The Aniak River in SW Alaska is a 95-mile tributary of the Kuskokwim River. The Aniak is one of Alaska's best rivers due to its variety – rainbows, dollies, grayling, all five salmon species, sheefish, and northern pike – and the sheer number of fish you'll catch. This trip is one of the best in the world for novice fly anglers because they’ll get so many opportunities to hook and land large quantities of fish each day. Aniak River Lodge is an Orvis-Endorsed Fly-Fishing Expedition and now practices catch-and-release fishing. While the Lodge emphasizes conservation, guests can still enjoy some guide-prepared shore lunches. Read Guy's 2023 Hosted Trip Report.
2025 Hosted Weeks:
7-nights and 6-days guided fishing $8,450.00 per person Rainbows and Silvers Weeks:
• August 7-15, 2025: Guy Schoenborn hosts
• August 14-22, 2025: Guy hosts
2026 Hosted Weeks:
7-nights and 6-days guided fishing $8,450.00 (Rate is subject to change.) Rainbows and Silvers Weeks:
• August 13-21, 2026: Guy Schoenborn hosts
• August 20-28, 2026: Guy hosts
You're not restricted to our hosted weeks. Book anytime.
Aniak Rainbow Fishing
Aniak's rainbow fishing may be some of Alaska’s best. Rainbows average 18 to 20" in length, with bows up to 30 inches. Aniak River Lodge offers some of the best mousing for trout in Alaska. You can catch giant leopard rainbows on mouse patterns every week of the fishing season. June and July are particularly productive with this unique topwater method, plus peak char, grayling, and northern pike.
Kurt Rathjen with an Aniak Silver Salmon
The Kuskokwim boasts Alaska’s largest run of silver salmon, and the Aniak is the best-producing tributary of the Kuskokwim River. It’s not uncommon to land thirty-plus silvers a day here from early August through early September. Aniak's unique location offers many of the same options as expensive lodges without the need for fly-outs, allowing more time to fish.
Laurie Woody and Guide Tyler with Aniak Rainbow Trout
Typical Fishing Day: 7:00 a.m. - Coffee. 8:00 a.m. - Breakfast. 9:00 a.m. - Begin your fishing day. If weather permits, guides prepare a shore lunch for you. Otherwise, you’ll enjoy a packed lunch from the cooler. 5:00 p.m. - Return to the Lodge for a hot shower. 6:00 p.m. - Drinks and appetizers are served. 7:00 p.m. - Dinnertime. After dinner, the guides have an evening orientation, addressing your questions and providing casting or mousing lessons if desired. You’ll prepare for the next fishing day, swap stories, or relax.
The Fishing Program:
Season: Mid-June through mid-September. The Camp hosts 16 anglers per week, except for the final two weeks of the season when the maximum is 14. Boats: Aniak has ten 18 ft. G3 Jet Boats with Yamaha four-stroke 40 to 90-HP motors. Two anglers per boat and experienced, Coast Guard licensed guide. Methods: Spin or fly fishing. You’ll fish from the boat and bank, depending on the river conditions and species. Fishing Days: You’re guided daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Fishing Equipment: The Camp can provide fly outfits on a limited basis. The Lodge provides split shot, hooks, beads, and leaders. Flies are not included in the package. Fishing with Larry supplies flies for silvers, rainbows, and sheefish on our Hosted Weeks. Guy will send sample patterns if you want to tie your own. If you want to fish pike or grayling, please bring your own flies. A comprehensive tackle and gear list is provided in our confirmation packet. Fishing License: is not included in the package. You will not need a king stamp for the Aniak. Drying Room: The Camp has an unheated drying room for your gear. Fly Tying: We can send sample flies if you want to tie some before your trip. The Lodge has a fly-tying bench; no materials are provided, so you will need to bring your own. The guides offer nightly instruction on fly tying if desired
Dolly Varden are very colored up from August 10th on.
Guy Schoenborn with Dolly Varden
Sample Weekly Itinerary: Thursday: You’ll fly to Anchorage. You’ll spend the night at a hotel in Anchorage as your flight to Aniak leaves the next morning.
(The hotel night is not included in the package.) Friday: In the morning, you'll take a one-hour and 35-minute flight to Aniak. You are limited to 70 pounds of luggage. No flights are included in the package. The charter flight from Anchorage to Aniak was $720.00 (2024), not included in the package. At Aniak Airport, you'll be greeted by a staff member and driven to Aniak's Base Lodge, a five-minute drive. At the Base Lodge, you'll have a sandwich and beverages and a brief orientation. Then, you'll fish for sheefish and pike during your 25-mile boat ride upriver to the Camp. You'll reach Camp at about 5:30 p.m. Your gear is shuttled ahead on a separate boat and then transferred to your tent. You'll have time to relax before dinner with a beverage or fish unguided in front of the Camp. Saturday - Wednesday: Full days of guided fishing from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Thursday: After a full day's fishing, you’ll return to Camp by 5:00 p.m. Shower, appetizers, and dinner. Pack for the next morning's departure. Friday: Departure day. After breakfast at 7:30 a.m., you'll take a jet boat ride downriver to the Base Lodge in Aniak. Then, at 10:45 a.m., you'll take the five-minute shuttle to the Aniak Airport. Please do not book your flight from Anchorage to home before 6:00 p.m. in case of a flight delay.
Guide and Bob Buchman
Tyler and Guide with Northern Pike
Carl Quertermus with Aniak Sheefish
Our hosted weeks are a great time to target beautiful leopard rainbow, silver salmon, grayling, char, and a few sheefish.
Aniak Arctic Grayling
Mike Sevon with Aniak Arctic Grayling 2022 Hosted Week.
Aniak's Deluxe Mid-River Camp
Aniak's Accommodations
The Camp has high-end 15 x 30 WeatherPort Tents. Two anglers per tent. Each tent has two full-size beds with quality bedding. The tents also have a toilet, a shower, and a sink with hot running water. Meals: The Camp has a gourmet kitchen with delicious chef-prepared meals served in the dining tent. After dinner, share fishing stories around the fire pit and watch the sunset. Alcohol: The Lodge cannot provide alcohol, but you are welcome to bring your own. Aniak is a damp village, which means it is illegal for the Lodge to serve or sell alcohol. Communications: Aniak and the Camp now have Starlink Wi-Fi. The service is strong enough for electronic devices and cell phone use. A Signed Liability Release Form is required for this adventure.
Abundance of Wildlife
The region is loaded with an abundance of wildlife. It’s not uncommon to see brown and black bears, moose, wolves, otters, mink, beaver, wolverine, osprey, or bald and golden eagles.
We've Hosted Trips at Aniak River Lodge since 2000.
Larry Schoenborn with a nice Aniak rainbow. Larry began hosting trips at Aniak River Lodge in 2000. The Aniak was Larry’s favorite Alaska freshwater trip.
Tillie and Mike Sevon with Aniak Bow
Guide Ben and Amy Brulke - Sheefish
2025 Rate:
Season: mid-June through mid-september. Friday to Friday 7-nights and 6-plus days guided fishing $8,450.00 per person
• Ground transfers from Aniak airport to Aniak's Base River Lodge • Boat transfers from Aniak to the Camp • 7-nights Lodging at Mid-River Camp • Meals at the Camp • Non-alcoholic beverages • Starlink Wi-Fi at Camp • 6-plus days guided fishing • Use of fly outfits, limited quantity • Split shot, hooks, beads, and leader • FWL supplies flies on Hosted Weeks.
The Package Does Not Include:
• Airfare to Anchorage and return • Airfare between Anchorage and Aniak, the $720.00 charter flight is not included and will be added to the trip invoice. • Hotel, meals, and ground transfers in Anchorage • Alcohol • Alaska fishing license $45.00, 2024
• Fishing equipment and tackle • Gratuities to guides and staff • Global Rescue or similar medical/safety evacuation insurance • Travel insurance
• Anything not mentioned under inclusions. • Fishing with Larry adds a 2.5% convenience fee to all credit card transactions.
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Aniak River Lodge Policies: Deposit Policy: $2,500.00 down in 10 days, with the balance due 90 days before arrival. Cancellation Policy: Should you need to cancel your trip, prepayments and final payments are non-refundable. However, the deposit can be rolled to a new date. We strongly recommend purchasing trip insurance. We can supply you with the necessary forms. If you cancel six months or more before your trip, Aniak River Lodge can usually find a replacement. Liability Release Required: Aniak River Lodge requires you to sign a Liability Release before your arrival.
