Included / Not Included –
Included: Meals, guiding, major camping equipment, transfers from Dillingham to the river and from the river to Bethel, limited beer and wine, dry bags, cots and pads, and back up flies.
Not Included: Airfare to Dillingham and airfare from Bethel, accommodations and meals in Dillingham and Anchorage, fishing license, synthetic sleeping bag, pillow, hard alcohol, flies, personal fishing equipment, gratuities.
Travel Logistics:
Arrival Information: To reach the headwaters of the Kanektok anglers will need to make air reservations with Alaska Airlines into Dillingham and out of Bethel. Anglers must arrive Dillingham, Alaska the day before their official start date on an evening flight. After arriving Dillingham, check in with Fresh Water Adventures (the bush air charter service that will fly you to the starting location the following morning) and then on to the Beaver Creek B&B for your overnight accommodations.
Getting to the Put-in: Travel by bush plane to the headwaters of the Kanektok river.
Departure Information: On the last day of your trip you will arrive at the take out in the late afternoon and fly to Bethel (included). Please make a return flight reservation for the evening Alaska Airlines flight back to Anchorage (currently departing Bethel at about 8:40PM). Note: Many anglers will choose to spend the night in Anchorage before heading home (independently arranged and not included). Alternatively, you could catch a red eye home.
Travel Cash:
As a guideline we recommend that each guest travels with approximately $600-700 for staff & guide gratuities, alcohol, licenses, etc.
Gratuities:
Gratuities are not included in the cost of the package and are left to the discretion of the individual angler. For planning purposes fishermen can expect the industry standard of around 10% of the trip price ($400-$500). This should be in cash and can be given to the head guide at the end of your trip.
Fishing Licenses:
Fishing licenses are not included in your package price and will need to be picked up in Dillingham before your bush flight.
Climate:
In general, during June and July average temperatures are in the 60's to mid 70's. Temperatures in the fall are quite a bit cooler and average in the 50's-60's. Temperatures can drop into the 30's and 40's at almost any time in Alaska. Keep in mind that Alaska has unpredictable weather -- it is good to always come prepared. You will encounter some biting insects such as mosquitoes, no see-ums, and white sox, but typically a light coating of insect repellent is enough to keep them off. On the river, where there is usually a light breeze, you should hardly notice them. If the weather is perfect for bugs sometimes a head net is nice to have. Insect repellant is provided.
Medical Facilities:
Emergency facilities are not readily available. The only access to medical assistance is by emergency evacuation by National Guard helicopter. Please assess your medical problems before booking. Membership in a medical evacuation program is recommended.
We recommend Global Rescue.
Power and Communications:
The trip will be equipped with a satellite phone for emergency communications.
Water:
The guides will purify all drinking and cooking water throughout the course of your tip.
Clothing:
As the climate is extremely changeable and a wide range of temperatures and conditions can be expected, we recommend layering clothes. Typical fishing clothing consists of synthetic long underwear, fleece jacket and pants, hooded sweatshirt, and a good fishing rain jacket. Fingerless gloves are nice for cold mornings, and bring along a warm hat for early and late season fishing. For anglers made particularly uncomfortable by biting insects, pack along a mosquito head net if visiting during the first half of the season.
Beverages/Alcohol:
Limited beer and wine is available as part of the package. Due to space and weight constraints, large quantities of beer and wine are discouraged. Please transfer all hard alcohol into plastic containers before the start of the trip.
Tackle/Equipment List:
Rods: Trout, Char; 9 ft. 5-7 wt. Rods Salmon; 9-10 ft. 7-9 wt. Rods.
Reels: Any well-made reel with at least 100 yards of backing. Disk drags work well.
Lines: Trout; Weight forward floating lines are the norm but sinking tip lines such as the Mastery wet tip type 4, Teeny 200, or the Rio Versi-Tip in the appropriate weights can come in handy as well. 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, Rio Versi-Tip, and or Teeny 200 or 300 grain heads in the appropriate weights.
Leaders: Trout; 9-10 ft tapered leaders in 1X- 3X (2 or 3 of each) and tippet to match. Salmon; 9-10 ft. tapered leaders in 1X-0X and tippet to match. Note: Fluorocarbon has become popular for the trout fishing.
Flies:
Trout Streamers: Black and Olive articulated leaches (12) size 2-4, Morrish Sculpins in dark olive and brown size 2, Zonkers in olive and natural size 4 (12), Bead and cone head Wolley Buggers in size 2 (12), Purple egg sucking leaches, Flesh flies in cluding the Morrish Medusa and other personal favorites. Egg Patterns (1-2 dozen total); Glo Bugs size 8-10 shell pink, and peach; beads in assorted pink tones.
Sockeye Salmon: (July only) Gold Comets size 8 (12), Sockeye Orange size 8 (12) and flash flies in size 4 (3-6).
Trout Dries: Morrish Mouse size 4 (6), assorted dries like parachute Adams, elk hair caddis, Wulffs and stimulators in sizes 8-14.
Waders & Boots: Chest high breathable and or neoprene waders with felt soled wading boots. No studs or cleats please, as they can damage the boats.
Miscellaneous: Fishing vest or chest pack, polaroid fishing glasses, needle nose pliers or hemostats for releasing fish, split shot, indicators, hook hone, nippers, camera and lots of film, insect repellent and a head net if you are sensitive to bugs, sunscreen, a waterproof bag for your day gear, hat, bandana, split shot, and tape measure
Packing List:
Top quality fishing rain coat
(2) Synthetic T-shirts
Rain pants
(1) Pair shorts
Baseball cap
Towel
Wool hat (early and late summer)
Sunglasses (polarized)
Light gloves (water resistant)
Toiletry Kit-Sunscreen, Ibuprophin etc.
Pile jacket &/or heavy wool sweater
Flashlight or Headlamp (late summer)
Camp shoes (water resistant/proof)
Spare batteries
(2) Camp pants (one medium, one heavy in wool or pile)
Reading materials
(2) Long sleeve shirts (one medium, one heavy in fleece or wool)
Pocket knife
(5) Heavy wool (or synthetic) socks (7)
Bug head net
(2-3) Long johns (medium Weight), or wading pants, for under waders
Camera and film
(2) Long sleeve undershirts (wool or polypro)
Other handy items
Underwear
No Firearms Please!
Note: Pre-pack your T-shirts, underwear, socks etc. in freezer weight zip lock bags for added moisture protection. These will in turn be packed into a large dry bag that you will receive before your trip.
You will receive a small dry bag at the start of the trip for you day gear.
