Fishing at Rainbow King Lodge

The right equipment is extremely important in a full service fly-out lodge and essential for success.

The lodge utilizes several aircraft, including two DeHavilland Beavers, and two DeHavilland Otters, all equipped with floats. Over 30 boats are stashed on a variety of rivers around the area, adding to the lodge’s mobility, flexibility, and access to seldom fished waters. Anglers are not locked into a daily routine, and are encouraged to become involved in the planning of each day's fishing. Personal service is the name of the game at Rainbow King Lodge, and with an angler/staff ratio of nearly one to one, guests are assured of getting all the attention they want and need. Typically guests will be up at 6 a.m., eating a hearty Alaskan breakfast by 6:30, and in the plane on the way to their fishing destination by 7 or 7:30. Those flying further to the fishing grounds will be up a bit earlier; those fishing closer to home can enjoy another hour or so of sleep!

If you’ll be trout fishing, you may travel to one of the many streams where RKL has stashed jet boats. Upon arrival, your guide will arrange your gear, get you settled into the boat, and you’ll be off upriver for then day’s adventure. Or, if your destination is one of the lodge’s small, private streams, your guide will walk the banks with you all day, pointing out rainbows and/or likely water to cast your fly to. If salmon are your target, you’ll often take a longer, scenic flight over the mountains to the ocean, landing in the tidewater of the target river. Here guides will load you into boats, and either transport you to likely runs and pools to wade fish (silver salmon), or fish you out of the jet boat if you’re after kings (typically on the mighty Nushagak River, Alaska’s famed wilderness king salmon “factory”).
Anglers will be picked up and flown back to the lodge after a full day’s fishing, where they will shed their waders, enjoy a hot shower, and dive into a wonderful hot meal.