ROYAL COACHMAN LODGE
Destination Overview
Royal Coachman Lodge is located on the Nuyakuk River in the middle of the Wood-Tickchik State Park, Alaska. This state park is the largest state park in the United States.
Royal Coachman offers extreme privacy plus a great home river to fish on the rare days where fly-out days are not possible. The lodge has two well maintained Dehavilland Beavers for daily fly-outs to hunt big Rainbows, all five species of Salmon, Pike, Dolly Varden, Grayling, Arctic Char, Laketrout and even Sheefish.
Royal Coachman Lodge employs guides that average over 10 years Alaskan guiding experience. The Lodge also owns two exclusive permits in the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge. Further Royal Coachman has one private trophy trout fishery permit, a permit to fish Katmai National Park and Wood Tikchik State Park.
This lodge also has 20 boats cached in the best fishing locations, which means after the Beaver drops you and your guide, you will have a motorized jet boat to get to the best water.
Kiene's Fly Fishing Travel and the Lodges' primary goal is to put you on great fly fishing with uncrowded waters. This is the experience you deserve on your Alaskan Adventure!
At a Glance
Location: Royal Coachman lodge is located on the Nuyakuk River in Bristol Bay, Alaska, which is 45 minutes by air from Dillingham, and inside Wood-Tikchik State Park.
Target Fish: Rainbow Trout, Chum (Dog) Salmon, Silver (Coho) Salmon, Pink Salmon, Red (Sockeye) Salmon, Northern Pike, Arctic Grayling, Arctic Char, Dolly Varden, Lake Trout, Sheefish
Lodge Capacity: The lodge hosts 10 – 12 guests per week.
Nearest Airport: Dillingham, AK, which can be reached via Anchorage Intl
Documents Required: Valid picture ID for travel. Please get your 7 day fishing license on-line through the Alaska Department of Fish And Game. Print a copy of the license and bring it with you.
Fishing Program
When it comes to the fishing, there are no routines! Its whatever you and your group want to do, and wherever you want to go, totally your preference.
The aircraft and guides are ready to leave the docks about one half hour after everyone is done with breakfast, usually between 8:00-8:30 a.m. It has taken decades of fishing in this area to master the timing of each fishery. The lodge flies and fishes an area that is 250 miles across. With the combination of 25-30 fisheries and their local expertise, you will have the best fishing possible (and probably of your life)!
You return to the Lodge each evening about 6 p.m. There is great evening fishing in front of the Lodge for those who just can’t get enough of a good thing, and with the Alaskan midnight sun you can fish all night if you want!
Please read this compelling note, directly from Royal Coachman Lodge:
“We practice a strict catch and release policy for our freshwater species of fish. You may however ship home five salmon from your trip (if available) and we will prepare, package, and freeze your catch for the trip home.
The remark we hear most often from our guests is this is our trip of a lifetime. We understand this sentiment, and our staff is dedicated to adding all the small personal touches that help make your stay with us truly that trip of your lifetime. Whether its a few extra hours fishing in the evening, or a few miles out of the way to show you a herd of caribou, or having the chef prepare your catch of the day just the way you like it, we are here to make every effort and provide every service that will make your fishing adventure memorable.
Once you experience the Royal Coachman Lodge you’ll want to return year after year, and become part of our Alaskan fishing family. In fact, a very large number of our guests have been returning for many years, and are content in the knowledge that they have found a very special place to fish, relax, and enjoy the last great frontier!
We also have many non-fishing activities available at the lodge. The wildlife viewing is spectacular (we offer bear viewing trips to the famous brooks falls), and we have sea kayaks available.
It is routine to see schools of spawning salmon from the Lodge, and Grayling rise in the Lodge pool almost constantly. Our home river offers our guests exceptional fishing right at Royal Coachman. We keep a number of boats at the lodge and can access 75 miles of wilderness rivers right from the front door, so on rainy and blustery days (that make for unsafe fly-outs), you and your guide will have great fishing right from the lodge!
This means that we do not push the weather. This is a major consideration when choosing your angling destination. You never lose valuable fishing time to weather, and you and yours are not placed in potentially dangerous situations. There’s nothing more frustrating than sitting out a storm at a fishing lodge in Alaska while not fishing! It just doesn’t happen at the Royal Coachman Lodge.”
Best Fly Fishing seasons:
June - September
Accommodations
The lodge, which overlooks the home pool on the river, houses the kitchen, dining room, lounge, library corner, one guest room with a private bath, and massage room. Every evening, you and your guides will relax around the fire to decide what type of fishing you would like to do, and plan the details of the next day of fishing.
We have four finely furnished guest cottages, one and two bedrooms, and private baths. We also have one well-appointed bedroom in the main lodge. Each cabin or room has modern bath facilities, independent heat, excellent beds, and all the comforts of home. As a bonus, enjoy spectacular views of the river and the rapids.
We can sleep 12 guests, so you will have a lot of choices from single cabins, to family cabins. Guest rooms are cleaned daily.
The Lodge has freezer capacity to allow for clients to take home salmon. Salmon will also be available for shore lunch nearly every day during your stay. Please notify them if you are planning on taking home salmon.
Single rooms are available upon request at no extra charge. This is, however, dependent on the number of guests booked during your week.
The Royal Coachman Lodge prides itself on the quality of meals and abundance of the food that is available. Freshly baked bread, rolls, and pastries are served at each lodge meal. Homemade soups and desserts are also specialties of the house. Snacks are always available along with appetizers each evening.
Dinner menus vary but typically include New York steak, turkey, prime rib, Halibut, a variety of Alaskan seafood, and similar items. Lunches are prepared by the lodge kitchen staff and are often times supplemented by fresh fish cooked on the stream bank.
Getting There
Fishing weeks are from Sunday to Sunday. You need to plan for a Sunday afternoon arrival in Dillingham, Alaska, where the Royal Coachman staff will pick you up in a van and transport you to their floatplane to complete the trip to the lodge.
Royal Coachman will reserve your seats from Anchorage to Dillingham. Please talk with a Kiene's Fly Fishing Travel representative before making your final plans. It is worth considering an overnight in Anchorage, Alaska on your way to the Lodge.
Delta, Northwest, United, Alaska Airlines, and others all fly to Anchorage daily from most major U.S. and foreign cities. Pen Air provides jet service to Dillingham on a daily schedule.
Rates
Included: all meals, lodging, flies, transportation between Dillingham and the Lodge, 7 nights and 6 fully guided daily fly out trips from the Royal Coachman Lodge (weather permitting).
Not Included: transportation to Dillingham from Anchorage, personal gear, rods, reels, liquor, King Salmon stamps (if appropriate), fishing license, the possibility of a fuel surcharge (we have had one in 30 years) or gratuities. We do have a limited amount of gear available for guest use, and offer rod/reel rentals for the week at only $75 per person.
2020 Rates are $9,750 per person per week. Group discounts are available for groups of 4 or more and 10 or more.
Deposits and Payment Policy
A 50% deposit is required at the time of booking to confirm and hold space. Deposits and other payments are not refundable after January 1st , unless subsequently filled. If your spot is filled your deposit will be refunded. Guests may transfer deposits or other payments to another person using the same space of the fishing week booked. A final payment of 50% is due 90 days prior to your trip.
Gratuities Guideline
Tips range from 5-20% of your trip price. We recommend 10% of the non-discounted rate ($865 per person), but please feel free to tip more or less in accordance with the quality of service you have received. The tips are pooled and divided for the staff.