Rainbow River Lodge: Alaska Fishing Lodge to maximize your Alaska Fishing Experience

It's summertime and you've always wanted to fish the great Alaska State for Salmon or Rainbow Trout, walking amongst the bears in crystal clear waters while schools of fish are finning in front of you. You've played the vision over and over in your mind and you are ready to make this this a reality. So how do you find the lodge that best suits your trip? With remote locations, float plane costs, gear costs, and many other things a decision like this takes some thought as the price you are going to pay isn't going to be as low as a trip to your local waters. Here are some things to consider when choosing your Alaska Fishing Lodge.

1. Does the Alaska fishing lodge have both Home Waters and Fly-out Rivers?

Weather in Alaska is always unpredictable. Yes, even in the summertime, the degree of latitude north where Alaska lies takes the predictability of sunshine away. Your week vacation might be entirely in the hands of the weather gods and you don't want to be grounded for the entire week because the lodge can't fly you out to one of it's fishing locations. You will want to look for a lodge that has "home waters" or nearby waters that are great fishing and accessible by boat or wading.

Alternatively, you also want to find a lodge that has more options than fishing one river for the entire trip. The diversity of rivers and fish in Alaska is abundant and you want to be able to experience this to the fullest. While some lodges offer only fly-out fishing or minimal "home waters", others offer both blue ribbon home waters as well as many options for fly-out fishing to maximize your experience. One such lodge is Rainbow River Lodge, located on the home waters of the Copper River. The Copper is regarded as one of the finest trout fishing rivers in Alaska and even when the weather is good for fly-outs many guests still choose this river because of how good the fishing is here and how scenic the location is. Rainbow River Lodge also offers float plane trips to many other rivers within a few hundred miles of the lodge. Each of these rivers is unique… some are set in the forest and have a great population of Grayling while others flow through the spongy tundra teaming with fresh Sockeye and Rainbow Trout. Remember, ask the lodge you are interviewing about both their home waters and their fly-out locations.

2. How long on average have the guides worked at the Alaska fishing lodge?

This might be your one shot trip of a lifetime. Alaska's fishing might be fables as "easy" where you can "walk across the backs of fish" because there are so many. In many instances, this might be true. The volumes of Salmon Runs and the size of the Rainbow Trout are two great assets Alaska has to offer. However, fishing is fishing, and like any other place fish can get smart to pressure and rivers have late/early timed runs where your trip might not be during the peak. You will need to have the most experienced guides available that know these small but important details…how to fish effectively in every situation and provide you with the opportunities to catch the fish of a lifetime. Make sure your lodge has a competent guide staff that live and breath fishing. They know the waters, know the techniques, know where and when to fish with each change of weather.

3. Roughing it or enjoying the Comforts of home?

Alaska is one beautiful place and you've spent the time preparing for a trip into the wild. There is a huge range of the quality of accommodations that are offered to you between lodges. Some offer tent camps along a river with a cot to sleep on, while others offer private cabins furnished with satellite TV, hot showers, and a lodge dining room that rivals your best restaurant in your home town. While roughing it in a cot might seem like the "full Alaska experience", keep in mind that most of Alaska is teaming with mosquitoes, white socks (another biting bug), and no see-ums (yet another biting gnat). You might want to consider that your days spent on the river fishing are enough of the wild experience, but a nice hot shower and good meal is a reward worth the extra expense. It's up to you.

Whatever lodge you choose, your experience in Alaska will provide memories that will last a lifetime. Just spend some time researching lodges and reviewing some of the things mentioned above in order to make the best choice possible for the money. Best of luck.

Log on http://www.rainbowriverlodge.com for Alaskan fishing lodges, fly fishing trips, silver salmon fishing, fly fishing, trout fishing, bear viewing, vacations, resorts and other Alaska adventure trips!!