Fishing Program

Fly Fishing

Larsen Bay Lodge offers world-class fly-fishing. The Karluk River has been voted repeatedly one of the top ten salmon rivers in the world! Not only is the fishing outstanding, but you won't find any crowds. Access is restricted because the Karluk River lies in an area controlled by the native corporation.

It is not unusual to raft down the river to the many prime fishing holes and not see another soul! This is quite a contrast to "combat fishing" on the Kenai Peninsula. In addition to the Karluk, you can fish the nearby Dog Salmon River via Frazer Lake. Both rivers are accessed by our floatplane. The Karluk is a five-minute flight and the Dog Salmon is a 15-minute flight.

The Karluk River and the Dog Salmon River are both wide shallow rivers and easy to fly fish. The Karluk is famous for epic King Salmon runs. The average catch is 20-25 kings per day. Not long ago a group landed 125 kings in a day. The Karluk also has runs of silver and red salmon while offering dolly varden and a few rainbow trout all summer long. In the fall the Karluk offers superb steelhead fishing! Book an October trip for great steelhead fly fishing.

Halibut Fishing

Larsen Bay Lodge offers truly superb halibut fishing! These are huge fish that are a blast to catch on stand-up tackle and absolutely delicious to eat! It is prized for its delicate sweet flavor, snow-white color and firm flaky meat. Halibut is the world's premium whitefish.

One of the best parts about halibut fishing at Larsen Bay Lodge is that you don't have to travel for hours by boat across open water to get to the fishing grounds, (like you do in most other parts of Alaska). Several 300lb. halibut have been taken within 300 yards of the lodge! Most of the halibut fishing is done close to shore. Often fishing is so close to shore you can literally throw a rock and hit the bank! Larsen Bay Lodge's location on deep protected bays means weather will almost always allow halibut fishing.

The best halibut fishing is in July and early August. If you come in late August or September, you will be fishing for halibut and silver salmon in the same water. At that time of year you often you see silver salmon jumping and chasing candlefish while you're halibut fishing! Halibut can be taken routinely in October, November, and December when duck and deer hunters want to take home some fresh fish. No matter when you stay, you will often see bald eagles, whales, Steller Sea Lions, puffins, harbor seals, and sea otters!

You will generally anchor to fish halibut, and occasionally, if the conditions are right, you will drift for them. With over 20 years experience, the guides know the best locations and will put you in the fish!

Salmon Fishing

This is a trip of a lifetime! It is virgin fishing in lush green valleys surrounded by beautiful mountains. It is rare to encounter other anglers and you will likely see more bears than people!  

Because we offer both freshwater and saltwater fishing there is a greater variety of experiences. The freshwater fishing is conducted in several rivers accessed by the DeHavilland Beaver. These premier salmon fishing rivers include the Ayakulik, Karluk, Fraser, and Olga.

The world renowned Karluk River, which lies within the privately owned native corporation restricts access, is only a 5 minute flight. The Karluk produces wonderful King Salmon, Sockeye and Silver Salmon fishing. The Kings are not as large as those found in the Kenai River, (Karluk Kings average 20-40 lbs), but there are no crowds the Karluk yields more fish per fisherman.

You will raft two different sections of the Karluk River and be picked up by the Beaver with a short flight to the lodge.Whether you are fishing the Karluk or the Ayakulik for Kings, Sockeye or Silvers, one of the highlights is our "shore lunch". Your guide will take one of your freshly caught salmon and prepare a delicious meal over a fire right on the riverbank!

In the late summer and early fall, outstanding freshwater fishing for Silver Salmon is accessed by float plane as well as by boat across Uyak Bay to some of the most picturesque streams in Alaska. Larsen Bay Lodge also has the advantage of offering trolling for salmon in saltwater for variety and convenience. In August, for instance, you can be anchored for halibut and Silvers are jumping all around the boat feeding on candlefish. After you catch your limit of halibut, all you have to do is pull up the anchor, put the boat in gear and begin catching 12-20 lb. Silvers!

King Salmon Fishing

At Larsen Bay Lodge, they fish for Kings primarily in the 22 mile long Karluk River via float trip. The Karluk lagoon is also another option. Currently this is a catch and a release fishery. Kings provide an awesome fight in the relatively narrow and shallow Karluk River! The Karluk is ideal for fly fishing, but as with all the rivers, spinning tackle is also popular. They also troll for King Salmon in the saltwater.

Silver Salmon Fishing

Silver Salmon (Coho Salmon) may be the most popular sport fish and can typically be caught in the saltwater bays in August and in the many rivers throughout September. They are the second largest salmon species and have an average size of 10-12 lbs., and can be up to 20 lbs.

Silvers are aggressive fish that will hit almost anything you throw at them. The lodge fishes three rivers and the saltwater for this terrific sport fish. In August, when the Silvers are in the saltwater, they are bright chrome in color and delicious to eat. Another advantage of Silver fishing in August is that it is easily combined with halibut fishing.

There are also advantages to Silver Fishing in September. Sometimes airline tickets and hotel rates are lower in September. The amount of daylight is similar to the lower 48 states at this time of year. The fall color in September can be spectacular. At this time of year you will catch Silvers when they are packed in the rivers and the action can be non-stop!

Sockeye (Red) Salmon Fishing

Sockeye or Red Salmon are generally regarded as the most flavorful of the Pacific salmon. Although Sockeye are not as large as Kings or Silvers, they have a rich, deep color and a high oil content. Flavorful and beautiful, red salmon present well on the plate and their density makes them a favorite for sushi.

At Larsen Bay Lodge, they have two runs of Sockeye, one mid- May to mid-June and from mid-July to mid-August. Sockeye salmon weigh an average of 5-8 lbs.

Steelhead Fishing

The Steelhead run is one of the highlights of the fall season. This is a bonus fishery that provides great sport not only for the serious fisherman, but also for sportsman that comes to Larsen Bay in the fall primarily to hunt deer and duck. From mid-September through October and into November exciting Steelhead fishing can be had by fishing the fast water and deep holes of the Karluk River.

Steelhead are a sea-going form of rainbow trout. Their origin of their name most likely came from the metallic appearance of their head. The anadromous steelhead is born in the upper reaches of freshwater streams, remains there until it matures at 1-3 years, migrates to the ocean as an adult, and then returns to the stream waters to spawn. Steelhead do not die after they first spawn, and so may return to the stream to spawn several times in their lives. Most weigh less than 10 pounds but have been taken up to 30!

According to the Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game, "We have little information on the ocean migration of Alaska steelhead; however, large numbers are intercepted in high seas fisheries, and undoubtedly many of these fish are of Alaska origin. Steelhead migrate to areas west of the Aleutian Islands and are routinely caught in net fisheries off the coast of Japan".

Dolly Varden Fishing

At Larsen Bay Lodge the anadromous Dolly Varden are extremely abundant and like its close relative, the Eastern brook trout, the Dolly Varden is excellent eating, having excellent pink meat. It is also one of the prettiest native fish in Alaska! If you like trout fishing, you will love fishing for Dollies. On light tackle or fly rod, ounce for ounce, they will give you the fight of your life!