A Fly-Out Day with the Bears: Fishing Remote Rivers by Floatplane

Many of our guests tell us the fly-out was the day they talk about most. It is a different kind of fishing: a scenic flight across Cook Inlet, a remote river and a guide beside you the whole time. Here is how the day goes, and how to choose between the two seasons.

The flight

We use Talon Air for all of our flying. They are well known for safety, deep local knowledge and excellent pilots, and that matters when your fishing spot has no road. You fly across Cook Inlet aboard a floatplane and land on water far from anything. Floatplanes are small, so keep your day bag light and put your layers on before you board.

June and July: sockeye and bears

In June and July we send guests to Wolverine Creek and Big River Lakes. Looking down into the clear water, you can literally see thousands of sockeye salmon. Catching them is an easy chore, and the bear viewing is hard to top.

You will have some furry fishing partners on the nearby rocks, waiting for their chance at the same fish. They are after the salmon, not you, and you are fully guided, so you follow your guide's directions and give the bears room. Pictures cannot tell you what it feels like to fish alongside brown bears, and we will not try to describe it either.

Late July and August: silvers

Nearing the end of July and through August, silver salmon choke the rivers and streams bordering Cook Inlet. Big River Lakes and the Kustatan River hold world-class silvers, with limits taken easily. These trips also offer wonderful wildlife viewing.

Silvers are a fun fish on the fly-out for the same reasons they are fun on the Kenai: bright, hard-running, and quick to jump. If you like an early start and a steady bite, this is your season.

Which season fits you

If the bears are what you came for, aim for June or July, when sockeye and brown bears share the same clear water. If you would rather spend the day with a bent rod and a bright silver on the line, aim for the end of July and August. Either way, you are fishing rivers most visitors never see, and our guides know where to put you. If you cannot decide, tell us what your group likes best, and we will point you to the right week.

The ride home

The day does not end when you reel in your last fish. On the flight home, the pilot takes you over glaciers and the Mount Redoubt volcano. Guests have come back saying it felt as if the wing tips were going to touch the glacier. After a full day of fishing, that view is the part many people say they remember longest.

Other fish, other days

Sockeye and silvers are the headliners, but they are not the only options. You tell us what you want to go after, and we will work out how to get you there. Fly-out destinations also offer char, rainbow trout, northern pike and grayling, or you can simply go sightseeing. The destinations are endless, as we like to say.

What to bring

• Layers and a rain suit, since river weather can turn quickly.
• Polarized sunglasses, which let you see fish in clear water.
• A camera or phone on a lanyard or in a zip lock bag.
• A packed lunch and a drink, plus your Alaska fishing license if you are 16 or older.

All fishing gear is provided for guided charters, so you can travel light.

How to add one to your trip

A fly-out is an add-on to your fishing and lodging package, starting at $825.00 per person plus tax. It works best when you plan it in advance, because small planes and short seasons do not leave much slack.

A few planning points:

• For sockeye and bears, plan on June or July. For silvers, plan on late July through August.
• Weather decides floatplane days. Build some flexibility into your week and ask us how a change would be handled.
• Fish limits and rules can change by order of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, so check the current regulations before you fly.

The easiest way to start is a short phone call. Tell us when you are coming and what you hope to see, and we will build the fly-out into your week. Call us toll free at 1-800-625-2324.