EGDORF'S NUSHAGAK CAMP
Destination Overview
Now this is the real Alaska! Dave and Kim Egdorf’s Nushagak camp is everything you ever imagined for a true Alaskan fishing adventure. The upper “Nush”, a clear gravel bottom river, is in a remote and uncrowded setting. Kiene's Fly Fishing Travel agrees that the camp has all the comforts of home. Great food, comfortable beds, hot showers and even a sauna await you every evening after catching heavy, wild fish!
Since 1982 Dave and Kim have been working this camp, which is accessed only by float plane. Immaculate Weatherport tent cabins complete with elevated wood floors and front decks are perfect for the hardcore fly fisher who wants a true Alaska experience.
Wild, remote, pristine, and absolute solitude best describe one of North America’s best fly fishing destinations. There are no roads within 100 miles and the nearest Eskimo village is 60 air miles away.
Big rainbow trout, arctic grayling and dolly varden are available all season long. During specific seasons an angler can also expect to catch chum, sockeye, coho and king salmon as well.
The setting has remained unchanged for hundreds of years. Bering Sea Spruce, some 300 years old, along with cottonwood, birch and willows line the riverbanks. Wildlife abounds, with numerous weekly sightings of moose, grizzly bear, eagles, an occasional wolf, wolverine or caribou.
The Nushagak River is a dream come true. Take a jet boat on 50 miles of remote gin clear water, then after dinner at camp, take a few casts under the midnight sun in the generous ‘home pool’.
Let Kiene's Fly Fishing Travel book you to this truly unique destination!
At a Glance
Location: The Nushagak River.
Target Fish: rainbow trout, arctic grayling, and dolly varden (char) which are available all season; and chum, sockeye, coho and king salmon, which are available during specific periods throughout the season.
Time of Year: The season runs from June 8th through September 7th, Thursday to Thursday. (See “Fishing Calendar” below for details).
Lodge Capacity: The Camp comfortably holds 6 to 8 anglers.
Nearest Airport: Dillingham via Anchorage
Documents Required: Appropriate U.S. travel I.D.
Fishing Program
At 7am each morning coffee your favorite breakfast beverage is delivered as a “wake up call” and at 7:30 am a delicious hot hearty breakfast is served in the dining tent, giving you plenty of quality fuel for your morning fishing.
The guides are at the boats at 8 am ready to hit the water. They will have your lunch and favorite beverages. Each guide is assigned a “beat” for the day so you will have your own water. It is rare to see anglers from other lodges since the camp is so remote. You may go upstream or downstream, depending on conditions. You may also have the chance to fish a small tributary for very large trout!
Anglers will return to camp around 5 pm, enjoy a hot shower and walk to the dining tent for hors d’oeuvres and a drink. Dinner is at 7 pm, followed by a time of relaxing around the nightly campfire. If it is early season, it does not really get dark and you may want to fish the home pool for a few hours or all night!
Appropriate size rods/reels with adequate capacity for backing and fly line and a good drag system will handle all the fish. Two or three rods are customarily set up for a day on the water.
Kiene's Fly Fishing Travel can assist you in planning/acquiring your fishing gear: rods, reels, flies, etc. Fishing equipment should include a 3 or 4 weight fly rod with weight forward floating line for grayling, 5 to 7 weight rods with floating weight forward lines for trout and 7 to 9 weight rods/lines for windy days for trout and salmon (sockeye, coho, and chum).
If you opt for a day on arctic char, lake trout or pike, we recommend at least 8 weight rods/line with floating and medium/fast sinking lines, as occasionally these species are found in deeper water.
If you are interested in taking ‘fresh’ king or coho salmon in the lower river an 8 or 9 wt. spey rod is recommended, with appropriate shooting head lines. Spin gear is available in camp.
Normally you will want to rig two or three rods each day so you are ready for any species.
Best Fly Fishing seasons:
June 8-15
Good fishing action for rainbow, grayling and char. A few chum salmon are present. The smolt ‘run out’ is starting, triggering fast action below riffles. Lots of fishing time with nearly endless daylight.
June 15-22
Top water patterns and sculpin streamers continue to produce good action on rainbows, etc. A few chum salmon begin spawning and a few early king salmon are also showing up. Anglers wear their arms out with 21 hours of daylight and a river busy with fish.
June 22-29
King and chum salmon numbers continue to build, bringing more rainbow trout, char and grayling to the area in anticipation of the egg smorgasbord to come. Smolt run out is producing good action also. Nonstop action!
June 29 – July 6
Smolt run out going strong. Rainbows are very active on top water and smolt patterns, as well as sculpin streamers. Mousing too! Chum salmon are spawning hard, producing good action on egg patterns. Kings are beginning to spawn, and a few sockeye salmon are arriving. Lots of action and a very fishy week!
July 6-13
Chum salmon spawning is slowing, kings are spawning hard and sockeye are staging to spawn. Trout, char and grayling action is hot! One awesome week.
July 13-20
King and sockeye salmon are spawning throughout the area. Chums are dying and producing early carcass action. Fishing is very good for rainbow, char and grayling.
July 20-27
This is “peak week” for numbers of salmon present at one time in the rivers. Bear sightings are common. Fishing action continues to be great, especially around spawning beds. A major fishing week!
July 27- Aug 3
Continued great action for rainbows, char and grayling. Silver salmon are arriving and when a school is spotted produce good action. A hint of fall colors starting. Blueberries are ripe. A great week.
Aug 3-10
Silver salmon action is good… some bright silver and some crimson. Rainbow trout, char and grayling action is good on sockeye beds and also on carcass patterns in deep holes and snags. The mouse ‘on top’ is still producing. Fall is definitely in the air as fall colors progress, along with cooler nights. A good, mixed-bag week!
Aug 10-17
Silver salmon, rainbow trout, char and grayling action remains good to excellent. Rainbows are developing big shoulders with rapid growth from endless available food… the big ‘bows are hard to handle! The days are getting noticeably shorter. Caribou are on the move.
August 17-24
Large rainbows continue to be the main target. Silvers continue to move to spawning grounds, providing good action. Char are migrating to the headwaters to spawn, but still some beauties are caught… they are very colorful at this time. Fall colors are coming on fast. Bears are out on the hillsides feeding on berries. Alaska is breathtaking.
Aug 24-31
Rainbow action is now focused on salmon carcasses and top water mouse fishing, but some trout still are on old spawning beds. The rainbows have now reached their peak physical condition of the year, and are super-strong. Big numbers of fish is not the rule, but big rainbows definitely are! Fall is here and temps are cool with even a light frost in the morning. A super time to fish!
Aug 31 - Sept 7
Rainbow action continues the same as the previous week, big strong and wild. The campfire feels especially good. The moose are on the move as the fall rut nears. It’s the last week of the season and a special time for a special Alaska experience.
Fly-out Side Trips
These trips are available for a variety of activities such as bear viewing, flight seeing, fishing for ‘fresh’ salmon, shee fish, arctic char, lake trout, pike, etc. You may also wish to visit the largest state park in the USA, Tikchik State Park. We also offer fly-out camps, which are overnight outings for added opportunities to fish the area ‘hot spots.’ If you are interested in participating in any of these great side trips, ask Dave for details. Added charges apply to the side trips.
If arranged in advance, your harvested fresh salmon are processed and packaged for transport home.
Accommodations
“Weatherport" tent-cabins are a staple in remote wilderness living. With wooden floors, comfortable beds, weather-tight walls and roofs, and a front deck, they’re incredibly simple and provide everything a die-hard fisherman needs to stay warm and dry.
The dining tent is centrally located and is a hub of activity. Two chemical toilet bathrooms are located a short walk behind the guest accommodations, as is the shower facility, with its vanity and sink.
Other amenities in camp include sauna, generator powered electricity, hot showers, outhouse bathroom facilities, and wood burning stoves for drying gear.
The delicious food is prepared under the professional scrutiny of Kim Egdorf. Each week a load of choice meats, fresh veggies, and pounds of basics like flour, sugar, coffee and bacon arrive into camp by float-plane. From succulent steaks to Cornish Game Hens, pasta to fresh fish, fresh-baked bread and an array of other delicious entrees, appetizers, and desserts, you will love the fresh meals.
As part of the package rate the Camp provides guests with all the iced tea, fruit punch and water they can drink. Anglers should feel welcome to bring their own alcoholic beverages. Beer and soda can be purchased at camp.
Getting There
Kiene's Fly Fishing Travel will help you with your logistics. Guests fly into Anchorage and generally stay the night, making the flight to Dillingham the next day. It is possible to get to Dillingham in one day from the lower 48, but only for west coast anglers.
Anchorage is a great place to spend an evening or an extra day. The city is safe, has great downtown feel, many art galleries, gift shopping and exciting restaurants. In minutes you can also stroll down off the hill and be near Ship Creek to watch locals fish.
You will need to plan on traveling to Dillingham with Alaska Air or Pen Air and spend one night in Dillingham. Most clients like Beaver Creek B&B since the Egdorf’s have worked closely with them for years. There are also other great options for lodging.
After your night in Dillingham, the Egdorf’s will pick you up at your accommodations and drive you 25 minutes to meet the float plane. The float plane ride is a bit more than an hour and is a visual feast! Dave will point out wildlife on the flight and will land right on the river near camp. The guides will meet you and transport you the last mile in a jet boat.
At the conclusion of a fabulous week of fishing, anglers reverse the process back to Dillingham, where, depending on your flight schedule, will catch an evening flight ( Pen Air) back to Anchorage or again overnight in Dillingham. Generally, both Alaska Air and Pen Air offer early morning flights that connect comfortably with all major airlines, allowing for a return the same day to the lower 48.
Rates
Weekly rate is $5995 per person.
Inclusions: Your angling package at our Nushagak Camp includes round trip air transportation from Dillingham to camp, all lodging and meals at camp and daily guided fishing to and around fishing grounds.
Non-inclusions: Not included in the package is personal gear, tackle, flies, the overnight in Dillingham, gratuities, fishing license, any expenses incurred due to weather delays and liquor. Beer and soft drinks are available for purchase at camp.