewhere in the world.

Alaska West are very proud of these fish. Out of this respect they have adopted a strict fly only - catch and release policy in order to ensure the long lasting protection of one of their greatest and most unique fishery resources.

The Fishing Lodge

The Alaska West Lodge is run as a deluxe tent lodge. This means that anglers sleep in heated tents with carpeted wooden floors. The tents are very comfortable and provide a very high standard of accommodation. There is a separate drying tent for wet waders and clothes.

Showers and sinks with hot and cold running water are all provided, and the outhouse facilities are cleaned and emptied every day.

The large dining tent gives plenty of room to spread out, relax and enjoy the Alaska gourmet cuisine. It is not a lodge of white linen tablecloths and formality but rather a very comfortable place to spend a week fishing, relaxing and enjoying a very special place in Alaska.

Best Times to Go

Late July (in particular the last two weeks) provides an excellent opportunity for the "salmon grand slam" (being able to catch all five Pacific species in a single day) - this is an exceptionally exciting time to fish and is not to be missed!

If you would prefer to speak to us directly regarding a trip to the Alaska West Lodge, please contact us at the following:

United Kingdom Office:
Justin Maxwell-Stuart
Mobile: +44 (0)7711 519 857
Fax: +44 (0)20 7352 0942
justin@wherewisemenfish.com

United States Office:

US Country Code: +1
Telephone: 347 284 6333
info@wherewisemenfish.com

Or alternatively email us via our Booking Enquiries Form to request more information.

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