Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Alaska West?
You travel to Anchorage, Alaska, and then…
We run a charter flight from Anchorage to Quinhagak, Alaska. We meet you in Quinhagak and take you by boat to our camp, 6 miles upriver.
For more details on travel to Alaska West, check out our travel page.
What kind of fish will I catch?
During the course of our season, our guests will catch king salmon, rainbow trout, silver salmon, Dolly Varden, grayling, chum salmon, sockeye salmon and pink salmon.
Click on the name of each fish above for more detail.
Do you only allow fly fishing?
No! Most of our guests fish with fly rods most of the time, but we’re very happy to host guests who want to pull plugs for kings, or throw plastic baits for silvers, or fish centerpin rods for rainbows.
What’s the best time to go?
We’re open from the second week in June through the first of September. It’s a short season, and we’re only open when the fishing is fantastic.
The best time to go depends on what you want to catch. From mid-June to mid-July, king salmon are the most popular target, with rainbow fishing picking up in July as well. The second half of July provides a shot at the salmon grand slam (all five species, all on flies, in one day), and the most varied rainbow fishing. In August and early September, silver mania sweeps the Kanektok and the trout just keep getting fatter as fall arrives.
What if I don’t have all the gear?
Most of our guests bring most of their gear along, but we’ve got a wide variety of loaner gear – waders, boots, rods, reels and lines – available for guest use at no charge.
Do I have to bring flies?
Most of our guests bring some flies along, but we also provide flies at no charge. If you’re not able to bring any flies, that’s OK.
What if I haven’t done much fly fishing?
That’s no problem at all. Our guests range from first-time anglers to expert world-travelers. Our guides are extremely patient and love teaching guests of all ability levels. Part of the beauty of fishing at Alaska West is that it’s a really productive fishery – there are tons of fish in the river, and everybody catches fish, regardless of skill level.
Do you do any fly-out fishing?
No. Our camp is located where it’s located for a reason – we’re right on top of one of the most productive fisheries in the world. We access the river using jet boats that are parked right at our camp. Average run times to the fishing are 10 to 15 minutes depending on the time of year.
How much does it cost?
Check out our rates here.
