Bear Bay Lodge Fishing

Bear Bay Lodge is a short flight across The Bay to the Nushagak River. The "Nush" is considered by many to be the best salmon river in the world. When it turns on in June and July the King Salmon fishing is without equal. Add-to-that enormous runs of sockeye, chum and silver (coho) salmon and you have a nearly perfect salmon river that produces so consistently that it defies comparison.

Nushagak silvers are like the wind. They blow in like a gale, but they're on a mission to get upriver and move pretty fast through the system. Nushagak silvers are amazing fish that will reward you with aerial displays and hard runs you'll remember forever. Take your pick, hardware, fly fishing or bait, Nushagak Silver Salmon are a rare reward for the well-traveled angler. Flying out most everyday keeps us on top of the location of the silver runs. Many of our guests time their trips to coincide with the silver run because they're just that much fun!

Imagine catching chrome bright chums by the dozen! It's just that good and whether you cast a fly or a marabou jig, these fish are aggressive biters in the areas we target. Chums fight exceptionally well, and with an average weight of around 8 to 10 pounds you'll be blown away by their tenacity.

"World class" properly describes the rainbow trout, grayling, dolly varden and char fishing in the area. Southwest Alaska rainbow trout are beautifully marked fish sometimes referred to as "leopard trout" that will test your skill as an angler. Few fishing experiences rival the take of a trophy rainbow trout on a mouse pattern. We see this kind of action several days a week! These very same fish take dries, nymphs and other special patterns we've developed expressly for our area waters. There's trophy grayling available on one of our fly-out destinations, these are special fish that will tip the scales into the pounds. Northern pike, char and dolly varden are abundant, close-by and deliver a unique and productive fishing experience. When you add to Bear Bay Lodge's deep menu of salmon the incredible rainbow trout, grayling, northern pike, char and dolly varden prospects, Bear Bay Lodge quickly owns the distinction of one of the most complete fishing destinations anywhere!

The productivity of the rivers, lakes and streams in our area cannot be overstated. Fish fill these rivers throughout the late spring and summer months and well into the fall in numbers that are astounding.

Logging exceptional catches is the norm but consistent success, even in this part of the world, still requires an intimate knowledge of the species, waters and techniques. Bear Bay Lodge guides are top-rated, and expert fly, bait and lure anglers that will put you on fish and keep you on fish throughout your trip. They'll show you the nuances necessary to coaxing big trout to a fly, making the proper presentation to a fierce Nushagak King or stalking a prized grayling run so you have a shot at seeing one of these rare and wonderful fish up close and personal.

Because of the short growing season and our desire to maintain these special fisheries for years to come, we have a policy that all native species must be released - no exceptions. If you're interested in taking some salmon home, our staff will fillet or steak them for you, vacuum pack them in suitable portions and freeze them so you're assured of the highest quality table fare when you get home. These are marvelous eating fish that will leave you smiling after every bite. In the event you do catch a trophy trout, grayling or other native species, we'll work with you to get a quick photo and some measurements that you can take to your local taxidermist. New trophy mount techniques allow your prize to be preserved without having to kill the fish.

Our lodge packages feature a unique fly-out strategy. That is, we fly you and your group out to different rivers and streams depending on the species you're interested in catching. Each evening prior to your next day of fishing, we confer with you on what kind of experience you're interested in sampling. Once we've settled on your interests our guides go to work in our tackle room preparing the necessary gear for the following day's fishing adventure.

That morning, after breakfast, you'll board one of our float planes and head out with a guide to your destination. Depending on the location, we'll have jet boats, or small pontoon boats ready for your adventure...in some cases all that's needed is a good pair of waders, which we have on hand as well.

Our Nushagak Salmon Camp is an exceptional fishing experience that's a bit rustic but is still a step up from other area tent camps. These trips go fast because of the incredible King fishing that's available in June and July along with enormous runs of sockeye, chum and silvers that show over the summer months.

Our tent camp features wooden floors, comfortable beds, heaters, hearty meals and a 2:1 guide ratio that will keep you in the thick of the action.

An enormous benefit of the Bear Bay Lodge experience is our close proximity to excellent trout and salmon fisheries. At rare times, the weather will keep our planes grounded but not to worry, we have great fishing close by that can be easily reached by our lodge boats.

As you'll see in our on-line newsletter the fun doesn't stop here. There's incredible pike fishing, the char and dolly varden are plentiful and the setting's so spectacular you'll wake every morning in awe of the country and experience you're a part of.