Describing a place as unique and special as Fishing Bear Lodge is anything but easy. At its core this modest and endearing family run Alaskan lodge offers its guests just the right amount of "roughing it and an opportunity to experience a remarkable diversity of true wilderness fly fishing.
Backed up against the surreal spires of the Wind River range, right in the heart of southwest Alaska's 1.6 million acre Wood-Tikchik State Park, Fishing Bear employs jet boats to fly fish a host of seldom seen small streams for hearty rainbows, abundant Arctic char and large surface oriented grayling.
Location:
Fishing Bear Lodge is located in southwest Alaska, due west of Dillingham.
Species: Rainbow trout, Arctic char, graying, pike, sockeye salmon
Season: Late July to early October
Program:
Each morning after a hearty breakfast, you and a fly fishing partner will set out with your experienced guide (one guide for every two anglers) via your guided jet boat for a full day of adventure and fly fishing. Fishing Bear will customize each day the way YOU want to fish. They combine 22 years of experience and intimate knowledge of the area with your desires. You will jet boat from river to river and through the interconnected lake system to various streams throughout the heart of the Park to fly fish select locations.
Your fly fishing options are unlimited, as you will be fishing the most diverse freshwater system of rivers, lakes and streams in all of Alaska!
Itinerary Key Points:
(Sample Itinerary)
Day 1: Arrive Dillingham and overnight at your elected accommodations (independently arranged, not included).
Day 2: Take your scenic charter float plane flight from Dillingham to the lodge (arranged by lodge, not included in package). Upon your arrival at Fishing Bear Lodge, you will move into your waterfront cabin and then head out for a full day of guided fishing.
Days 3-7: Five full days of guided fishing.
Day 8: After breakfast you will have time to finish packing your gear. Depart lodge in the morning for your charter flight to Dillingham and beyond.
Recommended Gear:
Rods: Trout- 9-10 ft. 5-6 wt., Salmon- 9-10 ft. 7-9 wt. rods.
Reels: Any well-made reel with at least 100 yards of backing.
Lines: Trout- Weight forward floating lines are the norm but if you are fishing in June, July, or September bring along sinking tip lines such as the Mastery wet tip type 4, Teeny 200, or the Rio Versi-Tip in the appropriate weights. Salmon- Weight forward floaters are the most common but bring along at least one of the following if you are deliberately targeting Salmon: Mastery wet tip type 4, Teeny five foot mini tip, or the Rio Versi-Tip in the appropriate weights.
Leaders/Tippet: Trout- 9-10 ft. tapered leaders in 2-5X (two or three of each) and tippet to match. Salmon- 9-10 ft. tapered leaders in 2-0X and tippet to match. Note: Fluorocarbon has become popular for the trout fishing.
Flies: The lodge does have an assortment of flies that they are happy to provide you with but feel free to bring your own. For rainbow grayling and dollies consider the following: Whitlock's Near Nuff Sculpin in size #4-8 and the # 6 Morrish Sculpin (brown and dark olive). Additionally, come well prepared with black, brown and olive woolly buggers (bunny leaches too) in sizes #2-8 as well as similar sized egg sucking leaches in both black and purple. Also bring along your standard dries including parachute Adams, elk hair caddis and general attractors like the madam X and other larger rubber legged creations. Just for grins throw in a few mice.
Waders & Boots: Chest high breathable waders and rubber soled wading boots. We recommend a good quality Gore-Tex type wader like Simms. Keep in mind that you will be spending a lot of time in your waders, so have a pair you are comfortable with. Having waders that are loose fitting makes them easier to get on and off. Studded wading boots are strictly prohibited, as they can damage the boats and aircraft. Anglers are free to bring removable traction devices such as the Patagonia River Crampons for additional traction.
Note: Felt-soled waders and wading boots are no longer legal footwear when fishing in Alaska's fresh waters.
