FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Staying in Anchorage
We recommend The Coast Inn at Lake Hood hotel, located on Lake Hood near the airport. Our partnership provides a special discounted rate for clients of Nushagak River Adventures Lodge. Make sure you mention “Fish The Nush/Nushagak River Adventures Lodge” to receive that rate. An onsite restaurant and airport transportation are available. Additional details will be provided in our Travel Information document we will send in January.
Getting Here for Guests arriving on or before July 16, 2024
Fly to Dillingham, Alaska from Anchorage via Alaska Airlines. Make sure to check current Alaska Airlines flights and be aware they have changed several times so keep checking. Please plan to arrive the evening before your first fishing day and overnight at one of the local hotels/B&B’s in Dillingham. Try Beaver Creek B&B (907) 842-7335. If you stay at Beaver Creek they will meet your airplane upon arrival, provide breakfast items while other options do not. We will ensure you have lunch upon arrival. On the morning of your first fishing day, Tikchik Airventures will pick up your party at your Dillingham lodging and transport you to the float planes where you will be whisked to the lodge. The cost of the floatplane ride is included in your trip price. Additional fees may apply for baggage over 40 pounds and excessive alcohol. On our 4-day schedule, guests arrive in camp their first day, receive a safety and orientation briefing and get out on the water fishing until 5:30 PM. Over the next three days guests fish from 8 AM to 5 PM. On the last day, float planes fly guests back to Dillingham normally from 9 to 10 AM with possible fog or wind delays. Plan to depart Dillingham for Anchorage no earlier than 2 PM on the last day of your trip. We cannot plan for weather delays; while they do not happen often, they can occur.
Getting Here for Guests arriving on or after July 17, 2024
If you have not booked your tickets to Alaska yet, please do so by traveling through Anchorage to King Salmon instead of Dillingham. Tikchik Air has decided to stop flying for the summer on July 16 . Make sure to check current Alaska Airlines flights and be aware they have changed several times so keep checking. Please plan to arrive the evening before your first fishing day and overnight at one of the local hotels/B&B’s in King Salmon. Try Antlers Inn at 907-246-8525. They have a shuttle service from the airport. You call when you have your baggage. There is a restaurant located across the street from Antlers Inn. You can also stay with King Salmon Lodge at (907) 246-8643. They have a restaurant on site and offer a shuttle from the airport and also to your flight service. We will fly you out to the lodge using Branch River Air Service in King Salmon. We will coordinate those float plane flights. The air service will retrieve you from your desired lodging. If you are traveling after the above July date and you have already booked your airfare through to Dillingham, that is okay. We can send you out to the lodge with one of the smaller operators there, but we need to reserve their plane for you right away. Those flights are limited so we must get them reserved. For the majority of you coming after that date, you will please seek to come through King Salmon for the 2024 season.
Please make sure to provide your flight itinerary and lodging information to fishthenush@gmail.com as soon as possible.
Packing/Logistics
Please note we have a 40-pound soft-sided, waterproof duffle bag recommendation for traveling via floatplane and a limit to how much alcohol is allowed per person without incurring an additional fee. Coolers are not allowed for transport. If your trip to Alaska extends beyond your trip to the Nushagak, we recommend the following for your convenience. If you are fishing prior to arriving you can store your fish and a bag at the Anchorage airport storage near baggage claim carousel 3 the ANC airport. If you are going to fish after your trip with us or take any other type of tour throughout Alaska, then you can store your extra bag of clothing to retrieve when you return to Anchorage and store your Nushagak salmon at the airport storage in their freezers while you enjoy the rest of your trip.
Alcohol Policy
You are welcome to bring alcohol, beer or wine not to exceed one case of beer OR 3 bottles of wine OR one bottle of alcohol and a 12 pack of mixers per person. We welcome you to relax in a responsible manner. Alcohol is not allowed on the boats and may be consumed in camp only and at your own risk. We do not have a liquor license and therefore do not sell or provide alcohol at the lodge. In the event a guest wants to bring a larger quantity of alcohol than the per person allocation, please contact Pete to coordinate and learn of any additional transportation fees.
Food Allergies/Restrictions
If you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions please send an email to fishthenush@gmail.com with your specific needs at least two weeks prior to your trip—the sooner the better. We will work with you to accommodate. Allergies and medical restrictions are a priority and will be accommodated, however, personal dietary preferences are less easy to oblige due to the increased cost of operating in the Bush and the nature of bush transportation and river logistics.
Fishing License
Anglers must purchase their Alaska fishing licenses online, prior to your arrival and possess them while fishing on the bank and in the boats. Make sure to purchase a king salmon stamp if you are coming during king season in June or July and purchase the license to start at 8am the day of your arrival and for as long as you’ll be fishing. Purchase them online at https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/store/. At time of online purchase you will receive a copy of your license in PDF format. Please print and sign your license to carry on your person at all times while fishing on the boats and from the bank here in the Alaska bush.. Consider bringing an extra printed copy as back up.
King Salmon Harvest Policy:
It is lodge policy NOT to kill any king salmon over 40 inches for the conservation of these genes in the river system. Please do not ask your guide to retain a fish of this size as they are instructed to release all fish this large. We do not encourage the killing of hens, and will encourage a slot size for king retention. Thank you for understanding and for consciously preserving a resource for generations to come. Kings of smaller size can be harvested based on current regulations.
Fish Processing
Our guide team will fillet and vacuum seal your salmon with our commercial-grade, air-chambered vacuum sealer. Your catch gets placed in our sub-zero freezer daily. On the day of your departure we’ll place your salmon in a 50-pound, airline-approved box to accompany you on your flight. If guests are staying overnight in Anchorage before departing for home, the hotel we recommend in Anchorage has freezer storage for its guests. There is also freezer storage at the Ted Stevens International Airport you can use for a fee. Each guest will be allowed a maximum of one 50-pound box of King salmon to bring home.
Weather
Throughout the summer guests can expect an average of 40 to 70° F with a likely chance of rain daily. Temperatures are on the brisk side in June with significant rain but temperatures warm up throughout the summer with less rain in August than June. Plan to bring quality rain gear and multiple warm layers. We recommend Gore Tex® and fleece for maximum weather protection. Please refer to our packing list for your convenience. Weather delays can occasionally occur during transport. We are not responsible for Acts of God, loss of fishing time or expenses related to changed travel arrangements. Your safety is our highest priority.
Camp Facilities
Nushagak River Adventures Lodge has recently rebuilt their bathhouse to provide separate men’s and ladies facilities. Everything is brand new and spotless. Ladies have two private bathrooms with toilet, shower, sink and mirror. Men have separate shower and toilet facilities and sinks.
Emergency/Medical
All of our fishing guides are Red Cross certified first responders and their certifications are up to date. We have an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) in camp as well as surgical supplies and several first-aid bags. There are first-aid bags on every boat. In an extreme emergency we have contact with a helicopter for transport to the Dillingham Regional Hospital. It is a smart idea to think about travel insurance. Please remember to pack any personal medications you may require.