West Tent Camp
THE FISHING
Anglers will wade and float on the majestic Kanektok River, or the smaller Ariolik located nearby at an additional cost. These rivers course their way through coastal flats, riverflood plains, willow and cottonwood scrub forest, and high tundra. The five species of Pacific Salmon have somewhat different seasons, running from mid-July to the end of August. The Trout and Grayling are more constant. The Kanektok is 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 quantity and variety. This location on the river, 5.5 miles from its mouth, puts you in a unique position to sample a full variety of what the river has to offer.
Downriver from camp is the larger water, including the long gravel bars where the kings hold, the deep snaggy channels where the big rainbows lie, the backwaters that load with silvers and the tidewaters full of salmon fresh from the salt. Upriver from camp, the river makes a transition to smaller water, side channels and tributaries. These sections allow hiking up channels for rainbows, targeting salmon in smaller water, making day-long drifts fishing for “anything” and working extremely productive dolly flats.
The typical day starts at 7:00 AM with a buffet-style breakfast. At this time fixings are put out for you to build yourself a custom-made lunch. You may also request a shore lunch – a lunch of fresh-caught fish and trimmings cooked for you, by your guide, right on the shore of the river! If you choose to have shore lunch it is best requested the night before so your guide can get prepared in advance. Shore lunch adds about 20 minutes of cooking time to your lunch break.
Your guide and boat will be ready to leave the beach at 8:00 AM and will be at your service until 6:00 PM, when all boats are due back to camp. This is a long day of fishing! Appetizers are put out at 6:30 PM and dinner is served at 7:30 PM. Our boats are 16 to 18 foot flat-bottomed john boats and are powered by 40 HP jet pumps. They are equipped with bow and stern anchors, two swivel seats and life jackets. A cooler is on board to store lunches and drinks. The jet boats are used in several different ways. While fishing for salmon you might fish from the boat. Anchoring up and swinging or stripping flies can be very effective. Back trolling plugs or spin ‘n’ glos for kings is deadly. Fishing for trout can be done from our boats as well. Both seats are removed, your guide rows you down river ‘drift boat style’ and you cast while floating. This method is a wonderful way to see the river and cover water. While fishing from the boat is fun, most anglers also choose to fish from the wader-friendly gravel bars. This is where the jet boat shines! The shallow draw means that guests can run over very shallow water as well as getting into many small side channels that can be hiked up and fished from shore with your guide. The Lodge will pack and freeze up to 50 lbs. of salmon for each guest.
BOATS AND EQUIPMENT
The Lodge has several 16 to 18 foot flat-bottomed ‘john’ boats, with 40 HP jet pump engines. There are also jet boats utilized on the river as well.
Fly and spin welcome
GETTING THERE
Guests must fly to Anchorage by major airline: then to Bethel by Alaska Airline and then on to Quinhagak, with Grant Aviation. Guests will be met by Lodge staff for a 25-minute jet-boat ride to the Alaska West site.
Slipstream is a full service travel company that can handle a variety of services relating to your trip. For assistance, please contact us directly at 1 866 644-7703.
RATES FOR 2024 June 11 to August 27
$7,550 USD 7 night/ 6 days depending on the week, per person
RATES FOR 2025 TBD
- ANC - Alaska
- June 12 to September 4
- 5 species of Salmon
- 20 rods per week guests
- Wifi: Yes
- Language: English
- Physicality: Low
- CC Payment at Facility : Yes
West Tent Camp
Tour Location
LOCATION
PRIMARY SPECIES
SEASON OF OPERATION
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE LOGISTICS
ACCOMMODATIONS
DESTINATION CAPACITY
West Tent Camp
West Tent Camp
INCLUDED IN PRICE
- 7 nights accommodation in tents
- 6 days guided fishing [fly-out weather permitting]
- All meals
- Flies and terminal tackle
- Loaner gear
NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE
- International and domestic airfare
- Gratuities to staff and guides
- Alcohol
- Additional nights in Anchorage
- Alaska sport-fishing license
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Bring battery-powered personal items when possible- clock, razor, etc- as there is limited electricity at the site.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
- Canadian, British, EU and Australian citizens only need a valid passport for entry to the United States. No visa is required.
- You will need to purchase an Alaskan Fishing License for the duration of your stay. This can be purchase at the following link
- http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=license.main