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GOODNEWS RIVER LODGE
907-967-2006
This off-the-beaten-path destination on the southwest coast of the mainland
serves up privacy and plenty of shots at trophy-size king salmon.ACCESS: A two-hour flight from Anchorage on a DC-3 goes
directly to the lodge.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Fifteen cabins cater to a max of
24 anglers, with choices of single or double occupancy.
SPORT-FISHING FLEET: Thirteen guides utilize 15 jet boats
and three drift boats from 17 to 19 feet equipped with 115- to
150 hp outboards.
TACKLE AND BAITS: Spin gear matched to quarry sizes and
a full complement of fly rods and reels. Preferred spin lures
include Jr. ThunderSticks, Brad’s Wigglers and Razors; fly
patterns include a variety of streamers and surface poppers.
PRIMARY FISHING GROUNDS: Goodnews Bay, where the
Bering Sea meets the Goodnews River, and upriver within
three minutes of the lodge.
TARGETED SPECIES: All five salmon species plus grayling.
King salmon frequently run more than 40 inches.
SEASON: Kings, reds (sockeye) and chums end of June to
mid-July; pinks third and fourth week of July; silvers fourth
week of July through mid-September; trout and grayling
year-round.
RATES: $5,250 to $6,950 per person per week, which includes
the DC-3 flight from Anchorage.
COMMENTS: Due to its remote location, these waters are
seldom fished by anglers other than lodge guests, and there’s
no commercial fishing in the area. Lodge owner Mike Gorton
says, “We get huge numbers of kings — as many as 40 to
50 a day, even on fly — and they tend to run large due to the
absence of commercial-fishing pressure.”4
KACHEMAK BAY WILDERNESS LODGE
907-235-8910
Luxurious cabins, remote splendor and excellent fishing are hallmarks of this
upscale resort near the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula.ACCESS: If not directly to the lodge by helicopter or floatplane,
typical arrivals involve a flight or car trip from Anchorage to
Homer. Guests are picked up at Homer Boat Harbor for the
30-minute run across Kachemak Bay.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Five cabins take 10 to 14 guests. The
lodge can accommodate up to 16 if the group’s together.
SPORT-FISHING FLEET: A 17-foot Boston Whaler with a
Honda 90, two 21-foot Boston Whalers with Honda 135s, and
two 22-foot aluminum Hewescraft boats with a 150 Yamaha
or 200 Suzuki.
TACKLE AND BAITS: Various brands of 10- to 20-pound spin
gear, all provided, though fly- fishermen must bring their own
tackle. Artificial baits only, for all species, particularly Vibrax
Blue Fox spinners, and spoons including the Pixee, Krocodile
and Swedish Pimple.
PRIMARY FISHING GROUNDS: Fishing from shore or by boat
near the lodge and Kachemak Bay. Trips on separate charter
boats can be arranged for fishing Cook Inlet.
TARGETED SPECIES: King and silver salmon, flounder, halibut
and various rockfishes.
SEASON: Early summer for kings; August to early September
for silvers; halibut, flounder and rockfish all summer.
RATES: Two nights, $2,100 per person; three nights, $2,900
per person; five nights, $4,500 per person; included is the
lodge’s boat for pickup in Homer; scheduled floatplane or
helicopter additional.
COMMENTS: It’s been family-owned for three generations
and features beautiful ocean and mountain views from every
cabin. The lodge is popular with celebrities; Facebook owner
Mark Zuckerberg recently visited.