Alaska vacation help

[Bitter Clinger]

Hey everyone. I KNOW I have posted this before but I can't find it. I want to buy myself and my dad a Alaska fishing vacation for Christmas next year,2015 Christmas with a 2016 trip. We want privacy and rustic...ness, a cabin away from combat fishing would be ideal. I can do airfare/rental car separate. My budget is $4000. We want salmon fishing, privacy,food Included, and firearms and beer allowed. I need help on this. My google-fu is weak.

[Great-Kazoo]

Christmas is a bad time to go weather wise. best time is before july (mosquitos) and after feb - march.

[StagLefty]

You'll enjoy your trip much more if I'm included-bucket list #1

[mightiestmouse]

There is not such thing as "bad weather" in Alaska. There is weather and there is "Oh hey look a patch of blue sky".

Kazoo is correct that Xmas time is typically not the best time to go for fishing. Also, there are completely different runs of fish throughout the year so I would first make sure you know what you want to catch. I just did a 10 day fish in Alaska since my brother in laws family still lives in the area. It was in a pretty secluded area as it is only accessible by plane or ferry. The town itself has (I believe) 2000 people, but there is everything you need to enjoy a good fishing trip. I went during September for salmon (silvers) and came back with a 50lb freezer box of fish without even blinking an eye. Limit is 3 per person per day for silvers. If you go during June-ish the run will be halibut which are typically a lot harder to catch than salmon and require a completely different technique. Also, be aware of all local laws such as no felt on the bottom of your boots. Carry bear spray at all times (it will give you more of a chance to get away if you have an encounter... I don't care how big of a caliber you are carrying) and be aware of moose (I saw 5 during my trip, 2 male, 2 female and a little one).

Airfare can be very expensive if you go during peak fishing times. Mine was around $1000 round trip with a direct flight from Denver to Anchorage and a little puddle jumper to the final destination.

Invest in rain gear that is essentially a breathable plastic bag. Alaska fishing will put the waterproof logo on your gear to the test. If you are wet to the skin, you will have a miserable time.
Picture shown is after an hour of fishing.
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[Aloha_Shooter]

On rereading this, I think he's saying he wants to give his dad a 2016 fishing trip to Alaska as a gift for Christmas 2015. So he's giving himself a year to do the research and set everything up.

[rbeau30]

If you are on the Kenai Peninsula, make sure you spend a day doing some clamming in Clam Gulch, they are delicious!

[Lurch]

Let me get a hold of my cousin up in Anchorage. He works for the Fish and Game Dept in one of the hatcheries and see if he know of some rental places.

[Bitter Clinger]

On rereading this, I think he's saying he wants to give his dad a 2016 fishing trip to Alaska as a gift for Christmas 2015. So he's giving himself a year to do the research and set everything up.


Exactly. Should have said it would be during salmon season, late July perhaps.

[huntnfishn5280]

With your budget I would definitely consider getting an Alaska Airlines credit card about six months to a year before you book the airfare. It cost about $75 a year to have the card but you get one companion pass per year that runs about $150 plus tax. We go to Yakutat every year which involves flying multiple times in Alaska. We split the tab with the pass and save about $400 in airfare a piece. You might want to check out the lodges at Yakutat too. I know there are USFS cabins available in the area if you are after solitude. We stay at the Yakutat Lodge and get a lot for the money ( meals, motel, car, one guided day on the ocean, freezers, drift boat). Always come back with at least 50lbs of sockeye filets apiece.

HF5280