Aniak River Lodge

Located on the remote banks of the Aniak River, it’s jam-packed with rainbows, dollies, grayling, salmon, sheefish and northern pike. It’s a fish factory. Talk about a complete fly fishing experience!

Aniak River Lodge (ARL) is unique among Alaska fly fishing lodges, in several ways. First, their accommodations, instead of being either an established lodge or a wilderness tent camp, it can actually be both. Guests travel from Anchorage to the outpost village of Aniak, where they are met by lodge staff, and transferred upstream 30 miles to their lovely new WeatherPort lodge on the remote banks of the river, where each 2 anglers will share a private 10′ x 30′ tent cabin with en-suite bathrooms and showers, and take meals at the adjacent main lodge WeatherPort.

Here they’ll stay for the full week, using jet boats for transportation (and in some cases fish from them), for rainbows, dollies, grayling, salmon, sheefish and northern pike. The final night – Thursday – you will have the chance to re-pack, followed by a Friday morning jet boat ride back down to the village of Aniak to catch your flight back to Anchorage.

Aniak Rive Lodge represents one of the most remote fly fishing experiences in all Alaska and is a favorite of ours not only for the fishing but the true Alaska-Spirit it embodies.

Headed out on your next adventure with us? The Fly ShopⓇ has you covered. As a thank you to our travel guests, enjoy 15% off all retail purchases for a year! — the perfect chance to gear up before your trip.

Whether it’s flies, leaders, apparel or a new rod and reel outfit, we’ve got everything you need to make your journey more comfortable, more successful, and more fun. (some exclusions apply)

Seasons

These big trout are more than willing to come to the surface and attack skated mouse flies.

By late June through July one of the biggest runs of king and chum salmon enters the Kuskokwim River. Many of those salmon are headed for the Aniak. If the fishing for kings and chums isn't enough for you, then the rainbows gobbling mouse patterns, streamers and eggs will keep your fly rod busy. You will also find sockeye salmon in the Aniak through August. The numbers of dolly varden in the river and tributaries is almost beyond belief. This is the best time of year to target sheefish and the rivers large population of northern pike in the lower river.

In early August immense schools of silver salmon enter the Aniak River, and change the fisheries dramatically. Suddenly, every backwater is flooded with these chrome sea-runs, and they are eating both streamers and surface poppers. The month of August is the time to come for anglers wanting to fish for both rainbows and silver salmon. The silver salmon tend to average 7-10 pounds, and the Aniak harbors excellent numbers of 18-24 inch trout all season long. And millions of dolly varden!

By early September silver salmon are still prominent throughout the Aniak, though are coloring up. Anglers still do well on egg patterns as well as streamers emulating sculpin, or chunks of rotting salmon flesh - these routinely produce the biggest rainbows. The changing colors are spectacular this time of year, and the Aniak River is full of some of the biggest rainbows of the year, many of whom are again on the prowl for a skated mouse fly.

This is a one-of-a kind fly fishing experience, set within pristine Alaskan scenery, just the way Mother Nature made it. Please give us a call if we can assist in arranging dates or answering any additional questions for you.

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Getting There

Day prior to flying into the lodge: On the day prior to your arrival to the lodge, you should plan on traveling to Anchorage and overnighting at one of the many fine hotels there. Information and recommendations on Anchorage hotels are in our Alaska Pre-trip Tackle Planner which you will receive with your deposit receipt statement.

On your day of arrival, you will take a hotel shuttle or taxi to your assigned charter flight operator – Ryan Air – and we will have let you know the Monday in advance of your Thursday trip what time you need to be at their hangar. You will want to be there one hour prior to the flight time we give you. The flight will be on a Pilatus PC-12, a fast flying, comfortable and pressurized turboprop aircraft which will make the trip in about 1 hour and 15 minutes. There is a 70-pound baggage limit which can include a maximum of two bags and a small carry-on.

Arriving to the village of Aniak, you will be met by the lodge’s iconic school bus transfer vehicle, and driven the 5 minutes to their “other” lodge on the Kuskokwim River. Here you’ll have a hot meal, then transferred to the awaiting jet sleds which will transfer you upstream to the river lodge, where you will be greeted by the staff with welcome drinks, and shown to your accommodations for the week. Dinner will be at 7:00 PM, and at that time guests receive an orientation describing their week, and meet with their guides to discuss the next day’s fishing.

Lodging

Aniak River Lodge is a wilderness fishing outpost, far off the beaten path.

In 2016 the owner opened up his new classic wooden Alaska lodge on the banks of the Aniak. Then, in early 2020 this lodge was lost to a fire. The owner has replaced the lodge facilities with huge (10 X 30) WeatherPort tent guest quarters - two guests per cabin - each with en suite bathroom, flush toilet and shower, and full electricity, and are each connected to the main lodge via boardwalk. The spacious, comfortable main lodge (10 X 50 Weatherport) is where anglers take breakfasts and dinners, enjoy their favorite evening libations, and gather to recount the day’s adventures. The lodge owner brings in a trained chef for lodge meals, which are now always far better than simple camp fare! The new Aniak River Lodge facility is comfortable, well-appointed, and adjacent to miles of great salmon and trout water.

Fishing

One of the great benefits of a river-based operation is flexibility in the daily fishing program…since you are right on the water, travel time does not factor into your day on the water.

At Aniak River Lodge, if you prefer to sleep in, or get up extra early... no problem, the Aniak River Lodge crew will make it happen. The level of personalized service is awesome. Once you have gotten up and enjoyed your choice of breakfast options, you will meet your guide down at the boats (2 anglers per boat/guide), and be off in your jet boat for a day covering the many gorgeous miles of the Aniak River. This river is the perfect size to accommodate the lodge's jet-powered skiffs, and easily waded after arriving to the various fishing runs and braids. Lunches are normally taken streamside, allowing for maximum fishing hours. Each day you will find new favorite pools, and have the option of returning to them, or exploring for new adventures. As each day draws to a close, tired anglers are boated back to the lodge, and the awaiting hot showers, appetizers and amazing dinner entrées.

Aniak River Lodge is a wilderness fishing camp, that focuses on dawn to dusk fishing each and every day of your trip.

Its fishery is diverse and expansive; there are literally 11 different species to pursue during the course of the season. What makes this destination so unique and special, is its mouse fishing for wild rainbow trout. Mousing on the Aniak is as close to the mousing we have in Kamchatka, Russia, without having to travel to Russia. It's that good...

Rates

The cost of the 7-night/6-day Aniak River Lodge package is $8,450 per person

Inclusions:

Your angling package at Aniak River Lodge includes: lodging at the main Aniak River Lodge, an experienced guide for each 2 anglers, jet sleds with padded swivel seats for transportation to daily fishing, flies, split shot and leaders, and all meals, snacks, and drinks (water, coffee and soft drinks – alcohol is not provided, as Aniak is a damp village, so alcohol cannot legally be sold).

Non-Inclusions:

Not included in the package are personal gear, tackle, gratuities, fishing license, all flights between Anchorage and Aniak (though these have been arranged for you and the total added to your invoice), and items of a personal nature.

Travel Insurance:

The Fly Shop® is not in the insurance business, but we recommend 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.
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Seasons Details

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Getting There Details

Getting There

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Lodging

Angling Details

Fishing

Inclusions Details

Rates

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