A float trip down Alaska’s Kisaralik River offers an unparalleled wilderness fly fishing experience. This is a pristine wilderness river, consistently providing Alaska rainbow trout and salmon fly fishing that is off the charts. The only way to truly access the potential of the Kisaralik River is to float it, there are no lodges on the river. For this reason you will rarely see other people out there, making the Kisaralik River ideal for an Alaska wilderness fly fishing float trip.
Location:
The Kisaralik river originates at Kisaralik Lake and flows through the Kilbuck mountains of western Alaska. It is a west flowing tributary of the Kuskokwim and located southwest of Bethel.
The time in Alaska is 1 hour earlier than the US Pacific Time Zone.
Fishing Program:
On the first day of the trip, you will drive to the Kuskokwim River and depart on a float equipped Beaver aircraft for Kisaralik Lake, approximately 95 miles to the east. The lake is above tree line and lies in the Kilbuck Mountains. Sometimes your guides will elect to camp and fish at the very head waters of the river. From there, the group will descend the mountainous upper river portion at a pretty good clip. Fly fishing is often good, but patchy until you reach the falls, about a 1.5 day journey (30 miles) down river. The pool below the falls offers hours of excellent fly fishing. The river picks up speed and flows through a beautiful canyon for another half day's journey to the Golden gate rapid. This is where the fly fishing really turns on and the pace of travel slows down for the next 40+ miles of incredible braided habitat. The Kisaralik hosts all five species of Pacific salmon (during their various seasonal runs) as well as rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, arctic char and arctic grayling.
There will be one guide for every two anglers and each guide boat will also be fully packed with camping gear. During the travel hours of each day, the majority of fishing will be done from the rafts and when the camp sites are reached there will be ample time to wade fish. Given the many hours of available daylight, you can fly fish until you drop!
Note that despite there being two guides per angler, this trip is best suited to independent, intermediate anglers as most of the quality fishing time occurs once camp is being set up and again when it is being broken down. During these times, the guide staff will have a lot to do and will not be available for detailed guiding.
On the final day of the trip, typically there will be a lot of rowing and only a bit of fishing. In the afternoon your group will be picked up by jet boat(s) operated by Koskokwim Wilderness Adventures. The boat trip back to Bethel takes 2-4 hours and we anticipate that you will return by late afternoon in time for a quick shower and evening flight back to Anchorage.
Accommodations and Meals:
As you work your way down river through incredibly beautiful and varied terrain, comfortable camps are set up on the river bank by your guides. Your help in unloading the boats and setting up/breaking down your tent is appreciated. Sleeping accommodations consist of roomy three person tents, shared by you and your fishing partner. Frontier River Guides will set up screened and covered eating shelters, when necessary, and you will eat like a king, with robust breakfasts, hearty lunches and a world palate of incredible dinners.
There is considerable flexibility as to when groups eat breakfast and dinner and anticipate this conversation early in your trip. One should anticipate a “river time” component in which events often slow considerably and take longer than one might think. Typically after breakfast is served and your bags are packed, it will be two hours before the boats are ready to go. This is also one of the prime windows for carefully fishing the camp water.
Note: Anglers will be responsible for providing their own sleeping bags, camp pillow and sleeping pads (like Thermarests) while Frontier River Guides will provide all other camping equipment.
Sample Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive in Anchorage
Day 2: Arrive in Bethel and overnight
Day 3: A lodge representative will pick you up in Bethel for the drive to the Kuskokwim river where you will board a float plane for the flight to Kisaralik Lake. Fish the upper reaches of the Kisaralik and overnight.
Days 4 - 9: Six full days of guided fishing.
Day 10: Row 15-20 miles downriver to the take-out, break down rafts and take a jet boat ride downriver to Bethel. Fly to Anchorage and points beyond.
