Alaska

[radiatorman]

Hello everyone, been reading the forum for a while but this is my first post. I pretty much exclusively trout and walleye fish Spring river, both ultra light and fly, especially in the winter, usually at least every other weekend and whenever I can steal a day during the week when business slows down. I know the bulk of yall are Missouri stream fishers and primarily fly fishermen so dont beat me up too bad.

The wife (who is my #1 fishing partner, usually packed before me) and I are planning a trip to Alaska. From what I've researched so far,probably on the Kenai river,but were open for any suggestions. This will be at least a year in the making, gotta save my pennies and my daughter will be out of college next year so that expense will be behind me. Anyway if any of ya'll have had the pleasure of going I would love your to hear your stories and get your advice.

Glad to be a part of your forum, I look forward to many more great stories and advice as well as forming new freindships.

[denjac]

Talke to Phil. He is putting a trip together as I speak.

[Phil Lilley]

http://naknekrivercamp.com

It's a friend's camp in SW AK. Excellent price. Not the greatest camp but the people are great and so is the fishing. You get to see places for basically the price of your stay that others have to pay extra for by boating to places in the area instead of flying (from camp).

He does book up a year ahead though so you have to ask what dates are open for next year.

Look at the calendar - you can tell when to go to fish for the species of fish you want - rainbow, char, graying, kings, sockeye, silvers.

Bill and I are planning on offering some trips next year as well. But the price will be higher than Jim's. I think his is $2295 for a week that includes basically everything but equipment, fishing license and tips. Ours will be pushing $4000, mainly because we don't have a lodge or cabins... we have to pay for all that ourselves.

[radiatorman]

http://naknekrivercamp.com

It's a friend's camp in SW AK. Excellent price. Not the greatest camp but the people are great and so is the fishing. You get to see places for basically the price of your stay that others have to pay extra for by boating to places in the area instead of flying (from camp).

He does book up a year ahead though so you have to ask what dates are open for next year.

Look at the calendar - you can tell when to go to fish for the species of fish you want - rainbow, char, graying, kings, sockeye, silvers.

Bill and I are planning on offering some trips next year as well. But the price will be higher than Jim's. I think his is $2295 for a week that includes basically everything but equipment, fishing license and tips. Ours will be pushing $4000, mainly because we don't have a lodge or cabins... we have to pay for all that ourselves.

Thanks for the tip. Anyone heard of or been to Deshka Wilderness lodge, it looks pretty promising also, but I'm sure I will ultimately take the advice of you that have "been there done that"

[duckydoty]

Give me a call in Oct. I am currently guiding up in Alaska right now and wont be home till around the first of Oct.

There are several low end places to fish in Alaska, but you do get what you pay for. I have guided for the camp that Phil mentioned and there are several selling points for that place. If you get in the right cabin, it would be a decent place to take your wife. Best thing to do is give me a call and I could see what exactly your looking for, then make a recommendation that might fit your budget. It really all depends on what and how much you want to do along with what kind of lodging, guiding, and dinning you would prefer. Planning at least a year in advance is a good idea.

[Phil Lilley]

You should spend a lot of time on the internet researching different places. There are alot of them.

http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/

Here's a good forum used by alot of AK people. I've used it frequently.

[Al Agnew]

Just a general note...the Kenai Peninsula and the Kenai River is just about the most popular and populated fishing area in Alaska. If you're looking for a "wild" experience, you probably won't find it on the Kenai. It's a great fishing river but in places it can look like the Spring River on a weekend with all the anglers. On the other hand, there are a lot of very nice lodges on the Kenai, and there are other things for your wife and you to do in the area that you can drive to in a rental car.

At the other end of the spectrum is a wilderness float trip on one of Alaska's wild rivers. If you and your wife are into floating and camping out, there are many reputable (and some not-so-reputable) outfits that offer guided float trips of 5-7 days for reasonable prices.

The lodges like Phil's friend's lodge are in the middle. A little rougher, more remote, with fewer people than the Kenai, but a little more luxurious than a float trip. You do get what you pay for in them, and the more expensive ones will be more luxurious, meaning nicer rooms or cabins and more amenities.

So decide first just what you're looking for and then do the research to find a good one that you can afford, whether it be the civilized Kenai, the fairly wild lodges, or the wilderness type float trips.