Alaska/BC fishing trip

[sled]

  I know it’s a can of worms.  Haha.  Who has recommendations for Alaska/BC fishing trips?  I’d like to know everything.  Price for flight, lodging, food, shipping home fish, and everything in between. 
  Want to fish it all.  Halibut, lingcod, rockfish, salmon in the same trip.

[Skillet]

  I know it’s a can of worms.  Haha.  Who has recommendations for Alaska/BC fishing trips?  I’d like to know everything.  Price for flight, lodging, food, shipping home fish, and everything in between. 
  Want to fish it all.  Halibut, lingcod, rockfish, salmon in the same trip.

Guided? Self-guided? Your own boat?  What time of year?
What part of Canada? What part of Alaska?  You're talking about 2500 miles of coastline here.

[MtnMuley]

Call Rob Endsley at Prince of Whales Sportfishing in Craig for pricing. I've never personally used him, but fished around him and his whole set up there is top notch and they put a lot of fish in the boat. From accomodations to transportation from Klawock Airport, they'll take care of you. If I could get my dad up there one more time, I'd already have a trip booked.

[sled]

  I know it’s a can of worms.  Haha.  Who has recommendations for Alaska/BC fishing trips?  I’d like to know everything.  Price for flight, lodging, food, shipping home fish, and everything in between. 
  Want to fish it all.  Halibut, lingcod, rockfish, salmon in the same trip.

Guided? Self-guided? Your own boat?  What time of year?
What part of Canada? What part of Alaska?  You're talking about 2500 miles of coastline here.

exactly!  Looking for the best opportunity.  Period.  Will take all info given, and be thankful.

[sled]

  I know it’s a can of worms.  Haha.  Who has recommendations for Alaska/BC fishing trips?  I’d like to know everything.  Price for flight, lodging, food, shipping home fish, and everything in between. 
  Want to fish it all.  Halibut, lingcod, rockfish, salmon in the same trip.

Guided? Self-guided? Your own boat?  What time of year?
What part of Canada? What part of Alaska?  You're talking about 2500 miles of coastline here.

. Looking to fly in somewhere and fish a couple days.  I can rough it.  I don’t need princess accomadations.  I want to fish.

[7mmfan]

You don't have to be remote to have good fishing. In fact, being remote can hurt you in terms of the logistics in getting your catch home. There are some cool very remote fishing lodges up there but they limit your catch because they just don't have capacity or ability to move as much as you might catch in a 3 day trip. Going to a place like Prince of Wales with Rob Endsley as MtnMuley suggested somewhat offers best of both worlds. Somewhat remote, but easily accessible. I don't know for sure but I'd guess theres outfits there that rent boats as well for you to self guide.

Also, places that have a lot of guides, have them there for a reason. Places like Sitka and Craig are popular because they are traditionally very productive salmon fishing areas. The fish will be there if the fish are coming, period. The only thing you gain by going super remote is increased numbers of bottom fish, as they are more prone to being over fished. With that said though, you won't have any issues getting all the white meat you can handle.

I ran a boat out of Sitka for several years and as a self guided angler, there is an enormous amount of opportunity there. There are outfits that rent boats, a quick google search brings up 3 right away. There you will have an Alaska Air terminal to fly in and out of as well as get your fish home. There are also several different lodging options that may help you keep your costs down.

Regardless of where you choose to go, if the goal is to bring fish home with you, you need to make sure there are processing facilities available. You have to be able to portion, vac pack, and freeze your catch if you're going to take it back on the plane with you.

If this is a once in a lifetime trip, just pony up and go with a guide. You will thoroughly enjoy yourself and I promise you'll catch more fish and most of the headaches associated with going on your own will be removed. If this is something you plan on repeating, I still suggest going with a guide, paying attention, and then planning your return trip on your own if you feel so inclined.

[bear]

Call Rob Endsley at Prince of Whales Sportfishing in Craig for pricing. I've never personally used him, but fished around him and his whole set up there is top notch and they put a lot of fish in the boat. From accomodations to transportation from Klawock Airport, they'll take care of you. If I could get my dad up there one more time, I'd already have a trip booked.

Rob is booked pretty tight with repeat clients.  He’s fun to fish with though.  I hope to go back up with him again one of these years.  Gotta fish where the fish are and that’s usually where the boats are.

[Widgeondeke]

More on the high end for pricing, but many of the lodges are all inclusive. You can go full guided or just rent a boat.
Look at Langara or Queen Charlottes up around Masset. There are other lodges also.
IMO Langara is top notch and the price reflects this. They have both land based and floating lodges
You drive to Vancouver and fly up to Masset on Haida Gwaii island. From there you can either drive or take a chopper flight to the lodge.


Only caveat for fishing BC is if Canada is allowing visitors this summer

www.langara.com     

[scotsman]

Its been a few years, but we had a top notch experience with Sportsmans Cove Lodge on Prince of Wales Island. Halibut were close to the lodge but salmon were hard to find on a reasonable boat ride. So, the night before fishing for salmon they sent one of the boats a looong way away..... then brought in a float plane to fly us to the boat. They did NOT charge us for the plane ride to and from the lodge to the boat! And yea, we caught a lot of fish.

[fishngamereaper]

If you can get booked with Rob do it like others have said. I've known Rob for over 25 years. Great guy runs a too notch business. And fishing protected waters is a bonus.

We fish Vancouver island every summer out of nootka which is absolutely one of the best places to fish imo. There are a couple lodges up there that run guided trip's.

[jamesfromseattle]

If you told me I was only allowed to fish one more day for the rest of my life, I'd fish the west side of Haida Gwaii in July.

One of the weird things about saltwater fishing in BC and Alaska is that a lot of the really remote operations are also pretty high end.  So remote and roughing in are not mutually exclusive.  In fact, I'd argue to that the more remote you get the less rough it is, unless you're DIY.

When I was younger I worked on the docks at a high lodge (no longer in business) on the west side of Haida Gwaii.  Definitely NOT roughing it, but also probably the most remote place I've ever been.

I've fished both sides of Vancouver Island, the central BC coast, Haida Gwaii, Sitka and Juneau.

For consistency of fishing I'd take the west coast of Haida Gwaii every day of the week (but there are a lot of other places I haven't fished).  But it's also very expensive and you may feel a little weird about how cushy the lodges are if you like you're want a more remote feel.

If you want to go rough, renting a skiff somewhere in SE Alaska and renting a forest service cabin would be a hell of a way to go.  There are a bunch of cabins around Sitka.

If you want big salmon, the central BC coast is tough to beat.

If you want to keep a big halibut, unfortunately your options are limited.  Most of the BC coast has a max size limit and I think most of SE Alaska has size restrictions for guided halibut.

[3boys]

We have been going to Sitka for 25 years in a row for a good reason.

[Skillet]

We have been going to Sitka for 25 years in a row for a good reason.

That just looks like work...

[3boys]

We have been going to Sitka for 25 years in a row for a good reason.

That just looks like work...

The  Diamond lil was nowhere to be seen is why we were so successful. As far as work the only work was reeling them in. Walked away from the dock after the pic. 

[twolabs]

Its been a few years, but we had a top notch experience with Sportsmans Cove Lodge on Prince of Wales Island. Halibut were close to the lodge but salmon were hard to find on a reasonable boat ride. So, the night before fishing for salmon they sent one of the boats a looong way away..... then brought in a float plane to fly us to the boat. They did NOT charge us for the plane ride to and from the lodge to the boat! And yea, we caught a lot of fish.

Been to Sportsmans Cove Lodge a few times definitely catch lots of fish and is worth the cost.

https://alaskasbestlodge.com/

[fishngamereaper]

Bump for an update. Looks like options will be limited this year again... Our Canada trip is getting postponed again, the lodge is nearly positive US fisherpeople wont be allowed in country this summer. So that sux….

[WSU]

I just emailed the lodge we are supposed to go to in hopes of at least figuring out whether we'll be allowed in.  Not sure I'll book something different but it sure would be nice to know so I have the option.

[fishngamereaper]

I just emailed the lodge we are supposed to go to in hopes of at least figuring out whether we'll be allowed in.  Not sure I'll book something different but it sure would be nice to know so I have the option.

We are just rolling over to 2022....so two years of rolling over reservations... But it sux cause I really enjoy fishing nootka sound...and enjoy the people up there..

[KFhunter]

Canada is going full nazi up there.

Just implemented stay at home essential travel only, restricted to your zones, no house groups and curfews.

They ain't opening anytime soon, I think they're enjoying all that casino money staying home, and costco.

Back east there was a big push to open it, USA tried to have talks, Canada responded with "it's too early to talk about opening"

So fish Alaska.

[TVHunts]

That’s the word I am Hearing as well.  No entry unless you quarantine for 14 days then, you would be allowed to travel to your destination.  Second year of a postponed Alberta Moose Hunt.  It really sucks but...what can you do? 

[Stein]

Canada isn't in a good spot COVID wise for sure, it is what it is.  Regulations don't look pretty either if that's a consolation prize.

[Angus]

I spent 22 years guiding in S.E. AK, 5 years out of Ketchikan and 17 on POW Is near Craig, both resorts I worked for were upper end and not cheap so I probably wouldn't recommend them for the average Joe. That being said, if you could get in with Rob Endsley I would also highly recommend him, fished around him for 10+ years and he runs a first class operation but prime time spots with him might be tough to get.
After 1 season I went up to Yakutat and spent a month helping out a lodge that was short a guide. I guided on the salt but you can do either there, salt or fresh water and both fisheries are world class. A couple things I liked about the area is you don't have to run as far to the fishing grounds, the bottom fishing, especially halibut was better, and you rarely fished over 150' of water, around Craig you rarely bottom fish in less the 150' and 200-400 being more common, Sitka fishes even deeper from what I've been told. The lodges were nothing fancy but that also kept the prices down.
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

[Alchase]

If you get the urge to fish for bright red Kamloops Rainbows,
The Rock Island Lake Resort, is about as good as it gets.
http://www.rockislandfishingcamp.com/

Best tasting rainbow trout I have ever had. And they butterfly your catch, and package it up for travel.
Just north of Kamloops.

PS bring you Skeeter Spray, lol

[Night goat]

Check out Hakai lodge up in BC, top notch accommodations, seaplane picks you up in Renton and the moment you get off the plane lunch is waiting at a floating fishing lodge, excellent food, comfortable beds, great crew, guided and unguided trips, fish as much as you want, 16 foot Boston whalers with newer reliable Yamaha outboards, whiskey bottles and cigars for purchase, not a party spot, nice laid back and mellow, fish all you want dawn to dusk

My only complaint is that the guys processing your fish aren’t the best with a knife, definitely b-grade in that department but that’s my only complaint and I’m sure it depends on what crews working when and tend they to keep a little extra for the soup pot for the lodge (best seafood chowder I’ve ever had in my
life btw) imho, then again I prefer to take the whole fish in the round and cut it myself but the food and service is top notch

Overall it’s a world class lodge

Northwest seaplanes is also a world class airline flying fully restored DeHaviland Beavers and Turbo Otters


Winter harbor in BC is another spot I’d look into

Leave Alaska for the tourists 

UNLESS..... you can find any info on the float house lodge up in prince William sound, don’t know what it’s called but it’s up by Knight Island I think..... if I could go anywhere in the world to fish (the aforementioned fish) I’d look into this float house I’m talking about. Biggest lingcod and yellow eye in the world up there

[Skyvalhunter]

$$$$$$

[2MANY]

Old Harbor on Kodiak.

[jamesfromseattle]

If you get the urge to fish for bright red Kamloops Rainbows,
The Rock Island Lake Resort, is about as good as it gets.
http://www.rockislandfishingcamp.com/

Best tasting rainbow trout I have ever had. And they butterfly your catch, and package it up for travel.
Just north of Kamloops.

PS bring you Skeeter Spray, lol

@Alchase, would love to hear more about this one.  Have been thinking that type of trip would be easy once my kids are a little older.  I know the trout fishing up there is a totally different ballgame but haven't really hear much about it because most folks around here head east rather than north for trout.  Seems like a good way to get a bit of adventure, but without much logistical complication or expense.

[CastleRocker]

We are always on a budget, so we just go up to Petersburg, stay with friends, and I rent a boat for a couple days, rent a car for the week, and have fun.  Personally, I like being self guided, as we can keep more halibut, and be on our own schedule.  A guided trip will limit the client to one fish, and nothing real big unless you pay extra.  I longlined for 12 years, so I can usually find fish.  Going to be looking for real estate  this time, as I'm about done with this state.  Pretty good salmon/trout fishing up there too.

As far as shipping it all home, I put all our clothes in coolers with a duffle bag to bring them home in as my carry-on.  I don't bother bringing a "good" cooler, as it only has to stay frozen for a few hours, and with a 50lb limit on baggage, I don't want the empty cooler to be over half of the weight.  We came home last time with 118lbs. of vacuum packed fillets (between 3 of us), and paid no extra bag fees.  Like I said, it's a budget thing.