Frequently Asked Questions
June through October is fishing season at The Lodge. The ideal time to visit during the season will depend upon what species and other activities you’re most interested in.
The Lodge is a great place to stay to experience Alaska. For those not interested in fishing, we can tailor trips around sightseeing and wildlife viewing. Our most common trips are The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, viewing the bears and sockeye salmon in the famous Katmai National Forest falls, and flying out to the beach when the walruses are around.
You should come prepared for the elements. We recommend bringing layers of clothing so you can add or remove layers depending upon the weather. You will likely want to bring a waterproof jacket, sunglasses, sun protection for your skin, lip balm, hats, and gloves.
Guests are responsible for airport transfers from Anchorage to King Salmon and back. One of our staff members will meet you at the airport in King Salmon upon arrival and will take care of you from there.
Bear Trail Lodge vacuums seals, professionally boxes, and freezes your catch in a fish box. This item can be carried as luggage on the chartered flight from King Salmon to Anchorage. Once in Anchorage, guests often stay a few more days or over night. Fish can be stored at the Anchorage Internal Airport in an on-site freezer located within the airport for a nominal fee. Guests can then choose to either use FedEx to ship items to their home address, use the fish shipping service in the airport to ship items to their home, or transport the fish on their return aircraft as checked luggage. Fish cannot be packed with dry ice when traveling on commercial airplanes, so this is recommended only for flights shorter than 5 hours in duration.
Items you will want to bring with you include:
- Camera or Go-Pro
- Waterproof jacket
- Layered warm clothing
- Sunglasses and/or prescription eyewear
- Medications and medicinal needs
- Toiletries
- Hats & gloves
- Fishing license
- Government-issued identification or passport
Three hearty meals each day are included in your package. All meals are prepared by The Lodge chef, and are all-you-can-eat. We can accommodate your specific dietary needs, but due to our remote location, we do ask that you provide us with this information well before your trip. This allows our culinary team to ensure we have what you need on hand.
As a full-service luxury lodge, we have nearly everything you might need for your Alaskan fishing adventure, including:
- Spinning and bait-casting rods
- Fly fishing spey rods
- Fly fishing rods & reels
- Flies
- Waders in various sizes for men, women, and children
- Wading boots in a range of sizes for men, women, and children
- Bath towels, soaps, shampoo and basics
- Food & beverages
If you forget something, our lodge also includes a small gift shop where you can find certain items available for purchase. These include jackets, sunglasses, lip balm, mosquito repellent, sun/wind buffs or layered clothing.
A typical day at The Lodge will follow the following schedule, with specific details based on whether you’re fishing on the Naknek River or on a Fly-out trip:
- 6:00 a.m. - Breakfast
- 7:00 a.m. - Depart from the lodge (for the Naknek River, a remote river, or sightseeing destination)
- Lunch - Served riverside by your guide
- 4:30 p.m. - Arrive back at the dock or at the pickup location
- 6:30 p.m. - Cocktails and appetizers in the main lodge
- 7:00 p.m. - Dinner in the main lodge
Tipping is not included in our packages, nor is it mandatory or expected. Many of our guests do choose to tip, and 12 to 15% of the groups’ total cost is customary. Tips are pooled and shared with all Bear Trail Lodge personnel including: guides, dock hands, grounds crew, kitchen staff, and housekeeping.