My Alaskan Fishing Trip
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Big Sky Charter & Fishcamp

17 Reviews - TripAdvisor® Traveler Rating
Kenai River King Salmon
  • Approximate Cost:
    6 - 7 Days: $2,500 to $3,000 Per Person
    4 - 5 Days: $1,500 to $2,000 Per Person
    2 - 3 Days: $500 to $1,000 Per Person
    Half Day: $200 to $299 Per Person
    Full Day: $300 to $399 Per Person; $400 to $499 Per Person
  • Type: Charters & Guides Lodges
  • Fishing: Fly Fishing Freshwater Fishing Guided Fishing

The Big Sky Charter & Fish Camp sits on the shores of the Kenai River in the town of Sterling, Alaska. Guests are housed in a series of cabins that range from the "Chalet" to the "Rustic Cabin." Some cabins have private bathrooms and others share a bathing house. All cabins have full kitchens, so guests handle their own meal preparation.

Fishing with Big Sky Charter & Fishing Camp

Guests of the lodge have the option of fishing for three of the five species of Pacific Salmon. Those are the Chinook or King Salmon, the Sockeye or Red Salmon, and the Coho or Silver Salmon. Also available are both Rainbow Trout and Dolly Varden. For those who enjoy saltwater fishing, there is an opportunity to fish for Pacific Halibut too.

Fishermen can opt to drift fish or fish from the shore. The lodge provides most of the fishing equipment needed to have an excellent fishing adventure. There is also the option that the lodge will clean, fillet, package, and free your fish for you for $1.50 per pound.

The Fish and When to Come

The fishing season starts off with the Chinook Salmon. There is a reason they are called King Salmon. The Record for a King Salmon caught by a sports fishermen in Alaska is 126 pounds. The Kings run from the first week of July through the second or third week of July. The run is short, the fishing is intense.

The Sockeye Salmon run from June through July. There are two runs, and they show up by the millions. Sockeye are popular for a variety of reasons. One, they are considered to be the best eating salmon of the Pacific group. Two, they put up a decent fight. They are different from the Kings because these are smaller fish. 10-15 pounds is common. The Kings bend the rod because they weigh from 15-70 pound or more.

The Silver Salmon show up from August through September. Silvers ring in at 10-12 pounds, but they fight as though they weigh 30 pounds. These are dynamic fish with plenty of spunk. Expect them to breach, roll, and heat up the drag on your reel.

The Halibut weigh in between 40-100 pounds in Cook Inlet. They can weigh upwards of 1000 pounds, but those are more for commercial fishermen with a harpoon. The 40-100-pound halibut will wear you down.

The Kenai offers a vast amount of fishing opportunities. Rainbow Trout and Dolly Varden are also excellent targets.


Popular Alaska Fishing Destinations

TripAdvisor® Traveler Rating
TripAdvisor® Traveler Reviews
Excellent experience
5.0 Star Rating
Reviewed By on November 24, 2021
  • Our one night stay at Big Sky was excellent. We stayed in one of the smaller cabins with a family of 4, and it was a great fit for our budget. Absolutely loved the homemade chocolate chip cookies...
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Fish processing
5.0 Star Rating
Reviewed By on August 10, 2021
  • We used this facility to process fish we caught and we are happy with this business. They packed our fish based on our request.
  • Read Full Review
Big Sky knows fish
5.0 Star Rating
Reviewed By on August 11, 2019
  • Big Sky and Joe Conner know the Kenai and salmon rushing ...joe and his guides are the best. If you are looking for accommodations and salmon guides...you can not be disappointed
  • Read Full Review

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