How do I get to Rapids Camp?
Travel to Rapids Camp includes 3 main steps.
- Flying to Anchorage, AK on any major carrier on the day of or at least one day prior to their trip.
- Flying from Anchorage, AK to King Salmon, AK on our private aircraft (Pilatus PC-12).
- Our staff will meet the Pilatus and transfer guest to the lodge in our shuttle van. The drive is roughly 15 minutes.
- Note: Guests are able to arrive in Anchorage on the first day of their trip and then fly to King Salmon, AK that day. We simply ask that your flight arrives in Anchorage by of before 12:00PM. If you cannot arrive by 12:00PM, you may elect to overnight prior to this day (independently arranged, not included).
What kind of fish will I catch?
During the course of our season, our guests will catch all 5 Pacific salmon found in Alaska. King salmon (Chinook), Silver salmon (Coho), Chum salmon (Dog), Red salmon (Sockeye) and Pink salmon (Humpy). You will also catch great numbers of Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, Char and Grayling.
Do you only allow fly fishing?
No, while most of our guests fish with fly rods, we are very happy to host guests who want to use spinning gear and/or conventional tackle.
What’s the best time to go?
Our season runs from about mid-June through the last week in September. The best time to go just depends on what you want to catch. From mid-June to mid-July, King salmon are the most popular target, but Chum are also around in large numbers during that time. The end of June will see the start of the Sockeye run which lasts until the end of July. In August, Silver mania sweeps the region with consistent trout and Char fishing. The month of September is when we experience the largest trout and Char of our season, fish of a lifetime are in our sites!
What if I don’t have all the gear?
Most of our guests bring their gear along, but we’ve got a wide variety of loaner gear – waders, boots, rods, reels and lines – available for guest use at no charge. Just request it when you fill out your Guest Registration Form or contact us directly and we will make sure you have what you need.
Do I have to bring flies?
Most of our guests bring some flies along, but we also provide flies at no charge. If you’re not able to bring any flies, that’s OK, we will hook you up!
What if I haven’t done much fly fishing?
That’s no problem at all. Our guests range from first-time anglers to expert world-travelers. Our guides are extremely patient and love teaching guests of all ability levels. Part of the beauty of fishing at Alaska West is that it’s a very prolific fishery – there are tons of fish and everybody will catch fish, regardless of skill level.
