Goodnews River Lodge

Mike Gorton’s remote outpost camp on the Goodnews River has been popular with hardcore anglers for decades.

This midrange-sized river is far enough off the beaten track so as to have very few free floaters, meaning most of the many miles of river “belong” to Mike’s guests for the week they will be there. The Goodnews experiences all five major runs of Pacific salmon, and has excellent populations of both rainbow trout and sea-run dolly varden, as well. The camp itself is located just about where the upstream tidal influence ends, meaning the salmon one catches will be dime-bright and full of fight. The rainbows tend to be most numerous further up the river from camp, and wonderfully, are very fond of skated mouse patterns (as well as the standard streamers and single egg patterns).

Guests stay in well-appointed tents erected on wooden platforms, and enjoy the benefits of camp-wide boardwalks, propane heaters, great food and guides, and fishing literally out the front door.

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

The king salmon run on the Goodnews begins in late June and lasts well into July. Along with the kings, chum and sockeye salmon move into river by the thousands in early July. These salmon are chrome bright and fresh from the Bering Sea, many wearing sea lice from their years in the ocean. Mid-July brings the arrival of the sea run Dolly Varden, and this is the time when some of the largest Dollies of the year are caught, up to 30”. In even numbered years, pink salmon by the thousands move into the river, and fresh pinks are tons of fun on a light fly rod. The Goodnews “Grand Slam" season hits its peak at the end of July. It's quite an accomplishment for an angler to land all five species of pacific salmon on fly in one day, and the Goodnews River is one of the few rivers in Alaska where that is possible.

The first silver salmon enter the river by the last week of July and continue until after the camp closes in early September. These are the most aggressive of all the pacific salmon, and one of the ultimate fish on a fly rod. Watching a wake bulge in the water’s surface behind your popper builds the suspense, and seeing that chrome head lunge forward, engulfing your fly is just the beginning. Silvers are very aerobatic, often cartwheeling through the air when hooked.

Rainbow trout and Dolly Varden follow the salmon upriver and position themselves behind spawning chums, sockeyes, and pinks, feasting on the eggs washing out of the redds. Sight fishing to these fish gorging themselves on eggs after fishing the incoming tide for silvers makes for a spectacular day on the Goodnews.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Primary Season

Getting There

Goodnews River Lodge is accessed by air charter from Anchorage.

From Anchorage, the lodge recommends their private charter Trans Northern. It is a two-hour non-stop flight and eliminates the hassle of flying through Bethel and into Goodnews, and is included in your trip cost. The flight is direct, non-stop from Ted Stevens Anchorage Airport to Goodnews Bay, and return. The flight leaves at 10:00 am on Wednesday mornings, and guests are asked to be at the airport by 9:00 am for processing. The gate currently being used is in the "A" concourse, located on the lower level of the airport on the far side of baggage claim, and does not require that the guest go through the normal security screening lines. Specifically, to find the gate: Very simply, as you face the terminal, the A gates are on the bottom level to the left at the very end. There are plenty of signs and they will not have to go through security. You'll want to be dropped off at the very end of the terminal by your taxi, then follow the signs to Gate L-2.

Remember that you will be checking in at the gate, NOT at a ticket counter on the upper level. We will have a sign at the Gate saying TransNorthern with flight information. The plane will make the trip in slightly over two hours, and then the guests are transported from the airport directly to the camp via jet boat.The return trip on the following Wednesday leaves Goodnews Bay at approximately 12:00 pm, and arrives back in Anchorage by 3:00 pm. We ask that guests do not make reservations for their flights home before 7:00 pm that night. All of this is obviously dependent on the weather, and delays are not uncommon, but not too frequent either.

Lodging

Goodnews River Lodge is the only full service fishing lodge on this three branch river system.

The camp is made up of 10 Weatherport guest tents, each elevated off the ground, and connected to the main common area by a mostly elevated walkway. Each tent has a metal door with a window in the front, a frame window in the rear allowing for cross ventilation, and a full ensuite bathroom with flush toilet and shower. Each tent is supplied with a propane heater, and a propane lamp should any guest wish for light after the generator is turned off at 10:30pm. (It comes on at 5:00am so there is full power to all tents in the morning). The common area consists of a dining tent, which also houses a sitting area, fly tying bench, and a shop for souvenirs. Next to it is the bath facility, with 6 complete baths, each with a shower, water heater, and a chemical toilet. This facility connects to a heated drying tent for guest's and guide's waders, jackets, etc, and is kept warm all night so all clothes are dry for the next day's fishing.

The commercial kitchen features standard Alaskan fare, from steak to salmon, and can accommodate most requests. A full breakfast buffet starts the day at 7:00am. Dinners are a choice of 3 entrees and a fish dish every day. Lunches are a sandwich board with many choices, and there is always hot soup available for anyone who wants to come in for lunch. Shore lunches are provided upon request. Since the tents are located right on the river, you can fall asleep to the splashing of the migrating fish.

Fishing

Since the camp is located at the top of the tide line on the main branch of the river (there are three distinct, and very fishable branches, each with its own character), the vast majority of salmon fishing for all 5 species is for chrome bright, sea-lice fish fresh from the salt.

Since the river is at it widest and deepest in tidewater, some of the king fishing is best done from one of 10 skiffs that carry two anglers (or 3 if there is a party that wishes it). There is everything from high powered skiffs for a long run upriver, to a drift boat. However, there is ample opportunity to wade fish both the tidewater areas, the mouths of all three branches as they split off the main tidal section, and miles of river, if that is what the angler wishes. There are wonderful opportunities to swing a fly on one or two-handed rods for all of the salmon species. Silvers are best caught wading, but can also be fished for from a boat. Each evening all guests are given the opportunity to decide what they wish to fish for, where they would like to fish, and how they want to fish for the following day.

The fishing day is normally 8:30 am to 5:30pm. Most guests find this ample time. However, during King season when the tide is right, the guides, by request of their anglers, will take anyone wishing back out after dinner until 10:30 pm. Due to the location of the camp, there is also great fishing right out in front of the camp, especially for silvers and chums as they make their way upriver.

Rates

• June 17-24 Kings, Rainbows, Grayling, Chum, Sockeye $7,995

• June 24–July 1 Kings, Chum, Sockeye, Rainbow, Dolly Varden $7.995

• July 1-8 Kings, Chum, Sockeye, Dolly Varden, Rainbow $8,495

• July 8-15 Kings, Chum, Sockeye, Dolly Varden, Rainbows $8.495

• July 15-22 Grand Slam, Kings, Rainbow, Dolly Varden- $7,995

• July 22-29 Grand Slam, Rainbows, Dolly Varden, Silvers Kids Kast and Katch Week Sold Out

• July 29- Aug 5 Silvers, Rainbows, Dolly Varden, Grand Slam $8,995

• Aug 5-12 Silvers, Rainbows, Dolly Varden, $8,995

• Aug 12-19 Silvers, Rainbows, Dolly Varden $9.495

• Aug 19-26 Silvers, Rainbows - $9,495

• Aug 26-Sept 2 Silvers, Rainbows Sold Out

• Sept 2-9 Silvers, Rainbows Cast and Blast Week** $7,995

Goodnews River Lodge reserve the right to revise the pricing as economic conditions dictate.

Any requests for single accommodations will be handled on a case by case basis. Any request for single accommodation during the weeks of July 1-15 will be charged a $500 fee. Any Requests for single accommodations during the weeks of August 5-26 will be charged a $1500 fee. Singles willing to share a cabin can do so at no additional charge.

Inclusions:

All rates include round trip airfare from Anchorage to Goodnews Bay ($1375 in 2026), the $130 Native Land Use Fee, deluxe tent accommodations, meals, amenities, daily guided fishing trips away from the camp, guides (2 anglers to a boat/guide), flies, terminal tackle, and waders and wading shoes if needed. At the end of the week the camp will vacuum seal the salmon filets you wish to bring home and put them in waxed boxes for your travel home.

Non-Inclusions:

Not included in your angling package at Goodnews River Lodge are flights to and from Anchorage, Alaska, fishing license, gratuities, alcohol, fishing gear, or 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.
• Travel Insurance Information

Seasons Details

Seasons

Getting There Details

Getting There

Lodging Details

Lodging

Angling Details

Fishing

Inclusions Details

Rates

Why We Endorse Goodnews River Lodge

Contact Our Travel Specialists

Stay Updated