LOCATION
Naknek River - Bristol Bay Region, Alaska
SEASON
Early June through early October
CAPACITY
Maximum capacity of 12 anglers per week
SPECIES
Rainbow trout, all five species of pacfic salmon, halibut, char, Dolly Varden, grayling and more
GENERAL INFORMATION
Located roughly 14 miles downstream from Naknek Lake at the confluence of King Salmon Creek and the Naknek River is Alaska Sportsman’s Bear Trail Lodge, newly remodeled and renovated by the same people who own the famous Alaska Sportsman’s Lodge.
LENGTH OF STAY
Standard package is a six day / seven night package.
THE FISHING
The clear water Naknek River – recently named the “#1 Rainbow Trout River” in Alaska by Fish Alaska Magazine – begins its 35 mile journey to Bristol Bay within the massive Katmai National Park and Preserve. This amazing river is home to all five species of Pacific salmon as well as some of the largest rainbow trout in all of Alaska. The location of the Bear Trail Lodge allows you to fish for aggressive salmon and trout on the home river, with great water directly in front of the lodge. These salmon that inhabit the Naknek are just a short 20 miles from the ocean and are dime-bright, fresh and very strong. The prime location of Bear Trail also allows you to fish the best spots of the upper part of the river, where you’ll find large rainbow trout feeding behind spawning salmon and migrating salmon smolt.
The Naknek River has a strong run of king salmon and one of the best spots on the river to fish kings is within sight of the lodge. The Naknek also has annual sockeye returns that number in the millions and a very strong run of silver salmon. The lodge utilizes jet boats to access the best spots on the river to catch these species of salmon, while the fly-out program takes advantage of the lodge’s close proximity to the many intimate streams of Katmai National Park; streams that are full of spawning salmon and hungry rainbow trout. These streams are also in Alaska’s designated “Trophy Rainbow Trout” area.
During June, shortly after the ice goes out, the sport fishing season in the Bristol Bay area opens. The first part of June is excellent for explosive rainbow trout, Arctic Grayling, and Northern Pike. There is plenty of excitement for anglers as fish are aggressively feeding on migrating salmon smolt after a long winter with little food. The mouth of the Naknek River acts like a funnel for the millions of baby salmon smolt that are migrating to Bristol Bay. This provides an excellent feeding spot for the large rainbows of the Naknek River.
The mighty king salmon, the largest fish of the Pacific salmon family, begin to arrive in area around June 15. Anglers visiting Bear Trail Lodge at this time of the year will have a great combination of rainbow trout and king salmon fishing, with the kings averaging between 20 and 30 pounds. You will travel a short distance by boat from the lodge to fish for the kings or you can choose to fly out to fish one of the other area rivers for kings if you wish. The flights from the lodge are included in your package and your guides will help decide which river will be best based on conditions and weather. King fishing stays good from June 15 through July 31.
During the end of June and throughout July, the Naknek River becomes the passageway for sockeye salmon that instinctively return to their spawning grounds. Millions of sockeye pass right in front of the lodge, with as many as 20,000 fish per hour swimming by. These fish are fresh in from the ocean, are dime-bright, and put up a spectacular fight once hooked.
The next species to arrive to the Bristol Bay area are the silver, chum, and pink salmon. These fish show up each summer around the last week of July. Silver salmon fishing is very exciting and many anglers prefer silvers to all other salmon because of their hard strikes, long runs and spectacular tail dances. Chum salmon, although not prized like the kings, sockeye, and silvers, offer a very enjoyable sport-fishing experience. These fish average 15 pounds and put on a tremendous fight as they aggressively take a fly. Just as many anglers chase after bonefish for the pure excitement, these fish provide for a very exciting day of fishing.
By mid-August and throughout October, rainbow trout return to the Naknek to stock up for the long, cold winter. Although there is tremendous rainbow fishing in many of the surrounding nearby streams of Katmai National Park throughout the entire summer, this is the “Trophy” time of the season on the home waters of the Naknek. The Naknek holds an abundance of 28” – 30” rainbows and each year guests land quite a few fish in excess of 30”. They are pound for pound the best fighting sport fish in the world. If you want to catch a true trophy rainbow trout, you will want to be at the Bear Trail Lodge in June or from mid-August through the end of October.
BOATS AND EQUIPMENT OFFERED
Two DeHavilland Beavers on floats provide fishing access throughout the region. The lodge also utilizes a large fleet of aluminum boats equipped with Yamaha jet motors - some based at the lodge, and many others strategically scattered throughout the region on numerous rivers.
THE LODGING
The Alaska Sportsman’s Bear Trail Lodge consists of a very comfortable and inviting cedar main lodge complete with a commercial kitchen, a large dining room, a relaxing living room, and a large sun room with decks overlooking the Naknek River and the mountains of Katmai National Park.
The guest cabins at Bear Trail are well appointed with comfortable beds, private bathrooms, individual heaters, and comfortable couches. Of course, all of the rooms have the impressive views of the river. The entire lodge is connected by a boardwalk which will lead you to a dramatic deck (with a hot tub) that is elevated 70 feet above the river, providing guests with the opportunity to relax while reflecting on the adventures of the day.
RATES & DETAILS
2009
Sunday to Sunday (7 days of fishing / 7 nights lodging) $7,700 per person
Sunday thru Thursday (4 days of fishing / 4 nights lodging) $4,900 per person
Thursday thru Sunday (3 days of fishing / 3 nights lodging) $3,900 per person
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Airfare between Anchorage and the Lodge on a lodge chartered flight, all fly-outs in the Lodge aircraft, unlimited guided fishing time with US Coast Guard and Alaska Dept. Fish & Game licensed guides, all necessary fishing gear, rods, and reels, and a fully stocked fly tying bench, meals, all non-alcoholic beverages, beer, and wine, professional vacuum sealing and preparation of salmon for shipment home, shipment of your salmon back to Anchorage, double occupancy cabin room with two comfortable beds, fishing license and Salmon stamp.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
Alcoholic beverages other than beer and wine (hard liquor is not included and you need to bring your own if you want it!), lodge and staff gratuities, airfare to Anchorage, and hotel and meal costs in Anchorage.
DEPOSIT INFORMATION
A 50% deposit (per angler) of the total package cost for each trip is due to Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures (YDFA) within 10 days of booking to secure the reservation. Guides and dates cannot be held or reserved without a deposit. YDFA reserves the right to charge a handling fee of $100 per person for date changes after the initial reservation has been made. Full payment is due 90 days prior to departure.
HOW TO GET THERE
Your trip starts upon arrival in Anchorage, Alaska. Several major airlines serve Alaska from the lower 48 with connections to Anchorage. It is recommended that guests overnight in Anchorage the day before your trip begins to connect to the lodge the following morning.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
Photo identification for airlines and Alaskan fishing license (available at lodge.) You can also purchase your fishing license on-line prior to your trip by visiting the following website: http://www.admin.adfg.state.ak.us/license/
NON-ANGLING ACTIVITIES
For non-anglers, the lodge offers a variety of other activities including scenic flights, wildlife viewing, boat tours, and seasonal bird hunting. The lodge staff is fantastic about accommodating non-anglers and family members.
OTHER INFORMATION
Fly outs are included with all of our fishing packages. The number of fly outs is not a set number for your stay. The lodge's fishing destinations vary throughout the season and it is their job to ensure that you have a successful and enjoyable Alaska fishing experience by putting you on the best fishing options that are available to each angler accompanied with the type of fishing each person wishes to do. We often are asked about the number of fly outs included in each package. There are guests that have flown out everyday of their trip and there are guests that have only flown out a few times during their stay because the fishing was fantastic on the home river and they chose not to fly out. By being located on the Naknek River, Bear Trail Lodge has eliminated the necessity of flying out every day in order to get to where the great fishing is. They have tremendous fishing on their home river that is accessible by boat. The important thing to remember is that you are on a fishing trip—not a flying trip. You fly if the home waters aren’t producing or if you wish to. But, the important thing is that it is not always a necessity to fly out to get to where the good fishing is!
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