Royal Coachman Lodge

The Royal Coachman Lodge is located in the heart of the world famous Bristol Bay sport-fishing region of Southwest Alaska. The fishing lodge sits on the banks of the Nuyakuk River, a quarter of a mile downstream from the outlet to Tikchik Lake, nestled in the 1.6 million acre Wood-Tikchik State Park. The park contains 13 lakes that make up two distinct watersheds. The entire northern watershed drains into the Upper Nushagak River via the Nuyakuk River from the outlet of Tikchik Lake.

The Kilbuck Mountains rise majestically from the waters edge where the western end of the lakes probe the mountain range in spectacular fjords. The western side of the range drains the vast 4.8 million acre Togiak National Wildlife Refuge.

This area of Alaska is accessible only by floatplane. Most Alaskan fishing lodges are located in small towns or native villages, but the Royal Coachman Lodge, 65 air miles north of Dillingham, is totally isolated in the midst of this vast Alaskan wilderness.

Picking the week and month to stay at the Royal Coachman will depend upon whether you are looking to target any specific species of fish or if you simply want to enjoy all that the area has to offer. 

Chinook (King) Salmon

Best fishing is from mid-June to the end of July. Fish average 24lbs and the King is by far the hardest fighting fish that you will catch in freshwater, 45-minute battles are not uncommon. Our stream is ideal for fly fishing and all our fishing is done within 3 miles of the ocean, assuring you will be catching the freshest, meanest kings that Bristol Bay has to offer.

Coho (Silver) Salmon

Best fishing is from late July to the end of September. Fish average 10lbs and the Coho is the favourite salmon to catch as they can be consistently taken on dry flies.

Sockeye (Red) Salmon

Best fishing is the first three weeks of July. Fish average 10lbs. Pound for pound the sockeye is the hardest fighting pacific salmon.

Pink (Humpies) Salmon

Pink Salmon run in even-numbered years from late July to mid-August. The run often exceeds over a million and you can catch literally hundreds in front of the lodge

Chum (Dog) Salmon

Excellent from mid-June until late July. Fish average 10lbs and are exceptional fighters.

Rainbow Trout

Fishing is excellent all season long. Fishing in front of the lodge is particularly good during the spring and autumn.

Char

Good fishing is from late May to early July when they congregate to feed on salmon smolts and again in the autumn when they move into rivers to feed on sockeye eggs.

Dolly Varden

As the mature fish return to their home stream to spawn and feed in August and September, most coastal streams in Alaska provide good fishing for Dolly Varden

Grayling

It is not uncommon to catch 18 to 20 inch specimens in our home pool in front of the lodge. Grayling are almost always willing to come up for a dry fly, making them a delight to catch on a light fly rod.

Pike

Pike weighing up to 30 pounds have been caught by anglers fishing at Royal Coachman Lodge. They love mouse patterns and have one of the most aggressive topwater strikes in freshwater. They can be caught throughout the fishing season.

The Royal Coachman consists of a number of single and twin-bed wooden cabins equipped with log-burning stoves.   Rooms are simple but comfortable and with enough space to call your own they offer a much higher standard of accommodation than would typically be found at the tent camps.  Bathrooms are all attached to the main living areas.  Food has always been a focus at the lodge and you can always expert excellent cuisine during your stay.

The Royal Coachman has always benefitted from excellent guides, in part as a result of the Sweetwater Guide School.  All the guides, alongside being proficient boatmen, are very keen and enthusiastic anglers who will happily assist with coaching should individuals want help.  Anglers will be paired up and typically as a team of four, along with the guides,  deploy each day via float-plane, having discussed the aims, conditions and best available options the night before.   The Royal Coachman offers a varied fishing schedule, typically fishing a different river or section of the river each day. 

Anglers fly into Anchorage where it is recommended you spend a night's to help adjust to the time difference. From there you take a scheduled flight to Dillingham followed by a vehicle journey and finally catch the floatplane to the lodge.   It is also recommended you overnight in Anchorage on the return to offset any potential issues resulting from poor flying conditions.