Sport Fishing USA — January 2018

50 JANUARY 2018

It’s every

angler’s dream:

a trip to Alaska.

Just the thought of bouts with salmon

and halibut near breaching whales

and soaring bald eagles stirs the

soul. Alaska’s phenomenal bounties

of wildlife and sea life beckon; here

are six options to turn that dream

into a reality. Although you could, in

theory, explore 6,640 miles of Alaska

coastline — more than all the other

49 states combined — the best fishing

experiences happen along the state’s

southeast and southwest coasts from

May to mid-September. North of the

Arctic Circle, you’ll find a dearth of

fishing lodges and elements more

severe; most traveling anglers find it far

more satisfying to base fish fights out of

lodges where a cozy bed, good eats and

experienced guides can tip a trip into

the unforgettable zone. Another coastal

benefit is that salmon migrate up rivers

to spawn, allowing bountiful inshore

fishing for them as well. To help with

the challenge of selecting a premier

Alaska fishing experience, the following

lodges (listed alphabetically) offer a

mix of locations that aim to please.

(Note: Always check before booking

for current rates and seasonal specials;

unless otherwise noted, all meals are

included. Keep in mind that posted

rates are often negotiable.)

1

ALASKA’S BOARDWALK LODGE

800-764-3918

At the southernmost entrance to the Inside Passage is

Ketchikan, with Alaska’s Boardwalk Lodge 35 miles to the

southwest, in the lush rainforest on Prince of Wales Island.

ACCESS: Most flights reach Ketchikan from Seattle, and from there,

a scheduled floatplane or ferry gets you to the lodge.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Eleven rooms, up to 22 guests.

SPORT-FISHING FLEET: Five 28-foot cabin cruisers, each with twin

150 Mercury outboards.

TACKLE AND BAITS: Shimano 700 reels with Shakespeare Ugly Stik

rods. For salmon, double-hooked sets with herring, two downriggers

for kings, two flat lines for silvers and a fifth line with a flasher.

DISTANCE TO FISH: Halibut 8 to 10 miles; salmon 10 to 15 miles; all

usually within a 20-minute run.

SEASON: Kings early May to early July; silvers early July to mid-

August and scattered through September; pinks and chum July to

late August; halibut, lingcod and rockfish June through September.

RATES: $5,000 per person, double occupancy preferred but not

required for two days fishing and three nights; $8,200 for four

days fishing and five nights;

cost of floatplane or ferry from

Ketchikan included.

COMMENTS: The calm,

protected waters of the Inside

Passage make for typically

comfortable fishing condi-

tions. The lodge features three

culinary-school-trained chefs.

ALASKA

CANADA

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