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Frequently Asked Questions

Sandy River Lodge

Sandy River Lodge logo with stylized mountain, spirals, and decorative circles
What kind of fish will I target at Sandy River Lodge?

Steelhead in the fall (September/October). Kings in the summer (June/July).

No—if you’re comfortable casting a two-hander or willing to learn, our guides will dial you in fast.
Expect cool, variable conditions. Bring quality layers, rain gear, and a good attitude.
We recommend bringing your own, but limited backup rods and reels are available if needed.
Yes, the lodge has Starlink internet access available throughout the camp. There is no cell service.

Sandy River Lodge is ideal for anglers who enjoy long days on the water, minimal crowds, and two-handed fly fishing. This is a remote, well-appointed Alaskan lodge focused on serious fishing rather than luxury amenities. Guests who value solitude, wild fish, and an authentic spey-centric experience will feel at home here.

Sandy River Lodge is located approximately 600 miles SW of Anchorage on the lower Alaska Peninsula, about twelve miles upriver from the Bering Sea.

Guests fly commercially to Anchorage and overnight, then board a lodge-coordinated charter flight the next morning for the Sandy River Lodge runway. The flight takes about two and a half hours.

  • King salmon: Mid-June to mid-July
  • Cast & Blast (Silver Salmon & Wing Shooting): Early to Mid-September
  • Steelhead: Mid-September through October

Sandy River Lodge operates a spey-forward fishing program designed for swinging flies and covering water efficiently. While two-handed rods are the foundation of the program, single-hand rods may be used during Silver Salmon season when conditions favor stripped or surface presentations

The lodge accommodates ten anglers per week during King Salmon season and scales back to six anglers per week during Steelhead season.

Yes, all fishing is wade-based from gravel bars and riverbanks.

Guests access productive sections of the Sandy River by jetboat. Most King salmon water is located below camp in tidewater, while productive Steelhead runs are found throughout the entire river system.

Boat runs are typically 10 to 30 minutes from the lodge.

Depending on the season, anglers target King salmon, Silver salmon, or Steelhead. However, resident Rainbow Trout and Dolly Varden are present but are not the primary focus of the program.

Catch rates vary based on conditions, run timing, and angler ability. During King season, anglers typically experience 4–10+ encounters per day, while Steelhead season often produces 2–4+ hookups per day.

There is one commercial operation below camp hosting up to six anglers per week. Encounters are infrequent, and overall fishing pressure is very light.

Guides are experienced professionals who know the river intimately, are skilled boat operators, strong instructors, and dedicated to spey fishing.

No, however, prior experience with two-handed casting is strongly recommended.

Guests bring their own primary gear. Guides supply flies, leaders, tips, and terminal tackle. Backup rods and reels are available if needed.

Kings: 12–13 ft 9-wt Spey rods
Silvers: 11–12 ft 7–8 wt Spey rods or 9 ft 8-wt single-hand rods
Steelhead: 11–12 ft 7–8 wt Spey rods

Guests wait for improvement. The Sandy River is relatively protected and typically returns to fishable condition within six to eight hours.

Relaxed, fun, communal, and focused on fishing.

Meals are served in the lodge dining room. Expect hearty, home-style dishes. Lunch is simple and riverside.

Comfortable single or double occupancy rooms with shared bathrooms that are heated and stocked with clean linens.

Yes, Starlink internet with lodge-wide WiFi is available.

Sapsuk River Camp

Sapsuk River Camp logo with stylized mountain, spirals, and decorative circles
How remote is the camp?
Very. There are no roads in or out—once you’re at camp, it’s just you, the crew, and the river. The camp is approximately 550 miles Southwest of Anchorage, Alaska.
June through October. We fish for kings from mid-June through July, silvers late August through mid September, and steelhead late September through October.
Yes—there’s a community bathhouse with hot running water, and two clean well-kept outhouses.
We host a maximum of six guests per week to keep the experience intimate and uncrowded. During king and silver salmon season we host up to six guests per week and scale down to four guests per week during steelhead season.
Not at all. Our guides work with all skill levels, and the water here is perfect for learning or refining your swing.

Sapsuk River Camp is best suited for passionate spey anglers who value solitude, strong runs of salmon and steelhead, and a straightforward, well-run remote camp experience. If you enjoy long days on the water, light fishing pressure, two-handed fly fishing, and the authenticity of a well-appointed Alaska tent camp—rather than luxury lodge amenities—Sapsuk River Camp is an excellent fit.

Sapsuk River Camp is located on the remote lower Alaska Peninsula, about 20 miles upriver of the Bering Sea coast.

Guests fly commercially to Anchorage and overnight. The following morning, a lodge-coordinated charter flight transports guests approximately three hours to a remote airstrip near the Bering Sea coast. From there, guests travel upriver by jet boat (approximately one hour) to camp.

King Salmon: Mid-June to mid-July
Silver Salmon: August to mid-September
Steelhead: Mid-September through October

The fishing program is spey-forward throughout the season, using two-handed rods to efficiently cover water and present swung flies. During silver salmon season, when fish concentrate in softer channels and holding water, single-hand rods can also be effective—particularly for stripping flies or skating surface patterns.

Yes, anglers wade fish 100% of the time from gravel bars and riverbanks.

Guests access fishing water by jet boat, traveling to productive sections of the Sapsuk River. Most king salmon water is close to camp, while silver salmon and steelhead runs are typically accessed slightly farther upriver.

Boat runs generally range from 5 to 30 minutes from camp, depending on the section of river being fished..

Depending on the time of season, anglers can target king salmon, silver salmon or steelhead.

Catch rates vary by season and conditions. During king salmon and steelhead seasons, anglers can expect a few solid hookups per day. Silver salmon season often provides higher-volume fishing, with the potential for consistent action throughout the day.

A small number of anglers may be encountered during king and silver salmon seasons. During steelhead season, you will not encounter others. Overall fishing pressure is light compared to most Alaska fisheries.

Experienced Alaskan professionals who thrive in remote environments and know the river intimately.

Wading difficulty varies by section of river and time of season. Most king and silver salmon water is easy to moderate, with stable gravel bars and forgiving footing. Steelhead water can be more technical, with larger rocks, stronger current, and more challenging wading conditions.

No, however, prior experience with two-handed casting is strongly recommended to get the most out of the fishing program.

Guests are encouraged to arrive fully prepared with their own fishing gear. Guides carry flies, leaders, tips, and terminal tackle to supplement guest gear as needed. The camp also maintains a small selection of backup rods and reels in case of breakage or equipment failure.

Kings: 12–13 ft 9-wt Spey rods
Silvers: 11-12 ft 7-wt or 8-wt Spey rods and/or 9 ft 8-wt single hand rods
Steelhead: 11-12 ft 7-wt or 8-wt Spey rods

If river conditions temporarily limit fishing, guests wait for improvement. There are no alternate rivers fished from camp. The Sapsuk River is relatively protected and rarely becomes unfishable for extended periods.

Relaxed, fun, communal, and focused on fishing. A true Alaskan tent-camp experience that has everything you expect and nothing you don’t.

A small, capable crew of three guides plus a host/chef manages daily operations.

Meals are served in the dining tent. Expect hearty, home-style dishes—local seafood, pasta, and grilled meats. Lunch is riverside and simple.

Heated Weatherport tents on raised platforms with full beds, linens, and power from a generator with battery backup. There’s a shared shower house with on-demand hot water and two outhouses.

Yes, the camp has Starlink internet access with wifi broadcast throughout the camp.

Steelhead Creek Camp

Steelhead Creek Camp logo with stylized mountain, spirals, and decorative circles
How remote is the camp?
Extremely. There are no other camps, anglers, or access points nearby. It’s just you, your guide, and the creek.
Wild steelhead—strong, aggressive, and fresh from the salt.
Yes. The creek is small and intimate, with clear footing and walkable banks. No boats needed—or used.
Both short two-handed rods and single-hand rods are ideal.
Yes—Starlink internet is available for checking in as needed, though most guests enjoy unplugging.

What type of anglers is Sandy River Lodge best suited for?
Steelhead Creek Camp is best suited for focused steelhead anglers who value solitude, wild fish, and the experience over numbers. This is a remote, minimalist tent camp designed for anglers seeking chrome-bright steelhead fresh from the Bering Sea.

Steelhead Creek Camp is located on the remote Alaska Peninsula, approximately 40 miles by beach from the nearest village. The camp sits close to the beach where the creek flows into the Bering Sea, with no road access and no nearby development.

Guests fly commercially to Anchorage and overnight. The following morning, a lodge-coordinated charter flight transports guests approximately three hours to a remote airstrip along the Bering Sea coast. From there, guests travel one hour by Jeep along the beach to the camp. Beach travel is weather- and tide-dependent and is an integral part of the experience.

Steelhead Creek Camp operates a short, four-week season from mid-September through October, timed around the peak steelhead migration. Early weeks may also offer opportunities for silver salmon, while later weeks focus exclusively on steelhead.

The rivers are suited for single-hand rods and short two-handed (switch or compact spey) setups, ideal for covering water efficiently and precisely with a swung fly. We do not “nymph” or target our fish with egg patterns.

Yes. All fishing is done on foot, wading from gravel bars and riverbanks. Guests should expect cold water, uneven footing, and variable conditions throughout the season.

The primary fishing water is immediately adjacent to camp, with productive holding water within sight of the tents. Strong hikers may access additional water further upstream. When tides and weather allow, the guide may also access other nearby coastal rivers via Jeep.

Most fishing is accessed within a short walk from camp. Longer hikes and beach travel may be required to reach additional water depending on conditions and angler ability.

Steelhead are the primary target species at Steelhead Creek Camp. Early in the season, anglers may also encounter silver salmon. Doll Varden are present as well.

Catch rates vary and are heavily influenced by tide cycles and conditions. Anglers can expect one to four quality steelhead opportunities per day when conditions align. Success at Steelhead Creek is defined by capitalizing on opportunities rather than high numbers.

Almost certainly not. This is an extremely remote and lightly pressured fishery.

The guide/camp manager is a one-man band. He will maintain the camp, cook all of your meals, set you up for a fishing day, and transport you up and down the beach. He has been running the solo program for years in a camp that requires a unique knowledge base.

Overall, the terrain is forgiving and wading is generally easy to moderately challenging. Anglers in good physical condition that can walk two to four miles per day over uneven tundra get the most out of the experience.

No, however, prior fly fishing experience for steelhead is strongly recommended to get the most out of the fishing program.

Guests are expected to bring their own rods, reels, and waders. The guide carries flies, leaders, tips, and terminal tackle to supplement guest gear. A backup rod is strongly recommended.

Steelhead: 11-12 ft 7-wt or 8-wt Spey rods
Silvers: 11-12 ft 7-wt or 8-wt Spey rods and/or 9 ft 8-wt single hand rods

Weather and tides may occasionally limit fishing opportunities. When this occurs, guests may enjoy Bering Sea beachcombing or downtime in camp. Flexibility is part of fishing this exposed coastal system.

Relaxed, quiet, and focused on fishing. Steelhead Creek Camp offers a true Alaskan tent-camp experience—simple, comfortable, and casual.

Steelhead Creek Camp is operated by a single, highly experienced guide/manager who handles all aspects of camp operations, meals, logistics, and fishing support.

Guests stay in heated WeatherPort tents on raised platforms with full beds, linens, and reliable power via generator with battery backup. Camp facilities include a shared shower house with on-demand hot water and an outhouse.

Yes, the camp has Starlink internet access with wifi broadcast throughout the camp.