Sandy River Lodge is located on the Aleutian Peninsula of Alaska, over 450 miles from Anchorage. The Sandy River is a one of a kind waterway with strong uninhibited runs of Chinook and Coho Salmon, as well as a wild steelhead run like no other. As a bonus, a thriving population of resident rainbow trout and Dolly Varden all call the Sandy River "home". All of this fishing takes place in a setting as remote and wild as we have ever encountered, truly the "Alaska Bush". The Fly Shop is excited to be offering three different fishing programs on the Sandy River for 2003; Chinook Salmon "King" (June 9 - July 12), Coho Salmon "Silver" (August 25 - September 29) and Steelhead (September 30 - October 28). The Silver Salmon fishing Program offered by Sandy River Lodge accesses two different rivers, the Sandy River, and the Ilnik River. The Ilnik River is offered as an "out-post camp" from the main Lodge, and boasts one of the strongest silver salmon runs in Alaska.

Chinook Salmon "King" (June 9 - July 12)
Chinook Salmon make their way up the Sandy River from the Bering Sea each year starting in mid June. Estimated river counts on the Sandy River put the King Salmon somewhere in the range of 5,000 - 6,000 and some years runs have exceeded 8,000. Now at first that may not seem like an overly abundant run of Kings, but you must understand that the Sandy is only 15 miles long and the kings do not migrate through the headwater lake. Virtually all the Chinook, five to eight thousand of them, jam into 15 miles of river. One Sandy River Guide put it this way, "It can be damn spooky wading amongst those huge pods of aggressive salmon pushing the 40 pound mark. We're just lucky they're not into eating humans." Kings on the Sandy average 25 pounds and each year, fish up to and occasionally over 40 pounds are hooked, a few are landed, but most get away. It's not uncommon for an angler to hook and land over a dozen King Salmon on the fly in one day, but the average is more like 5 - 6. That is a remarkable number, since Chinook are not commonly a numbers fish and tough as hell on fly tackle.

What makes the Sandy so user friendly to King Salmon fly fishers is a combo of several different factors, none of which is more important than having high numbers of fish to swing flies in front of. When you combine high numbers of fish with very fishable water, medium water volume and plenty of unmolested deep-water pools and runs, it's no wonder the Sandy is one of the best bets in Alaska for fly fishing Kings. This is not difficult fishing and in fact, we would be hard pressed to come up with another King Salmon fishery that fishes so well and so simply.

Anglers are transported up and down the river by well-maintained jet boats and the guides, seasoned professionals, know the river well. Classic quartering down stream casts, with bunny leech type flies, egg patterns and attractor flies seem to work best. Type III sink-tip lines and Teeny Nymph lines with short leaders produced the best. Each morning anglers set out with their guides - experienced, rugged Alaskans who are eager to share their knowledge, via jet boats to the numerous beats. Lunch can be taken on the fly, stream side or back at the lodge.

Coho Salmon "Silver" (August 25 - September 29)
Each year starting in mid August, great runs of mint bright Coho Salmon make their way up the Sandy River from the Bering Sea. Estimated river counts on the Sandy River put the Silver Salmon somewhere in the range of 8,000, although some years runs have exceeded 10,000. Coho on the Sandy average between 9 and 11 pounds. However, don't be surprised if you hook into some 14 - 16 pounders and each year several fish up to and over 18 pounds are landed. Typically, most fly fishers will average between 15 and 20 fish landed per day, and depending on individual capabilities, the number can go up from there. I guess what makes the Sandy River so interesting and unique to us as a Silver Salmon fishery is the type of water fished. Most silvers in Alaska are caught in what we call "frog water". Frog water is very slow moving or non-moving water off the main current. Silvers love this type of water and will stack up in it thicker than fleas on a dog's back. Fishing under these conditions can be fast and furious, but you usually fish only two or three holes, and by the end of the week, this type of fishing can become BORING! In contrast, the Sandy River Silver Salmon fishing is like steelhead fishing. You are consistently on the move fishing new "moving" water and fish are taken on the swing or by stripping the fly against the current. And oh yea, don't forget your dry flies, the Sandy River Silvers eat them well. Fishing the Sandy River is not difficult, it's just a little more interesting and dynamic. In fact, we would be hard pressed to come up with another salmon river that fishes so well and so simply.

The Ilnik River Coho Fishing Program:
If you were set on discovering and fishing the ultimate Silver Salmon River in Alaska you would undoubtedly end up on the Ilnik River. By combining the Sandy River with the Ilnik River Out Camp, Mel Gillis, owner of Sandy River Lodge, has created the ultimate Silver Salmon Fishing Experience. A short ten-minute flight from Sandy River Lodge, sits the Ilnik River, a seemingly nondescript river. From the air it doesn't look like much, just another lagoon system on the coast of the Bering Sea with a river at one end and river mouth at the other. But, a closer inspection of this waterway reveals some unique qualities, that together make-up the ultimate Silver Salmon river. First would be the Ilnik's protected river mouth and staging lagoon, which runs parallel to the deep blue; all of which affords safe and easy access for incoming salmon. Next look at the way the water runs, smooth and steady, "slick water" with no natural or manmade obstructions. The water, it's what we call "safe water", averaging 2 to 5 feet in depth with numerous braids, alternative routes, and under-cut banks which offer shade and protection from natural predators. And look where the water comes from, small, channeled creeks that braid into a network of extensive wetlands, the perfect habitat for rearing Coho Salmon Par. And last, possibly most important, and certainly key to the uniqueness of this fishery is where the Ilnik River lays, in the middle of nowhere. It's as close to Silver Salmon Heaven as there can be!

There have been no official counts of Coho Salmon on the Ilnik River by the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, but estimated numbers are in the tens of thousands. 30,000, 40,000, 50,000... who knows, but we have never seen more Silver Salmon come up one stream in all our years of fishing and exploring Alaska. Silvers on the Ilnik average an honest 12 pounds and each year several 20 pound Coho are landed. This is the type of Silver Salmon fishing where the number of fish you catch is only dependent on how much your body can withstand. No fancy fishing here, just an eight weight rod, floating or sinking line and reel that can handle some sizzling runs. The water is tailor made for fishing dry flies like Polly wogs, and the guides tell us that after a couple days on the Ilnik most sane anglers opt to cut the hook off their dry flies. The take on a Polly wog has to be experienced to be believed. It's a silver salmon fisherman's dream come true and perfect match to the Sandy River Fishery.

Wild Alaska Steelhead (September 30 - October 28)
We built our reputation here at The Fly Shop® as steelhead fishermen. As the Klamath, Trinity, and other regional and Pacific Northwestern watersheds continued to deteriorate, we turned farther and farther North, finally to the Canadian rivers, the Dean, Babine, Bulkley, Kispiox, Skeena, and Sustut. So did others.

A few years ago we were contacted by a grizzled old Alaskan and told about a stream that flows through his hunting camp in a remote part of Alaska's Aleutian Peninsula. During the four weeks of October, big, salt-fresh Steelhead pour into his clear, shallow river. Two of the only fishermen that had wet a line there are friends of ours. They confessed to consistent five, ten, and twelve fish days, with Jumbos reaching twenty-five pounds and others they couldn't handle at all. Fish average over 30 inches, and one monster measured 44 inches (caught & released without being weighed!)

Needless to say, we were chomping at the bit to try this new fishery. A few calls to some diehard steelhead fisherman was all it took to get a group together, with Mike Mercer, our Alaska travel specialist, leading the expedition. What they experienced in the fall of '96 was true "Steelhead Heaven!"

They found the water to be very fishable, of low gradient , free flowing out of a large shallow lake. Easily waded, and accessed, the river provided more than enough water for six anglers; 15 miles of riffles, pocket water, deep holes, classic runs and tailouts - a steelheaders dream come true. Classic quartering down stream casts, with bunny leech type flies on sink-tips produced the best, although some water beckoned for floating lines with long leaders, and spey type flies. Anglers able to cast 60' averaged between 4 and 8 wild steelhead per day. This is steelhead fishing the way it used to be, like the old days we read about. Each morning anglers set out with their guides, experienced, rugged Alaskan's who were eager to share their knowledge, via jet boats to the numerous beats. Lunch was taken on the fly, streamside. Plenty of water and grabby steelhead, all in a setting where the only other living creatures walk on four legs, is what they experienced. This is not difficult fishing. In fact, we can't think of another steelhead fishery that fishes so well and so simply.

Demand for this fishery is extremely high, and most past anglers lock in their dates for the following year before they ever leave the lodge. However, every year a few spots do become available, and those lucky enough to secure dates, are rewarded. Please call us if you would like to check on available rod dates and get on a waiting list.

A little more about the Sandy River and the Lodge. The Sandy River is about as fishable a river as we have ever encountered. It's a low gradient waterway, free flowing out of a large shallow lake, "Sandy Lake". The lake and its controlled release of water is key in maintaining the Sandy's remarkable steady volume and clarity. In addition, the lake and the surrounding tundra, which seems to act like a giant sponge/filter combination, keep the Sandy from "blowing-out". Old washed gravel bottoms makes the Sandy easily waded and except for a few large rocks/boulders in some classic runs, great fish holding structure, you would be hard pressed to find a rock on the bottom larger than your fist.

After a long day on the river, anglers return to the handsome, comfortable lodge, for hors-d'oeuvres, and hearty family-style dinners. Guests stay two to a comfortable room, which feature shared bathroom/shower facilities; all linens are supplied. Each morning, after an Alaskan size breakfast it's off to the river, just a stones throw away, for another day of fishing.

With so many positive attributes it's easy to see why we are so high on this river. Sounds too good to be true? Not really. If you had to find one fault with the Sandy River, it may be in its remoteness. The Sandy River is situated in about as remote and wild environment as any operation as we have ever worked with. Getting in and out takes more than the standard time and effort associated with less remote Alaska Lodges, and weather delays can happen. But to us and a host of other anglers, sharing an entire river with only five other anglers for a week is well worth the extra effort. Look at it this way, there could be worse places to spend an extra day or so waiting for your plane to come in than on a wild river, fishing for ocean-bright salmon and steelhead.

Lodging:  The Ilnik Out-Camp is limited to four anglers at one time. There is a comfortable wood framed building, just a shotgun blast away (83 yards to be exact) from one of the best stretches on the river, where meals are taken and you sleep, when not fishing. The cabin comes complete with oil heat, beds with sleeping bags, a full kitchen and a lounge area. Your guide does the cooking, nothing fancy, but plenty of good, fresh, hot food, Alaska-sized to sustain those all day sorties on the river.

Length of Stay:  Arrival on Sunday; Departure on the following Sunday.

Season:  June through October.

Occupancy:  Sandy River Lodge can take up to 8 anglers.

Inclusions:  The rate includes: Round trip air charter from Anchorage to the lodge, all meals, lodging and daily guided fishing.

Non-Inclusions:  This rate does not include: personal gear, tackle and equipment, gratuities, fishing license and liquor.

Deposit:  A 50 percent deposit is due to secure a reservation.