Booking

Alaska West
You will catch fish till your arms are sore and your back aches.  You'll take home a box of Kanektok treasure for your efforts. This adventure is not for the plush lodge client, though the accomadations are very comfortable.  It is designed for the ardent, serious fisherman who wants to put aside amenities for hard core fishing.....

Alaska West is a very serious fishing operation. It is unique in that you will camp in a fixed base camp lodge located in the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, 5 miles upriver from the Alaska Native village of Quinhagak.  Your base camp is on the banks of the Kanektok River in far western Alaska along the coast of the Bering Sea. 
  • Designed for hard core fishermen
  • The Kanektok River is a virtual fish factors
  • No suit and tie required
  • Comfort in a camp setting
After your flight to Anchorage you’ll take a charter to Quinhagak which is located in the southernmost reaches of Kuskokwim Bay. It is 425 miles WSW from Anchorage, 75 miles due South of the hub village of Bethel and 190 miles WNW from Dillingham. You wil be right in the middle of nowhere. From there it’s a short jet boat ride to camp. 
 
Alaska West is run in a very professional manner making sure that each angler’s expectations are not only met, but exceeded. The owners, guides and staff like to keep things very simple.  Like they say, "You won’t need a coat and tie to wear to dinner, nor will you have to worry about tracking mud on the carpet.”  You’ll spend quality time with quality people.  
 
The Fishing
 
Alaska West Tent Lodge Fly FishingYou won’t believe what a special river you are fishing.  The Kanektok is the definition of a fish factory. With runs of all five species of Pacific salmon, rainbow trout, Dolly Varden and grayling, the river provides a great mix of both quantity and variety.  

The location of Alaska West is 5.5 miles from the ocean, offering the best of both worlds for the fly angler. Downriver from the camp is the larger water, including long gravel bars where kings hold, deep snaggy channels where big rainbows lie, backwaters that load with silvers and the tidewaters full of all species of salmon fresh from the salt. Upriver from the camp the river makes a transition to smaller water with numerous side channels and tributaries providing hiking up channels for rainbows, sight fishing for salmon in smaller water, making day-long drifts fishing for anything and working extremely productive dolly flats.

The season at Alaska West is only 12 weeks long. Summer in Western Alaska is short!  A lot happens on the river between May and September – ice goes out, runoff comes and goes, five salmon species enter the river and spawn, rainbows, dollies and grayling have a feast on salmon eggs. Before you know it, the days are short and the morning frost has returned.  River conditions, salmon runs and the fishing activity for different species all change quickly during the season. 
 
If you want to plan a trip to the Kanektok, it’s important to understand the river’s run timing so be sure to contact us to ensure that you will be on the river at the right time for the fish you are seeking.  From mid-June to mid-July, king salmon are the most popular target, with rainbow fishing picking up in July as well.  The second half of July provides a shot at the Alaskan salmon grand slam, all five species of salmon taken on a fly in one day and the most varied rainbow fishing.  In August and early September, silver mania sweeps the Kanektok and the trout just keep getting fatter as they follow the spawning salmon upstream as fall arrives.
It’s at least three fisheries in one – take your pick!

Season

June 11 to September 3, 2010

The seasons book quickly on a first-come, first-serve basis.  If you're interested in booking on specific dates or pursuing specific salmon species at the peak of their run, you'll want to contact us well in advance.

Arolik River Option

Alaska West Fly FishingThrough Alaska West's relationship with the Native Village of Quinhagak, they operate daily guided fishing on the Arolik River.

Guests stay at the Alaska West camp and commute to the Arolik each day.  Some guests choose to book the Arolik River for an entire week of fishing.  Others decide to combine fishing days on the Kanektok and the Arolik, building an incredible week of variety in Western Alaska.

The Arolik has excellent clarity and is about half the size of the Kanektok. It is home to all five Alaskan salmon species, rainbow trout, dolly varden and grayling. There is no more beautiful rainbow than an Arolik rainbow. To spend a day on the Arolik is to see Alaska as it was 100 years ago. We’re very forunate to have this opportunity.

Accommodations

Alaska West Tent Lodge Fly Fishing

Alaska West is a deluxe tent lodge. What does that mean? Anglers sleep in heated tents with carpeted wooden floors. Their dining tent gives plenty of room to spread out, relax and enjoy Alaska gourmet cuisine. Showers and sinks are provided with hot and cold running water.  Outhouse facilities are cleaned and emptied every day. Alaska West calls their facility a tent lodge. Located on top of a phenominal river, a combination of permanent and semi-permanent structures are designed to combine comfortable living, eating and lounging areas next to a ton of big fish.  The dining tent is a spacious 24′x 60′ heated structure with wood floors and is always kept neat and clean. Their kitchen has the state of the art equipment such as gas ranges, convection oven, microwave, refrigerators and freezers. Relax in the lounge after a full day of fishing. This large and heated tent is furnished with comfortable chairs and tables. At your disposal are a refrigerator with cool soda, juices and mixers, poker chips with cards, board games, dart board, magazines, books, map board, telephone, satellite television and an online camp computer.

If you’re looking for white linen tablecloths, you should look elsewhere. If you’re looking for a very comfortable place to spend a week of awesome fishing, relaxation and enjoying a little corner of Alaska, you’ve come to the right place.

Simms Fly Fishing at Alaska West Travels to Alaska West

 
Alaska West Details
  • LIVE HELP!
  • RATES
    Rates at Alaska West

    Fishing with Alaska West on the Kanektok costs $5000. In addition, guests tip an average of $500 and purchase their plane tickets between Anchorage and Quinhagak, Alaska for approximately $675.

    • Fishing on the Arolik costs $5600 for 7 nights and 6 days.

      All trips to Alaska West include emergency medical services provided by Global Rescue.

      Singles who are willing to share lodging and a boat with another guest are welcome to book with us at no additional charge beyond our normal rates.

      Our 2011 season runs from June 12th to September 1st.

      Our seasons book quickly on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you’re interested in booking on specific dates or pursuing specific salmon species at the peak of their run you’ll want to contact us well in advance.

  • WHAT'S INCLUDED
    What's Included at Alaska West
    • Seven Nights Lodging
    • Six Days Guided Fishing on the Kanektok
    • Meals
    • Flies
    • Terminal Tackle
    • Loaner
  • WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
    What's Not Included at Alaska West
    • All airfare
    • Gratuities - Customarily $500 per guest.

  • TRAVEL INFORMATION
    Travel Information for Alaska West

    Travel to Alaska West includes two main steps.

    • Flying to Anchorage, Alaska on any major carrier
    • Taking our charter flight from Anchorage to Quinhagak, Alaska
    Anchorage to Quinhagak Charter

    Our charter flight is operated by Era Aviation. We have scheduled a Dash-8 for the flight to Quinhagak. The flight takes less than 2 hours and costs $675 per person, round trip.

    Booking the Charter

    There is room on the charter flight for all of our guests, and we hold spots on the charter for all of our guests. If you have confirmed your spot on the charter flight with us at Alaska West, you do not need to contact Era at all prior to your trip. We will contact you to collect payment for the charter.

    Flight Schedule

    Our charter flight leaves Anchorage at 10:00 am on Friday – see below for the check-in procedure. The return flight from Quinhagak to Anchorage is scheduled to arrive in Anchorage at 2:45pm on Friday, weather permitting. Guests leaving Alaska West on the charter should schedule their connecting flights to leave Anchorage any time after 5:00 pm.

    Check-in Procedure

    Guests headed to Alaska West must check in at the Era Alaska ticket counter on the 2nd level of the South Terminal no later than 8:30 am. Era Alaska ticket agents will have a manifest for the Alaska West charter flight.

    Bags will be checked at the ticket counter – we request that travelers arrive with no more than 100 pounds of baggage for the flight to camp.

    Ticketed charter passengers will be directed to the appropriate departure gate in the upstairs A concourse.

    Quinhagak to Alaska West

    When you arrive in Quinhagak, you will be met on the airstrip by representatives from Alaska West. You will board a jet boat for the 25 minute ride upriver to our facility. Be sure to pack your raingear in an accessible spot – if it’s raining you’ll want it for the ride upriver.

    Guests will typically arrive at Alaska West between 4:00 and 5:00pm on Friday. This does not allow time for fishing on your arrival day, but it provides a great opportunity to unpack, relax, get your gear rigged and enjoy an extended happy hour. Please remember that travel in bush Alaska requires flexibility and that a variety of factors, including weather, may impact your travel and therefore your arrival time.

    If you have special scheduling needs and require flights at different times or on different days, please call us at 800-344-3628 for additional travel options.

  • TERMS AND CONDITIONS
    Terms and Conditions/Cancellation and Refund Policies

    Once Castafly Travel, LLC receives a deposit or final payment for any type of trip, it is anacknowledgment and agreement by the client to all Terms and Conditions and Cancellation and Refund policies:

    Non-refundable deposits and payment.

    Your payment for a trip is non-refundable, regardless of the means for payment, be it credit card, cash or check.

    Deposits

    Unless otherwise noted by the vendor,

    • Booking more than 180 days before trip start date: a $500 reservation deposit is requied to hold each angler’s spot – this deposit is fully refundable for 30 days after receipt of deposit payment.
    • 180 days before the trip, 50% of the total trip price less the $500 deposit is due to confirm each angler’s spot.
    • 30 days before the first day of the trip, the remaining 50% of payment is due.
    • Payments received less than180 days before the trip start date are non-refundable. Failure to meet any required payment dates will result in the anglers’ spot being released.
    • For Trip Bookings less than 180 days of trip start date a 50% deposit of the total trip price is due immediately to confirm each angler’s spot. 30 days before the first day of the trip, the remaining 50% is due. Payments received less that 180 days before the trip are not refundable. Failure to meeti required payment dates will result in the angler’s spot being released. Castafly Travel strongly suggests the purchase of travel insurance for trips to AlaskaWest.
    • Castafly Travel, LLC reseves the right to charge a service fee of $100 for any changes to the reservation after initial booking.
       
     
    Cancellation and Refund Policy 

    Unless otherwised noted by the vendor,
    • All cancellations for any type of trip must be made in writing to Castafly Travel, LLC. Castafly Travel, LLC reserves the right to charge a service fee of $100 for any cancellations of any type of reservation.
    • Cancellation outside of 90 days prior to scheduled departure – 90% of deposit or payment refund or transfer of funds to another scheduled time or another angler.
    • Cancellation between 60 and 90 days prior to scheduled departure - 70% of deposit or payment refund or transfer of funds to another scheduled time or another angler.
    • Cancellation between 30 and 60 days prior to scheduled departure – 60% of deposit or payment refund or transfer of funds to another scheduled time or another angler.
    • Cancellation 30 days or less prior to scheduled departure – No refund of deposit or final payment.

    Trip cancellation insurance and evacuation insurance.

    Because your deposit and other payment is non-refundable, Castafly Travel, LLC suggests you consider trip and medical evacuation insurance. This insurance is the best way to avoid losing your deposit due to unanticipated circumstances or emergencies. Because Castafly Travel, LLC has no ability to control your deposit onceit is forwarded to the respective lodge, outfitter, etc., we have developed a relationship with Sportsman’s Travel Insurance.

    We also recommend trip evacuation/rescue insurance with Global Rescue, a medical and security evacuation service. We strongly urge to consider these types of insurance, be it with Sportsman’s Travel, Global Rescue, or some other trip and medical evacuation insurance company. A brochure for each company is included in your pre-trip planning package.

    Castafly Travel, LLC is merely an agent.

    Castafly Travel, LLC and its affiliated companies and agents act only as agents for contractors or owners and outfitters, hotels, airlines, shipowners, and charter air carriers providing means of transportation or other services. All tickets, vouchers and contracts of such hotels, airlines, outfitters, lodges, operators and owners are issued subject to any and all tariffs, terms and conditions under which such accommodations, means of transportation or other services are offered or provided, and the issuance and acceptance of any such tickets, vouchers and contracts shall be deemed to be consent to their further conditions.

    Castafly Travel, LLC and any of its affiliated or associated companies or agents shall not be or become liable or responsible in any way in connection with such hotels or lodges, means of transportation or other services, or for any loss, injury or damage to or in respect to any person or property however caused or arising out of your vacation booked through our company.

    Itinerary alterations.

    Castafly Travel reserves the right to make such alterations in the itinerary as it deems in its discretion, necessary or desirable, to refuse to accept or retain as a member of the party any person at any time (in such case refund will be based on the actual cost of the unfinished portion of tour) and to pass on to tour clients expenditures caused by delays or offense beyond our control.

    Cancellation.

    Castafly Travel, LLC reserves the right to cancel any tour prior to departure, in which case full refund will constitute full settlement to the client.

    Prices subject to change.

    All prices are subject to change without notice.

    Baggage and personal effects.

    Baggage and personal effects, including items purchased, are the sole responsibility of the owners at all times and no member or agent of Castafly Travel, LLC or its agents, affiliated or associated companies is authorized to accept these for storage, safekeeping, or transportation
  • WEATHER