Experience a remote Alaska Fly Out

No trip to the Kenai Peninsula fishing is complete without boarding a floatplane and experiencing a remote Alaska Fly Out.  Throughout the summer we offer guided daytrips primarily to the West Side of Cook Inlet but also to more distant locations on the main Alaska Peninsula and beyond.  While fishing the Kenai is an unbelievable experience on one of Alaska’s most cherished salmon rivers, its accessibility inevitable means sharing the water with fellow anglers. Taking a day trip to a more remote fishing location will allow you to see Alaska from the wing tip and also the truly remote solitude and isolation that much of Alaska personifies. 

Our flight service, Alaska West Air, is located in North Kenai and is owned and operated by Doug Brewer, one of the most respected and well-established Alaska Floatplane pilots. His prestigious fleet of high performance aircraft includes a ten passenger DeHavilland Turbine Otter, a ten passenger PZL Otter, a nine passenger DeHavilland Turbine Beaver, two seven passenger DeHavilland DHC-2 Beavers and two Piper Super Cubs.

Below we have listed our primary Alaska Fly Out destinations along with Alaska Salmon run timing, available Alaska Fishing methods and costs. All trips include round trip Alaska Floatplane transportation, experienced, professional Alaska Fishing Guide, boat (when needed) and all necessary Alaska Fishing gear.

Alaska Fly Out Fishing:  Big River Lake / Wolverine Reds, Silvers / Bear Viewing
Destination: Wolverine Creek / Big River Lake: West Side Cook Inlet, Alaska
Flight Time: 20 minutes
Trip Duration: 6-8 hours
Target Species: Alaska Sockeye Salmon, Alaska Silver Salmon
Run Timing/When to Come: Sockeye: June 1 - July 25. Silvers: July 25 - Sept. 15
Description: Big River Lake is located on the West Side of Cook Inlet nestled against rugged coastal mountains and the entrance to Lake Clark Pass. A glacially turbid body of water, Big River Lake is relatively small and primarily fed by surrounding glaciers, snowmelt and tannin upwelling. It then feeds Big River, which makes a relatively wide but shallow and silty 13-mile run to nearby Cook Inlet. Wolverine Creek is a small, clear-flowing tributary stemming from Wolverine Lake and falls less than 2 miles through a boulder-strewn valley where it dumps into Redoubt Bay and Big River Lake. Wolverine Creek and the East Fork of Big River receive the primary runs of Big River Sockeye. Where it flows into the lake, it pushes the cloudy, glacial water back and creates a sizable pocket of clear water. This reveals thousands of fresh Alaska sockeye schooling in the shallows. Alaska Fishing is always very good and anglers regularly retain their three fish limit and release many others. You are allowed to continue fishing once you keep your limit. We normally use light spinning rods.

This clear pool at the outlet of Wolverine Creek is known as Redoubt Bay and is frequented several times daily by numerous Alaska Brown Bears. They attempt (with varied success) to catch fish from the Lake but are most successful when the fish are running the rocky, shallow creek making them easier to catch. The Alaska Brown bears are very tolerant of nearby boats and anglers, content to pursue the fish, feed and move on. Since we do not fish when the Alaska Brown bears are in close proximity, Alaska Brown bear viewing and photography is always a regular component of this trip.

In late July and August, Alaska Fishing in Big River Lake largely transitions from Alaska Sockeye Salmon to newly arriving Alaska Silver salmon. Alaska Fly Out Fishing for Alaska Silvers occurs in many other sections of the Lake away from Redoubt Bay and Wolverine Creek. There are a number of shallow bays and flats surrounding the Lake that attract large schools of fresh Coho. Big River silvers become extremely aggressive in these larger groups and regularly take salmon eggs suspended from a bobber, spinners or a variety of flies. Multiple fish days are very common. This Alaska fly out fishing destination regularly produces some of the best Alaska fishing for silvers available anywhere in the state. The limit is three silver salmon per person and you are not allowed to fish after retaining your limit.

Cost: $395 per person.

Alaska Fly Out Fishing: Chuit River Helicopter King Salmon
Destination: Chuit River
Flight Time: Float Plane: 20 minutes, Helicopter transport: 5 minutes
Trip Duration: 8-10 hours
Target Species: King Salmon
Run Timing/When to Come: June 15 - July 1.
Description: The Chuit River is a small, clear flowing stream that can be waded in most locations. It is located roughly 50 miles southwest of Anchorage on the West Side of Cook Inlet. This Alaska Fly Out trip involves a 20 minute Alaska Floatplane journey from North Kenai to a wilderness lake on the West Side of Cook Inlet. From the lake, an awaiting helicopter takes you directly to the Chuit River.

This river sees a brief but robust run of large Alaska King Salmon that average 30-50lbs. When timed correctly, this is small stream Alaska Fishing for king salmon at its finest. The river is ideal Alaska fly fishing water for big Alaska kings that are fresh from the ocean and very aggressive. Tackle is single hook, artificial lures only and the limit is one fish per person, per day. Due to restricted access and the short season, we can only accept a limited number of annual bookings for this trip. We recommend making reservations well in advance and to also be prepared to fish a different location due to weather, river conditions and run timing.

Cost: $675 per person.

Alaska Fly Out Fishing: Chuitna / Theodore River Silver Salmon
Destination: Chuitna/Theodore Rivers
Flight Time: Float Plane: 20 minutes
Trip Duration: 8 hours
Target Species: Silver Salmon
Run Timing/When to Come: July 25 - Aug. 20
Description: Alaska Silver Salmon enter the Chuitna and Theodore Rivers in late July and Alaska fishing is excellent through late August. These Alaska Salmon can be sight fished in the clear water and are very aggressive. These are ideal rivers to Alaska fly fish for silvers due to their size, water clarity and the high numbers of fish. Alaska Fishing in these rivers is done very close to Cook Inlet and is accessible via nearby Lake with an Alaska floatplane. Here, prearranged transportation is provided to the river from local outfitters. They will drop you and your Alaska Fishing Guide at the river access and you will walk/wade from there. There will be numerous very productive holes in the immediate vicinity.

Cost: $575 per person

Alaska Fly Out Fishing: Upper Kustatan Silvers: The "UK"
Destination: Kustatan River
Flight Time: 20 minutes
Trip Duration: 6-8 hours
Target Species: Silver Salmon, limit three.
Run Timing/When to Come: Silvers: July 20 - Sept. 1
Description: The Kustatan River is located on the West Forelands practically directly across Cook Inlet from the Kenai. It is a relatively shallow, glacial river mostly known for its huge run of Alaska silver salmon. Alaska Fishing access to the river is by Alaska Floatplane via several sloughs and small Lake in the immediate area. Alaska Fishing in this river is mostly done with cured salmon eggs due to the extremely turbid water and the lack of visibility. Flies and spinners are used in adjoining freshwater sloughs but the majority of the Alaska Fly Out Fishing is done in the main stem of the river. We provide boat transportation to several key Alaska Fishing holes and most of the fishing is done from the shore or from sandbars.

Cost: $395 per person  

All Day Exclusive Fly Out trip are also available.  This allows you to charter the floatplane and pilot for the entire day for the ULTIMATE one day Alaska Adventure!

All Day Exclusive Options:

Karluk River Steelhead and King Salmon: Kodiak Island

Nushagak King Salmon: Western Alaska

Gibraltar: Lake Illiamna Drainage

Prince William Sound Silvers: Saltwater Beaches

Funnel or Moraine Creek Trout: Illiamna Drainage

Cost:  Call today for All Day Exclusive Fly Out Pricing, 1-800-622-1177.