Fantastic Alaska Lodge Openings in 2021 – Last Best Options!
Many Alaska lodges did not open due to COVID in 2020, instead rolling all their guests to 2021. As a result, most outfitters are starting out this coming season heavily booked. Yet there are still prime openings at some of the finest destinations in the state, and right now is the time to act if you are planning a trip north this summer. We have worked closely for many years with all of the lodges and camps listed below – we have fished their waters, eaten their food, slept in their cabins, and know their operations inside and out. They are good people and solid outfitters.
And there is no one more experienced or better equipped than The Fly Shop® to help you find and put together the Alaska trip of a lifetime from these options. This is by no means a comprehensive list of availability at our lodges, but it does give a taste of some of the amazing experiences still available. Feel free to give us a call (800) 669-3474 or drop an email (travel@theflyshop.com) if you would like more details – we would love to help you put together your dream trip. Remember, Alaska does not require a passport, operated safely in 2020, and is quick and easy to reach from the Lower 48. It is, of course, not an international destination, but it sure fishes like one. And when you’re there, immersed in spectacular wilderness and wildlife and catching big numbers of fish – some of which may be new to your species bucket list – it can definitely feel like a faraway and exotic country!
Lava Creek Lodge
One of the most exciting new lodges in Alaska, Lava Creek Lodge is extremely remote, only a rifle shot from the salt, and has near exclusive access to three world-class salmon rivers and a number of smaller streams that can offer equally spectacular action. As well as epic king salmon and silver salmon action, Lava Creek has options for chum salmon, Dolly Varden, and some beautiful rainbow trout. Fishing is all via wading, though accessed by jet boat, both on the home river and on the other rivers that are flown out to, weather permitting (with the exception of one small creek that is loaded with dollies and some chunky rainbows that is walked and waded all day). This season the lodge owner is spotting a boat or two on a new stretch of river that has rarely, if ever, been fished before but is believed to have great trout and Dolly Varden fishing – we are very excited to give it a try!
- June 6 – July 11, 2021 King Season: $7,900/person/week, from Anchorage
- July 11 – August 22, 2021: Grand Slam Season (Chums, Dollies, Rainbows): $6,800/person/week, from Anchorage
- August 22 – September 26, 2021: Silver Season: $7,900/person/week, from Anchorage
June 6 – 13, 2021: (1 rod)
July 18 – 25, 2021: (5 rods)
July 25 – August, 1 2021: (8 rods)
August 1 – 8, 2021: (6 rods)
August 8 – 15, 2021: (4 rods)
August 15 – 22, 2021: (8 rods)
August 29 – September 5, 2021 (4 rods)
September 19 – 26, 2021: (2 rods)
Big Ku Lodge
Big Ku is a very special and intimate fly fishing destination, featuring a small six-person lodge overlooking the raw beauty of Katmai National Park and a home water considered among the finest trout streams in Alaska. The program here is all about big rainbows. There is certainly the opportunity to catch beautiful Dolly Varden and grayling (and even lake trout and northern pike for those so inclined), but the lodge’s jet boats can also transport wading anglers to four incredible trout streams, and this is why you go to Big Ku Lodge. Guests can also choose to pay extra to be flown to other stellar rivers during their stay, though there is seldom a need to.
- June 12 – July 24, 2021: $7,650/person/week, from Anchorage
- July 24 – September 25, 2021: $8,350/person/week, from Anchorage
The Fly Shop’s Chris King (chris@theflyshop.com) is hosting a trip to Big Ku the week of September 18 – 25, 2021, which is arguably the best week of the season for those wanting to swing streamers for some of the largest trout of the season. Chris is a great guy, experienced traveler, and world-class casting instructor who will be happy to work with you on your technique. Nearly all the fishing this week is on the home river.
June 12 – 19, 2021: (3 rods)
July 3 – 10, 2021: (2 rods)
July 10 – 17, 2021: (4 rods)
July 17 – 24, 2021: (6 rods)
July 24 – 31, 2021 (5 rods)
July 31 – August 7, 2021: (2 rods)
August 14 – 21, 2021: (1 rods)
August 21 – 28, 2021: (1 rods)
August 28 – September 4, 2021: (3 rods)
September 18 – 25, 2021: ( Chris King hosted week) (4 rods)
Royal Wolf Lodge
Royal Wolf is unquestionably among the finest wilderness trophy trout fly-out lodges in all of Alaska. Its location on a grandfathered piece of land in the Katmai National Preserve puts it a short flight from any of the famous trout streams in the region … and there are a lot of them! The lodge’s specialty is placing anglers – along with highly skilled and experienced guides – onto the best portions of the finest trophy rainbow streams at any given time of the season. Their specialized aircraft means better access to these rivers, and fly fishers will be blown away at the quality of the fishing they experience each and every day. The lodge and the individual guest cabins are far more than comfortable, with beautiful vistas, and the daily cuisine is unbelievable. If catching big rainbows is what you love to do, there is not a better lodge to help you live that dream, all while nestled in the awe-inspiring wilds of Alaska.
- June 11 – July 9, 2021: $9,250/person/week, from Anchorage
- July 9 – September 24, 2021: $11,650/person/week, from Anchorage
- September 24 – October 15, 2021: $8,950/person/week, from Anchorage
The Fly Shop® owner, Mike Michalak, (mike@theflyshop.com) will be hosting the week of September 17 – 24, 2021, at Royal Wolf Lodge — one of the favorite weeks here. It has the advantage of offering some of the largest rainbows of the season, at a time when the fish are transitioning from six weeks of gorging on salmon eggs to feeding on salmon flesh and aggressively striking many other types of streamers as well. Mike is a true pioneer in the travelling fly fishing world and has had a hand in the initial exploration and development of many destinations that are now household names. A week with him is like a history lesson of the “who’s who” in the sport and is sure to entertain.
June 18 – 25, 2021: (3 rods)
June 25 – July 2, 2021: (2 rods)
July 16 – 23, 2021: (3 rods)
July 23 – 30, 2021: (5 rods)
July 30 – August 6, 2021: (4 rods)
August 6 – 13, 2021: (2 rods)
September 17 – 24, 2021: (Mike Michalak hosted week) (3 rods)
Aniak River Lodge
This comfortable tent camp is the only operation on the entire, heavily-forested Aniak River, so guests can count on not seeing any anglers from other lodges. Fly fishers share many miles of this amazing fishery, fishing for big rainbows (who because of the lack of fishing pressure love to eat skated mouse patterns as well as streamers and eggs), unbelievable numbers of Dolly Varden, dry fly-eating grayling, all five species of Pacific salmon, and even sheefish and northern pike, if desired. Space here is almost completely gone, but there are still some superb openings left early (prime mousing dates), and late (prime streamer fishing for big rainbows).
- June 19 – September 11, 2021: $6,495/person/week
June 26 – July 3, 2021: (8 rods)
August 28 – September 4, 2021: (10 rods)
September 4 – 11, 2021: (8 rods)
Talaheim Lodge
A classic wood lodge in the rugged forests off Cook Inlet, Talaheim helicopters their guests into fish-packed smaller rivers in places no other lodges can reach. For anglers who love to walk and wade untouched streams full of trout, Dolly Varden, and grayling, Talaheim is your kind of place! Because these fish get so little pressure, the rainbows will routinely eat skated mouse patterns, and the dollies love skated dries or small poppers. And of course grayling are nearly always excited to eat dry flies. As one of the only Alaskan fly fishing lodges using helicopters to access their daily fishing, just the daily flying alone is memorable!
- June 20-September 11, 2021: $8,600/person/week (6 nights, 7 days)
July 11 – 17, 2021: (4 rods)
July 18 – 24, 2021: (3 rods)
July 25 – 31, 2021: (4 rods)
August 15 – 21, 2021: (3 rods)
August 29 – September: 4, 2021: (5 rods)
September 5 – 11, 2021 (6 rods)
