Alaska

July 2025

Copper River Lodge offers a truly Alaskan experience and is based on the Copper River near Pope Vannoy landing. There is only one permit to fish on the native owned Copper River and this lodge shares it with only one other lodge. This allows Copper River Lodge to leave jet boats on the upper Copper and access water that very few people fish. In addition to this area, the lodge also fishes the Gibraltar River, Katmai National Park (including the famous Moraine Creek drainage), Lake Clark National Park, the Kvichak River (going into Bristol Bay), and the Kijik. There are plenty of additional options within a 30 minute flight of the lodge. Most days, especially those on the Copper, are spent wading and not fishing from a boat. Boats are primarily used for transport to the desired fishing locations.

This is a small family style operation which will take only 7 guests. Six days of fishing include at least 3-4 days of fly out options and days out the back door on the Copper River and other options close to the lodge. July is prime time for trout and Sockeye Salmon with dry droppers, mice, and some streamers. There are also options for Grayling, Northern Pike and possibly Lake Trout. The lodge has a float plane, a lake boat, several jet boats and rafts all of which will give our small group plenty of options each day. We’ll sit down with the lodge manager upon arrival and discuss the recent fishing reports, weather (which impacts the float plane) preferences and plan to accommodate everyone’s wishes to the best of our ability.

We’ll use an eight weight rod with floating lines. Salmon will be kept and frozen for you to take home. Trout fishing is catch and release with barbless hooks. Temperatures this time of year are in the 60-70 degree range –you’ll definitely want to layer up!

The food is gourmet with a private kitchen staff preparing fresh baked bread, pastries and more. Dietary restrictions can easily be accommodated.

You’ll experience the bears and salmon Alaska is known for and have a chance to see and fish the famous Moraine Creek drainage where the bears will be snacking on Salmon. Alaska is an incredible experience that can very easily change your life…..

Travel

Arrive in Anchorage on Sunday prior to 1:30 PM. The charter flight to the lodge is about 30 minutes from the main airport. Please allow plenty of time to transfer to the charter location. Our charter flight will depart around 4 PM for lake Iliamna. Upon arrival in Iliamna, you will be met by the lodge floatplane pilot at the terminal and transferred by van to the floatplane lake. You will then be flown to the Copper River Lodge in a De Havilland Beaver (this is about a 15 minute flight).

Accommodations & Daily Itinerary

You’ll stay in cozy cabins that each have two beds, a private bathroom and a deck overlooking the river. The main lodge has a living area, dining space and wonderful kitchen as well as a large deck over looking the river. Plenty of options for sharing great stories and views with friends post-fishing.

The journey to the lodge is an incredible, scenic adventure in and of itself and we’ll arrive in time for dinner on Sunday evening. Monday through Friday are all about the fishing! Breakfast is served around 7 AM and fishing begins at 8 AM. We’ll stay out on the water all day with a picnic lunch, returning to the lodge around 6 PM. A wonderful dinner is served family style around 8 PM. Please note fishing 8 AM-6 PM is primarily walk—wade. Boats will be used for transportation to prime locations but we will jump out and wade and/or hike and wade most of the time.

We’ll fish about six hours on Saturday before departure -arriving in Anchorage around 7-8 PM. Your flights should be booked back to the lower 48 after 9 PM.