Royal Wolf Lodge

Chris and Linda Branham own and operate what is, arguably, the finest trophy trout fishing lodge in Bristol Bay.

They really have little interest in fishing for salmon (though many of the streams they frequent are full of them); their program is built completely around the huge rainbows that frequent the streams surrounding this wilderness oasis. If you were to design the perfect trophy trout lodge, you could do no better than Royal Wolf Lodge. Located in the center of Katmai National Park � years ago the Branham's were able to purchase 120 acres inside the Park, something unlikely to ever happen again � the floatplane flights to most of their targeted streams are only 10-15 minutes in length. They are the epicenter of Alaska's revered monster trout region.

Legendary rivers such as the Moraine, Funnel, Battle, Brooks, Kulik, and Kvichak are within easy striking distance, and the lodge even has coveted permits to fish portions of limited

access rivers like the Big Ku and Lower American, both world-class rainbow streams. In the unlikely event of a weather delay affecting daily fly outs, the famed Nonvianuk River is only a short few hundred yard walk from your cabin door, where the lodge keeps several jet boats; there are times of the year when this wilderness stream will outfit many of the more popular fly out waters. To complement the natural resources, Royal Wolf hires the most experienced, fanatical trout fishing guides available. These guys know and understand the rivers intimately, and in many cases design their own patterns for their clients to use on specific streams, at particular times of the season. Their physical lodge is beautiful, on a heavily forested mountaintop overlooking a series of small lakes and the Nonionic River; it is not unusual to have moose and bears wander through the facility!

Reservations & Rates

The Fly Shop® has been sending people to Royal Wolf Lodge for as long as they have been in existence, from the earliest days of tents, to their current wilderness luxury.

Package Cost:
The cost of the week-long Royal Wolf Lodge package is $8250 per person

Inclusions:
Included in your angling package at the Royal Wolf Lodge is roundtrip flights between Igiugig and the lodge, daily fly-outs, personal guide and/or pilot for each 2-4 guests, use of boats or rafts, lessons, fishing licenses, flies, all meals and soft drinks; wine and beer are available at the lodge.

Non-Inclusions:
Not included in your angling package at Royal Wolf Lodge are any other liquor for personal use is not included (though with forward notice, the lodge can arrange to have it at the lodge upon your arrival), fishing gear

other than flies, personal items and staff gratuities are not included, though loaner waders are available. The roundtrip charter flight from Anchorage to Igiugig (paid directly to the lodge upon arrival).

Travel Insurance:
The Fly Shop® is not in the insurance business, but we offer the Great Outdoors Travel Insurance Plan by Travel Guard coverage as a service with a desire to see your best interests protected. It is impossible to know when an unfortunate situation (loss of luggage, fly rods, illness in the family, or an accident) may occur. However, such things can and do happen, and this insurance can provide a means of recourse against non-refundable financial losses. Great Outdoors Travel Insurance Plan by Travel Guard

Seasons

In the vast majority of the streams Royal Wolf Lodge fishes, there are two distinctly different types of rainbows: resident (those that live full time in the rivers), and lake-run (trout that live most of their lives in lakes, moving into the streams to feed at specific times).

In the early season � June through mid-July � lake-run trout will often migrate into rivers to feast on the downstream migration of the previous year's salmon smolt. During this time, white-colored streamers resembling little smolt are deadly, as are more traditional black Egg-Sucking Leeches (many streams see spawning migrations of lamprey eels, which some believe contributes to the effectiveness of large black leech patterns). As well, both resident and lake fish are hungry after a long, cold winter, and in some streams will react aggressively to a surface-skated mouse pattern.

In early July the Katmai/Iliamna streams flood with a massive infusion of sockeye salmon, an escapement literally numbering in the millions. While at first these fish are more of a hindrance than a help to the trout fishing, by late in the month and particularly by the time August rolls around they become a trout bonanza, providing an egg and flesh smorgasbord seemingly without limit. Royal Wolf guides are acutely aware that different streams experience different timing of sockeye runs, annually; one river might have salmon dropping eggs (inciting gluttonous feeding by the rainbows) a week earlier than another. The key is knowing where to be, and when. There is often a secondary migration of lake fish into streams, following the scent of billions of salmon eggs

being broadcast into the gravel. This is definitely the "time of plenty" with every available trout crowded in behind spawning salmon, often visible in the shallows as they gorge. Single egg patterns and beads are the most productive patterns, though smallish flesh patterns can also be very effective.

As August turns to September, the sockeyes fade dramatically, spawned out and dying, and the days get cool and short. This is the time for the serious trophy hunter. While the resident trout are at their fattest � many in the 2-5 pound category - there is a final upward push of lake fish into many of the streams. While there normally won't be as many hookups as in August, an angler's chance at hooking those elusive 6-10 pound fish becomes significantly better. As always, the importance of a great guide is paramount � some streams get few if any of these brutes, and even in those that do, knowing when and where to find them is a science (albeit a bit of an inexact one). Royal Wolf's experienced guides have a high rate of success this time of year, based both on the experience of years on the streams, and an intuitive sense of where these monsters are likely to be. Normally this time of year the angler will begin to fish less beads, and more large flesh streamers. As well, articulated leech and sculpin patterns can be deadly � it is the "big fly, big fish" time of year!

Getting To Royal Wolf Lodge

Guests arrive and depart Royal Wolf Lodge on Fridays. That is somewhat unusual since many lodges have their guests arrive and depart on Saturdays. Chris Branham's schedule allows anglers to fish some of the most popular regional fisheries on those Saturdays, when there is less pressure from other lodges. On the day prior to your arrival in camp, Thursday, you should plan on traveling to Anchorage and overnighting at one of the many fine hotels there.

Late the next morning (Friday), you will meet the lodge's private charter at the Anchorage Airport, and fly approximately one hour to the outpost village of Igiugig. A seat on this charter is arranged the moment you deposit

on the trip, though it is not included in your lodge billing. We are happy to quote you the rate for the charter anytime - it is payable directly to the Branham's upon arrival at the lodge, either with cash or personal check (they do not accept credit cards). At Igiugig, the lodge pilots will meet you and load you and your luggage into their floatplanes, and transfer you the final 15 minutes to the lodge. The following Friday the procedure is reversed, with guests normally arriving back to Anchorage late in the afternoon. You can choose to overnight in Anchorage this night and connect home the following day, or connect through on a redeye late Friday night, where viable.

Lodging at Royal Wolf Lodge

Royal Wolf Lodge is remote, only accommodates 12 anglers a week in a true wilderness setting, and boasts one of the finest, most tastefully-appointed lodge and cabin complexes in its genre.

Huge windows give gorgeous views out over the surrounding mountains and lakes, and the cabins are large, isolated from each other, each with a private bath, and very comfortable. Every cabin has a covered porch with benches, as well as wader and rod racks on which to store your gear. Each evening, following a long day of fishing on nearby streams, you'll return to a hot shower,

sumptuous hors d' oeuvres, and an open bar. After a chance to swap lies and share photos on digital cameras, a tasty dinner will be served, after which you are free to hang out in the great room, or retire to your individual cabins. It is an exquisite location, and definitely helps to set the mood for your entire experience.

Fishing Day at Royal Wolf Lodge

Each morning there will be a wake-up knock at your cabin door, and a steaming mug of your favorite beverage left on the step.

After an unbelievably tasty breakfast, you'll put on your waders, grab your tackle, and take the short walk down to the shore of a nearby lake, where the floatplanes will be awaiting you. Equipment is a significant distinction separating Royal Wolf from the rest of the first-class fly out lodges in the Iliamna basin. In addition to a Beaver, three float-equipped Helio-Couriers, unique in their ability to take off in a very short distance, allow Royal Wolf guests access to areas that could only otherwise be reached by helicopter or on foot. The Branham's have a wonderful reputation as pilots and anglers. They've been at it since 1949 and know every inch of the area. It's an unbeatable combination of machinery and over 50 years of the Branham family's pioneering lodge experience in Alaska.

There are jet boats on half a dozen rivers in the immediate area. The fishing in this region is simply outstanding! Though most of your trip involves fishing the complex maze of other regional trout streams, having a river like the Nonvianuk in your backyard is a bonus few other destinations offer, at any price. There are streams to fit almost any angler's tastes, from tiny creeks to large rivers. The lodge provides all necessary flies to all clients, so while you may choose to bring your own flies to fish, you don't have to. Many of the flies provided by the guides come from their own tying vises, patterns they have developed over years of fishing this area.

At the end of each day, the floatplanes will pick up their guests at a pre-determined time and place, and take the short flight back to the lodge.

Making Reservations to Royal Wolf Lodge

To make a reservation, please give us a call at 800-669-3474 during business hours any day of the week. We can give you the answers you need, detailed explanations to questions you might have, or check on availability and confirm your reservation in minutes.

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Royal Wolf Lodge

Reservations & Rates

Seasons

Getting To Royal Wolf Lodge

Lodging at Royal Wolf Lodge

Fishing Day at Royal Wolf Lodge

Making Reservations to Royal Wolf Lodge

Signature Destinations

Freshwater Destinations

Saltwater Destinations

Targeted Species

Weather Forecast | Weather Maps

Alaska Destinations

Pages

Links

Social

Hours

Tweets from Chris

SignatureDestinations

FreshwaterRegions

SaltwaterRegions

TargetedSpecies

TravelLinks

Flip-Page Winter Travel Planner

Catalog Departments

Flip-Page Catalog

Guided Waters

Shane Kohlbeck

Private Fisheries

Shane Kohlbeck

Schools

Kidscamps

Royal Wolf Lodge

Reservations & Rates

Seasons

Getting To Royal Wolf Lodge

Lodging at Royal Wolf Lodge

Fishing Day at Royal Wolf Lodge

Making Reservations to Royal Wolf Lodge

Signature Destinations

Freshwater Destinations

Saltwater Destinations

Targeted Species

Weather Forecast | Weather Maps

Alaska Destinations

Pages

Links

Social

Hours

Tweets from Chris

Signature
Destinations

Freshwater
Regions

Saltwater
Regions

Targeted
Species

Travel
Links