Drive | All-Inclusive Alaska Fishing Trip
Welcome to Alaska Rainbow Lodge! Located in the heart of Alaska’s Bristol Bay Region home to some of the world’s best fishing for trophy Rainbow Trout, Arctic Char, beautiful Grayling, as well as King, Silver and Sockeye Salmon! With our fleet of lodge-owned floatplanes, we provide you access to over 30 different rivers across 3,000 square miles of the Illiamna – Katmai watershed. At the lodge, you will be pampered by our first class accommodations…
WORLD CLASS ALASKAN FISHING & ADVENTURE LODGE
2023 Season is Here.
When The Calendar Turns
As the temperatures begin to climb again and all of the snow dissipates, our gear is all lined up in preparation for our favorite season. Alaska Rainbow Lodge is always looking forward to the start of a new and exciting season of fishing. While our staff and guides are eager to welcome visitors once more, we are finishing up our spring cleaning and tuning up our boats for all the anglers waiting to visit our Alaska salmon fishing lodges.
When late spring and early summer grow nearer, we get a bit restless as winter has undoubtedly overstayed its welcome. Early summer is when our fishing season finally comes into full swing, and those monster salmon and trophy catches we have all been waiting for begin biting at our lines once more. Salmon begin making their way into our waters, and our lines start to cast out for incredible days on the water. You can also count on finding an array of fish species such as Arctic Char, Rainbow Trout, and Arctic Grayling.
WHO WE ARE.
Alaska Rainbow Lodge is a renowned location for fishing in Bristol Bay, hosting anglers worldwide, thanks in no small part to the abundance of highly sought game fish and the pristine waters they inhabit. Fishing in Alaska is something that every avid angler should experience. Usually, the most daunting part of the Alaskan fishing season is figuring out what to wear while fishing in Alaska or creating a fishing trip checklist. To help you wade through your options, we put together a quick guide to ensure you have everything you need in Bristol Bay.
HOT OFF THE PRESS
Run Forecasts and Harvest Projections for 2023 Alaska Salmon Fisheries
Fishing Reports
Naknek-Kvichak Rivers
The Naknek-Kvichak is expected to see 18 million sockeye this summer. The Kvichak River is forecasted to have a run of 8 million sockeye, the Naknek could see over 6 million and Alagnak forecast is set at 4 million.
Bristol Bay Region
Bristol Bay should see relatively strong sockeye runs this summer, though they’re not expected to be near last year’s record-breaking run and harvest. Around 50 million sockeye are forecasted to return to the bay, according to the state’s forecast for the 2023 fishing season. The total escapement is projected to reach 13 million with around 37 million fish available to harvest. That’s a good deal lower than last year, and it’s also lower than the average over the last 10 years. But looking a little further back, this summer's run is still expected to be 40% above the bay’s long-term average.The strength of the salmon returns varies across river systems, and the Nushagak District, on the west side of the bay, has seen some of the biggest sockeye runs and highest harvests in recent years.
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Alaska Rainbow Lodge Adventures
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Alaskan Fishing Trip Checklist
There are several items to consider bringing with you, depending on your preferences and how long you’ll be staying (some guests continue their Alaskan adventure after visiting with us). However, rather than make an extensive list of necessitie, we decided just to make a shortlist of a few general travel items:
Travel documents and plane tickets
Wallet and tender
Medication
Camera with batteries and extra memory cards
Waterproof bag
Polarized sunglasses
Small backpack for day trips
Sunscreen
Lip Balm
Utility knife
Insect repellent
Toiletries
History of Bristol Bay and Sockeye Salmon
Sockeye play an intricate role in the Bristol Bay ecosystem by not only bending your rods and filling your freezers with delicious meat, but by nourishing everything in the watersheds they inhabit. Most Sockeye Salmon are hatched in rivers that are fed by a lake where they travel to after hatching. They will feed and grow until big enough to make one of the greatest migratory journeys ever! As the juvenile sockeye (smolt) make their way from the lakes downstream towards the ocean, rainbow trout lay in wait and gorge on them and fatten up as the sockeye swim by. Whales and seals wait at the Bay to greet the small salmon fry as they make their way into the saltwater. They spend 3 years in the ocean surviving, eating zooplankton and growing until returning to the freshwater rivers. These persistent and powerful fish will travel up to 1600km (that’s almost 1,000 miles!) to spawn in the same riverbeds where they were hatched in.
BROOKS FALLS - KATMAI NATIONAL PARK
A Unique Experience
Brooks River offers tremendous fishing opportunities for rainbow trout, arctic char, and salmon. Its run of sockeye salmon, in particular, also attract one of the greatest gatherings of brown bears on earth. No matter when you visit, fishing the Brooks River requires extra care and responsibility to protect people, wildlife, and the experience.
Fishing In Bear Country
The sheer number of bears, their movements, and behaviors influence most activities at Brooks Camp. The waters of Katmai are a challenging and rewarding place to fish. A splashing fish sounds like food to a bear. Bears will often move in your direction to investigate a fish on a line. Always be prepared to cut or break your line, so that you can free the fish and move out of the water until the bear passes. Never let a bear acquire a fish from you.
It is easy to become so engaged in fishing, that you forget to be alert for bears. They are surprisingly quiet and difficult to see in dense grass or tall brush, so always have someone spot bears for you. At minimum, keep 50 yards between yourself and all bears. Stop fishing and move away well before a bear approaches within 50 yards, or you may find yourself in a situation with a fish on the line and a bear in pursuit.
Spring | Bristol Bay Luxury Fishing Lodge
Welcome to Alaska Rainbow Lodge! Located in the heart of Alaska’s Bristol Bay Region home to some of the world’s best fishing for trophy Rainbow Trout, Arctic Char, beautiful Grayling, as well as King, Silver and Sockeye Salmon! With our fleet of lodge-owned floatplanes, we provide you access to over 30 different rivers across 3,000 square miles of the Illiamna – Katmai watershed. At the lodge, you will be pampered by our first class accommodations…
WORLD CLASS ALASKAN FISHING & ADVENTURE LODGE
2023 Season is Upon Us.
Welcome to Alaska Rainbow Lodge! Located in the heart of Alaska’s Bristol Bay Region home to some of the world’s best fishing for trophy Rainbow Trout, Arctic Char, beautiful Grayling, as well as King, Silver and Sockeye Salmon! With our fleet of lodge-owned floatplanes, we provide you access to over 30 different rivers across 3,000 square miles of the Illiamna – Katmai watershed. At the lodge, you will be pampered by our first class accommodations, full-time chefs, and personalized service. Let us show you remote Alaska the way it was meant to be seen!
Run Forecasts and Harvest Projections for 2023 Alaska Salmon Fisheries
On pace to be another record-breaking run!
The 2023 commercial salmon harvest forecast is for 122 million pink salmon, 48 million sockeye salmon, 16 million chum salmon, and 3 million coho salmon. If realized, the forecasted 2023 total Alaska commercial salmon harvest will be approximately 189 million fish.
Alaska Rainbow Lodge Vol. I
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All-Inclusive Alaska Vacations on Bristol Bay
YOUR PERFECT SLICE OF WILDERNESS
You and your group have finally decided to take that fishing trip to Alaska that you have been dreaming of for years. After flying over the sprawling wilderness, you arrive at our Alaskan fishing lodge. Surrounded by wildlife and the beautiful waters of the Kvichak River in Bristol Bay. You can see our fleet of floatplanes and boats sitting at the ready just waiting to take you out to the prime fishing spots, and the lodge sitting up the shore prepared to accommodate you and the crew. Alaska Rainbow Lodge has everything an angler would ever want for a memorable fishing experience.
Location, Location, Location
Alaska Rainbow Lodge has many rivers, streams, and estuaries that are known for their excellent salmon fishing. Some of the most popular fishing spots include the Naknek River and the Kvichak River.
Guides and Transportation
Alaska Rainbow Lodge has a team of experienced guides ready to help you get settled in and geared up to battle some monster catches that will leave any fisherman breaking a sweat. They are seasoned, licensed, and knowledgeable of the local waters to help you have an epic adventure.Our Beaver floatplanes and jet boats to take you out to the 40+ different streams surrounding the lodge so you can get to the best fishing spots safely and efficiently.
Horizons | Best Alaska Fly Fishing Lodge
We hope you have all had an incredible winter season and are ready to get back out on the water in Bristol Bay this summer. This will be Alaska Rainbow Lodge’s 40th year in existence on the banks of the Kvichak River! We have some news and updates about the upcoming season and I wanted to take this opportunity to let y’all know about…
Howdy Guests and Friends of Alaska Rainbow Lodge!
We hope you have all had an incredible winter season and are ready to get back out on the water in Bristol Bay this summer. This will be Alaska Rainbow Lodge’s 40th year in existence on the banks of the Kvichak River! We have some news and updates about the upcoming season and I wanted to take this opportunity to let y’all know about them.
First off we are extremely excited about our new website built by Justin Graddy at Buffalo Media Group. Justin will also be visiting the lodge several times this summer to get us new photos and video. If you are lucky enough to visit during one of those weeks be ready for some awesome shots. Justin has a way of making everyone look like a superhero. I am incredibly excited to see what he comes up with.
Next up we are starting phase one of our lodge remodel this spring. There will be lots of new furniture and decorations for you to enjoy in the lodge as well as guest rooms. This will be followed by new carpets and wall treatments in most of the rooms the following year. We are committed to keeping the lodge updated and comfortable for the next 40 years of guests.
In staff news I am excited to announce that our entire guide crew from the end of last season will be returning for the 2023 season. I could not ask for a better and more professional group of guides to take care of our guests out on the river. Our chef Jerry will be returning for his third year at ARL making sure that we continue to have the best food in all of AK. Erica and Ashley will be returning as part of the inside staff to make sure everything you need in the lodge is taken care of.
Lastly as many of you know this will be the last summer for our long time Chief Pilot Ken Strickler. Ken has been keeping all of us safe and the airplanes maintained for over 20 years. Ken will be at the lodge for our first month of operation in order to help ease the transition. Ollie O’Halloran, who was flying beaver 43446 for us last season, will be taking over the chief pilot duties, and our long time mechanic Nathan Featherston will be moving up into the pilot seat of 283AR.
I have had several guests approach me wanting to do something for Ken as a thank you for his many years of keeping us all safe at ARL. If any of you would like to contribute to Ken’s retirement present please contact me directly at chip@alaskarainbowlodge.com or call 214-543-6220. I can collect them from everyone and present them to Ken on his farewell dinner which will take place on July 7.
For anyone who hasn’t booked yet we still have some great weeks open throughout the season. Give me a call and we can get your spots blocked out. We can’t wait to host you all again on the banks of the Kvichak!
Tight Lines,
Chip Ferguson
Adventure | Best Alaska Fly Fishing Resort
Here at Alaska Rainbow Lodge are headed into our 40th season of operation! We want to take a quick moment and say thank you to all our past clients and those whom has visited us as soon as last year! We are once again anticipating another record-breaking year with the annual salmon report coming…
Here at Alaska Rainbow Lodge are headed into our 40th season of operation! We want to take a quick moment and say thank you to all our past clients and those whom has visited us as soon as last year! We are once again anticipating another record-breaking year with the annual salmon report coming back on a high note. Sockeye salmon numbers are continuing to soar in record-breaking numbers which will make for a bountiful harvest in Bristol Bay and the rivers that they flow into.
As the new season approaches we are excited to announce the launch of our new website! 2023 marks the start of a new era in our visual approach to marketing all the while focusing our our core values of overall brand consistency, guest experience and client satisfaction.
Alaska Rainbow Lodge 2023 Promo
The allure of fly fishing in Alaska revolves around three factors: beautiful scenery, a plentiful fish population, and unrivaled seclusion. As many people know, most locations are so remote that anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts take airplanes to their destinations due to the lack of roads. Alaska Rainbow Lodge provides fly-outs to rivers containing healthy numbers of the five native Alaskan species: king, silver (coho), sockeye (red salmon), chum, and pink (humpback) salmon, all of which are highly sought after fish in Alaska.
The countdown to summer is here and we are steadily making arrangements to get all our guides and gear into position. The peak of the salmon season starts up in June and lasts through September. With over 30 streams, rivers, and creeks to find yourself in on any given day, we simply put you on the fish. Alaska Rainbow Lodge boasts a beautiful fleet of De Havilland Beavers that take you to your drop off zone and are there to pick you up at the end of the day. Every day is a heart-pounding adventure like no other…you have to be here to understand. From the majestic mountain ranges to soft rolling tundra, the Bristol Bay of Alaska and the surrounding terrain is a feast for the eyes and the soul. The opportunity to hook into a trophy-class 30” rainbow trout is only a single cast away and the rugged wilderness will engulf you with every step you take.
BEST FISHING IN ALASKA
The best time to head out to Alaska to fish is somewhere between June to September as it is the peak season for salmon fishing. During late June, king salmon start to migrate into the Naknek and Nushagak rivers, where the king salmon run peaks. It is followed by sockeye salmon peaking in early to mid July in the Naknek and Alagnak rivers. You can also expect to catch Arctic char, grayling, and northern pike during June. It’s no secret that the Nushagak River offers the best king salmon fishing in Alaska so there will also be an abundance of chum, pink, and silver salmon in late summer. June is the perfect time for clear blue skies and warm weather, so keep this in mind when planning your trip to Alaska Rainbow Lodge.
If you’re looking for the perfect Alaskan lodge that will provide you with unmatched fishing and comfortable accommodations, then Alaska Rainbow Lodge is the place for you. Since 1982, Alaska Rainbow Lodge has been offering visitors access to over 30 of the most pristine and productive Alaskan waterways along with the best luxury housing. As thousands have attested to throughout the years, our lodge offers comfortable accommodations and incredible amenities so that you can make the most of your fishing vacation in beautiful Alaska.
Arrival | Top Alaska Fly Fishing Lodge
Upon landing in King Salmon, AK one of our friendly and experienced pilots will greet you in one of our three Beaver de Havilland float planes and fly you and all you baggage to our lodge on the Kvichak River about 30 miles away. After your short, but beautiful flight to the lodge…
Upon landing in King Salmon, AK one of our friendly and experienced pilots will greet you in one of our three Beaver de Havilland float planes and fly you and all you baggage to our lodge on the Kvichak River about 30 miles away. After your short, but beautiful flight to the lodge, our professional and courteous guides will meet you at the dock where you will be escorted to your rooms and the main lodge.
While you enjoy a cocktail from our open bar, excitedly unpack your baggage, or even join one our guides out front for some casting lessons, our staff will introduce themselves and get you situated with fishing licenses and whatever else you may need to help you feel at home.
One of our guides will sit down with you and your group to discuss the following days adventure and where you want to fish. Unlike many lodges in this area we cater to our guests and what they want to do! With over 30 rivers and streams to target big fish in, 3 floatplanes, Rafts and over 40 jet boats we will pick a place together that best suits you and your fishing desires.
Alaska Rainbow Lodge is located on the Kvichak River thirty miles from King Salmon.
At the end of a day at Alaska Rainbow Lodge our professional chefs and staff will serve a delicious and hearty meal in our spacious dining area while you and the other guests network. Once dinner is complete we invite you to enjoy your cocktail in our covered gazebo and drink in the beauty of Alaska, play some poker, relax in our sauna, walk the beautiful grounds, or even watch some fishing videos on our big screen tv.
Enjoy a delicious meal prepared by our professional chefs at Alaska Rainbow Lodge.
After a restful nights sleep in one of our comfortable queen or twin sized beds you will awake to hot coffee, juice, or tea delivered to your room. A long hot shower in your private bath, a hearty breakfast in our lodge, more hot coffee and you will be more than ready to go fishing! Your guides will meet you at the dock where they have already loaded the planes and will be waiting to help you load up and head out for the day. You will safely fly with your guide to your destination on a short flight and embark on your days adventure! Spend the morning targeting and catching big fish, walking with giant grizzly bears, watching bald eagles swoop and catch fish, and enjoying the serenity of Alaska. For lunch your guide will prepare you a hot meal on the river of either fresh caught fish, or hot soup and sandwiches prepared fresh, served and enjoyed in the most scenic areas of the World! Drink in the sights and enjoy a cold beer, soda, wine, Gatorade or water from the ice cooler before getting back to more epic Alaskan fishing.