Big Dave's Alaskan Bush Lodge

Perhaps the strongest reason to stay at Big Dave's is the number of fish that the local area offers fishermen. The fishing here is rich and guests are encouraged to check the fishing calendar before making reservations. It is not that there is the slightest chance that nothing is available but more that you can better choose to come when your favorite freshwater sports fish is in peak run. There are all five species of Pacific Salmon here. The local year-round fish include Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, and Arctic Grayling.

The Chinook Salmon are in the waters by mid-June. These are the massive Kings, and you can fish for them with spinners of fly fishing set ups. They are a challenge to get them to snap at a fly, but when they do, it is amazing.

Rainbow Trout are known to follow the Chinook Salmon as they spawn. These greedy, voracious eaters enjoy dining on King Salmon roe. Egg pattern flies work well for Rainbows.

The Sockeye begins to flood the local rivers by Mid-July. Sockeye or Red Salmon are fighters. These happen to be one of the top eating salmon too.

The Silver or Coho Salmon arrive at the beginning of August and stay through September. These are the fiercest of the salmon for fishing. They strike hard and display using wild acrobatics.

The Dolly Varden often follow the Silver Salmon. Dolly Varden are beautiful, brightly spotted fish that are in the salmon family. They too are fierce fighters.

The Rainbow, Dolly's, and Arctic Graylings are present year round, but their feeding frenzy intensifies when the salmon start to spawn.

King Salmon are the largest of the Pacific Salmon and the record for King Salmon in Alaska is 126 pounds. Expect to target Kings in the 50-60- pound range. The local waters are rich in food, and that means large Rainbows and Dolly Varden. Expect to have ample opportunity to fish for Rainbow Trout in the eight plus pound range. Silver Salmon are plentiful in the 15 plus pound range, and they make up for their smaller size with an overabundance of tenacity. Northern Pike grow to be 40 plus pounds, and you can find Northern Pike here in the 12 Plus pound range. Northern pike are best targeted using steel leaders as their sharp teeth make short work of traditional fishing line. If you are a fly fishermen, try a dry mouse pattern jigging it over a weedy patch of river grass. The outcome may startle you.