All About Alaska Float Fishing Trips - A Fly Fisherman's Paradise

Alaska has always held an aura and a mystique that triggers the imagination: the “Last Frontier”, “Land of the Midnight Sun”, “The Great Land”. Our state is a place of such vast wilderness, magnificence, beauty and bountiful natural resources that it draws adventure seekers and outdoors recreation enthusiasts from around the globe. Countless opportunities await the visitor to the 49th state, but for those who have a passion for fly fishing, and the sing of the reel, it is well known that Alaska offers some of the most productive freshwater sportfishing in the world. Our incomparably beautiful, very large rainbow trout, runs of all five species of Pacific salmon, the sea run char; resident arctic grayling, dolly varden, northern pike and other species, cause fly fishing enthusiasts to think “North to Alaska!”.

From lodges based operations that provide all the comforts of home after a day of fishing, to wilderness fly fishing raft expeditions that involve tent camping, there are multiple ways to approach a world class fly fishing experience in the 49th state. For an adventurous individual, perhaps the most productive and unique manner in which to experience Alaska’s incredible fly fishing opportunities is to sign on for a multi-day wilderness float fishing trip. These trips are generally guided, but DIY options exist for those who are highly experienced in wilderness river travel and the fishing techniques required to be successful in Alaska’s waters.

What is an Alaska Float Fishing Trip?

As the term implies, a float trip involves descending a river by raft, with tent camps being set up after each day of wading, bank fishing and, of course, floating. On a rafting trip people experience the quiet and solitude of the wilderness, often accessing waters that can not be reached by lodge based powerboats. For those dedicated fly fishers who are adventurous and who want to “tie into” the most exceptional fly fishing Alaska has to offer, an Alaska float fishing trip is a vacation option very worthy of consideration. Float trips generally run five to eight days in length and are available on some of the most remote, pristine and productive fly fishing waters in the state.

An Alaska raft fishing trip begins with an amazing aerial view of the wilderness from your seat in a specially equipped aircraft, as the group accesses the river of choice. At the put-in location, rafts are assembled, loaded with gear, people are seated and the journey begins. The day of fishing consists of stopping at the best waters to wade and cast, as well as drifting a fly from the raft while traveling downriver to the next hot spot. At the end of the day, guides set up a comfortable camp while people fish or relax. Most outfitters provide a screened dining tent, with walls that can be rolled down in inclement weather as well as roll up or folding dining tables and chairs. Guests sleep in sturdy, roomy mountaineering tents, generally on air mattresses, expedition style. Some outfitters offer creature comforts such as walk-in guest tents that have room for cots, a shower tent and other minor luxuries. Most wilderness fish and float guide services, as an add on, can provide a gear boat and an additional guide to float directly to the evening’s intended campsite and have things set up in anticipation of the guest’s arrival.

Why You Should Choose a Guided Alaska Float Fishing Trip

On a guided Alaska fly fishing float trip, the key element in having a fulfilling, enjoyable and safe time is the skill level, degree of experience and personality of the guides. The best of the float trip providers have a staff of highly qualified, long-time Alaska fly fishing/rafting guides. These individuals serve the many functions that contribute to a guest’s fishing success, safety, comfort and fun. An Alaska fly fishing raft guide needs not only be an oarsmen and outdoorsman, the individual must be a fly fishing expert able to put people into fish and provide instruction where needed. They must be thoroughly knowledgeable of the waters and current fishing conditions. A top notch guide must have leadership and group management skills, safety awareness, camp cooking skills, and to be upbeat, conversant and enjoyable company. Reputable guide services provide photos and bios for their guide team on their websites as well as clearly identifying the rates they charge. In selecting a wilderness guide service, Google and Tripadvisor reviews can be a starting point. Having no reviews from either would not be a good sign. Good questions to ask would be whether you will have a customized, small group trip or will you be merged in with other groups; how many times have the members of the guide team floated the river and are all of them bonified fly fishing guides; what percentage of their guide team are Alaska residents, are there lodges and boat traffic on the river; what are the species of fish in the river and how many of each can you expect to catch in a day; what is their menu for the week of fishing; What gear do they provide and what are you expected to bring; etc.

DIY Self-Guided Alaska Float Fishing Trip

Another approach to the Alaska float trip experience is to go the D.I.Y. route. There are many companies that outfit people with gear and set up transportation for them. This certainly will be economically advantageous, as well as providing a memorable challenge and feelings of self-sufficiency, if successfully pulled off. Potential D.I.Y groups would be well advised to consider going with a guided trip first, to learn the ropes and become familiar with rafting Alaska’s rivers. Many D.I.Y groups have underestimated the challenges and risks associated with backcountry travel in Alaska, resulting in loss of life, National Guard helicopter rescues, damaged or lost gear and life threatening circumstances. What may be a placid river under normal conditions can quickly become a raging torrent after a major storm. Groups have had rafts get away from them and people have ended up stranded. Rowing expertise is required, as well as very solid camping skills and a developed sense of safety awareness.

DIY options are more numerous than that which is offered by the handful of guided trip providers up here. Many air taxis, raft rental outfits and lodges will rent gear and set up transportation for people. So, the selection process is somewhat more difficult. Again, going by internet reviews (or the absence of them) seems to hold true for being a predictor of what you can expect.

Alternative to Float Trips - Experience the Comfort of an Alaska Fishing Lodge

Alaska's many fishing lodges are a more conventional way to access some excellent fly fishing waters, while providing all the comforts of civilization before and after the day of fishing. Lodges come in all sizes, shapes and, yes even colors. There are a countless number of full-service lodges in Alaska that can provide access to good fly fishing waters, others may in actuality only serve those using conventional gear, regardless of what is stated in their marketing tactics. Often lodge based operations must boat or fly people for lengthy periods of time before productive, small fly fishing waters may be accessed. So, it important to ferret out those lodges where a large portion of your day is not spent getting to and from the primo fishing locations.

There is much to be said for having a private cabin or room, housekeeping, a daily hot shower and sitting down in a dining room to enjoy a meal. Many lodges provide (or rent) chest waders, flyrods and associated tackle. Alaska fishing lodges range from mom and pop operations with a handful of guides and boats, to large, upscale fly-out entities with multiple aircraft, boats and a large crew of guides and lodge workers. There are location based lodges who’s guide boats only ply their resident river or lake, and there are fly-out lodges that have aircraft available to access several rivers and lakes in their region. There are also a handful of DIY lodges that provide basic, self-serve facilities to their patrons, and in some cases skiffs. As with float trips, the best of the lodges are also are accessed by aircraft and are not located on Alaska’s limited road system.

One way to narrow down the many lodge options available is to go through a booking agent such as Alaska Fly Out, Fly Water Travel and others. They do not charge for their efforts to set people up with the right lodge for their budget and their fishing expectations. On the other hand, these travel agencies are paid a commission by the lodge that their clients books with, so once again paying attention to Goggle and Tripadvisor reviews will assist a person in assuring themselves of obtaining a legitimate and satisfying lodge experience.

Alaska - Bucket List Fishing Destination

There are many fly fishing destinations on our beautiful planet; but for a truly satisfying, “bucket list” experience, Alaska tops the list. The variety of species to fish to within one river system is incomparable, as is the remoteness and solitude of the wilderness settings for our rivers. There are only a handful of places a person can consistently hook huge rainbow trout or hefty arctic grayling on a surface mouse pattern…the most thrilling “take” a fly fisher can ever experience. Alaska fly fishing is unique, requiring techniques and approaches that are extremely rare or non-existent elsewhere, such as drifting salmon flesh flies; casting salmon fry and smolt imitations; bouncing egg patterns; swinging and dabbing big leech and tape worm streamers; casting surface pollywog flies to silver (coho) salmon; and other peculiar strategies. Accessing Alaska’s wildernesses fly fishing opportunities can be undertaken by float trip or lodge based, guided or unguided. Just be willing to do the research, and dial in the kind of experience you are seeking.

Float Trips With Frontier River Guides

Frontier River Guides has over many years earned a reputation for providing superlative Alaska fly fishing float trips. Our niche as a guide service is to offer only customized, private-party river trips, tailored to your group’s interests. Frontier River Guides has pioneered guided Alaska fly fishing expeditions on several rivers that have no lodges, guide boats or overhead aircraft … SOLITUDE for just you and your friends or family. No one knows these waters as does our guide staff. The FRG guide team has worked together for over two decades, developing a finely tuned approach to conducting fly fishing float trips in Alaska. We have little to no staff turn over and are solid to the core. From the early morning coffee and healthy breakfast, through the day’s wading, fishing and rafting, to the final kitchen clean-up after one of our incredible dinners; our Alaska fly fishing expeditions flow out as smoothly as the rivers we fish. Over the 25 plus years of operation, the Frontier River Guides’ “program” has been dialed in for customer satisfaction.

We offer unsurpassed catch and release fly fishing to BIG Alaska rainbow trout, dolly varden, arctic graying, sea run char and all five species of Pacific salmon. The experiences we provide on our wilderness Alaska fly fishing trips are based on being close to the land and respectful of the bounties of nature. Frontier River Guides has endeavored to provide the most enjoyable and satisfying guided float fishing trips in Alaska, at reasonable rates. We cut no corners in offering an experience which affords our guests a fully satisfying Alaska float trip: skilled/personable guides, amazing meals, comfortable camps, top notch equipment, unfailing logistical support and a 100% safety record. Our staff creates a close rapport with our fishermen, earning us many longtime return clientele and close friends.

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