This exclusive Sportquest-hosted trip ventures into the Alaskan wilderness, to a remote corner in the southwestern portion of the country, at the edge of the pristine Togiak National Wildlife Refuge. It’s here where the Goodnews River Lodge is situated, accessible only by private charter aeroplane; the three forks of the Goodnews River flow out of the Ahklun Mountains and wander through the Togiak National Refuge as they make their way to the Bering Sea.
The location is a freshwater fly angler’s paradise with over 490 miles of fishable streams, braids, creeks, and river branches. As the only fully serviced lodge on the entire three-branch system, Goodnews Lodge allows anglers to experience first-class fishing in solitude and amongst the peaceful beauty of the Alaskan wilderness.
Travelling rods visit this incredible part of the world to chase the full array of Pacific Salmon species, including Chum, King, Sockeye, Pink and Coho, which can all get caught in good numbers at the right time of the year. These fresh and feisty fish will challenge even the most experienced anglers. As well as this, it’s also possible to target and catch resident Leopard Rainbows, Graylings and even Dolly Varden.
Catering to just thirteen rods per week, plus our host, we have the whole lodge booked, meaning the week is for Sportquest customers only.
This exclusive Sportquest Holidays trip is hosted by one of our experienced hosts and is ideal for solo anglers, pairs of friends and even small groups. Our team of hosts are hugely experienced as both hosts and fishing guides and are well travelled, taking trips of customers around the world and fishing in a wide array of different environments.
From the barren landscapes of Patagonia in Argentina Sea Trout fishing, to the extensive waters of the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil to the stunning, remote saltwater flats of Christmas Island, they have done it all. All have been fishing for their entire lives, and most have been hosting trips for us for over ten years, guiding hundreds of customers over this time, helping many land new PBs and tick items off their bucket lists. As well as being on hand to help with the fishing, they will be with you throughout the trip, helping you navigate the airports and transfers.
As well our host, on this trip, you’ll be well looked after by the lodge owner Mike Gorton and his family, as well as an experienced team of fly fishing guides, making this trip perfect for those looking to experience freshwater fly fishing for the first time and those well-travelled and already passionate about that angling discipline.
The trip is based on thirteen rods and our host, staying at the beautiful Goodnews River Lodge. Each day our host will alternate between anglers.
The fishing at Goodnews River Lodge can be conducted in many different ways and will usually depend on what each angler wishes to catch. For those wanting to target big King and Chum Salmon, swinging large flies with double-handed Spey rods is the name of the game. Although single-handed rods will work, the guides at the lodge like nothing more than a guest wanting to swing big flies deep for the kings, as this produces the best results for these hard-fighting fish.
For the smaller Salmon species, like the Sockeye, Pinks, and Silvers, lighter rods like 12ft switch rods and single-handed 10-weight rods, matched with floating lines and smaller flies, are preferred. If you’re fishing in Silver season, we thoroughly recommend trying surface poppers, as watching these wild fish chase and hit your fly has to be one of the most exciting forms of fly fishing.
If you’re travelling with us to Alaska to fish the Goodnews River and would like to know more about the fishing tackle and methods used, read our blog: Alaskan Pacific Salmon Fishing Tips.
Although the lodge uses boats to run up and down the river to the various fishing spots, the fishing is mainly conducted by wadding on foot.
This is always a difficult question to answer, as there is no such thing as a typical day. The amount of fish will depend on many factors, including the species you wish to target, time of year, weather and angling ability.
However, the averages, for a guide purpose only and on a good day, would include five to ten hookups for Kings, twenty-plus for Sockeye, thirty plus and potentially even more for Silvers. With other species like Rainbow Trout, it wouldn’t be unusual to enjoy ten-plus hookups per day.
To learn more about the excellent mixed fly fishing on offer at Goodnews Lodge in Alaska, visit our YouTube channel.
The night before your fishing day starts, your guides and the host will discuss all the options with you, listening to the species you’d like to target and the location you’d like to fish. The lodge has an excellent policy where all the guides agree and inform each other where they will be starting their day, so there is no clash. However, this is never an issue with such a vast waterway and with so much fantastic water to fish.
As the lodge sits right on the river bank just above the tidal water line, the travel time to go out Salmon fishing each day is short. There are no planes to catch or weather dependant issues to prevent your fishing. The only slight exception to this may be if you wish to target Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden and Grayling, as the best fishing is found upstream at some of the headwater braids.
A typical day starts with breakfast at 7.00 am when you can decide to make a sandwich for lunch, pre-order a ‘shore lunch’, or simply come back to the lodge to eat. If it’s a wet-looking day and you don’t want to be out for long periods, we recommend returning for lunch, getting warm and dry and then heading back out again for the afternoon session. This is one of the beautiful things about Goodnews, the close proximity to the fishing means you can be totally flexible.
All guides usually bring you back to the lodge around 5.30 pm as this gives you plenty of time to get cleaned up and ready for dinner. Guides are assigned each evening after you’ve eaten, prepared for the next day of fishing, giving you a chance to hatch a plan. After dinner, with the 24 hours of daylight (if you still have the energy to burn), you can continue to fish in front of the lodge.
The Goodnews River Lodge is one of the most famous in all of Alaska and is undoubtedly one of the best places in the country and even the world to target and catch Pacific Salmon, so it’s no surprise it made our blog: Top Destinations To Catch The 5 Species Of Pacific Salmon.
Goodnews River Lodge offers travelling rods a chance to glimpse what fishing was like in Alaska in years gone by. With no commercial fishing on the river and with it being the only fully serviced lodge, the Pacific Salmon species can run free and allow anglers to enjoy some unrivalled freshwater fly fishing sport.
Goodnews River Lodge is a tented lodge that sits on the river banks, keeping anglers very close to the fishing. The camp consists of a large main dining room with a picture window overlooking the river, a commercial kitchen, a recreation hall complete with a lounge, TV/DVR, a Ping Pong table, a football table, and the never-empty Popcorn machine. Inside there is also a shop for customers to purchase logo merchandise.
There are seven standard tents/cabins. Each cabin is built on a platform and includes a front porch. Guest cabins feature thermostatically controlled propane heaters, gas and electric lighting, comfortable bedding and handmade duvet covers, mosquito netting, storage shelves, and a chamber pot.
A separate building houses six private bathrooms with a heater, toilet, sink, vanity, shower, and 110V AC electric service. There is also a drying tent for guest comfort.
In addition to the standard tent/cabins, we now have eight larger Deluxe tents/cabins, including their separate bath area complete with shower, sink, and toilet. Ideal for couples, they are large enough to accommodate a party of 3. (Available on a first-come, first-served basis at an additional charge).
All guest cabins offer the following features:
The main lodge tent is the central gathering place for the camp, and a hot breakfast gets served there to start everyone’s day. Lunches get packed, and thermoses get filled for the day on the river. Each morning the breakfast includes pancakes or french toast, bacon, sausage, muffins, hashbrowns, quiches, hot and cold cereals, fruits, and of course, eggs to order. Hot coffee, Orange Juice, and Tea are available for the early riser, and breakfast is served promptly at 7 am. After you’ve finished your breakfast, stop by the Lunch Bar, where you can make your sandwich or wrap for the day. Sodas are located in the same area. Cookies, brownies and great mixed granola are also available for that mid-morning snack. If a shore lunch is something you are interested in, just let your guide know the night before, and he will have everything set the following day.
At 7:30 pm, dinner proceeded with appetisers ranging from smoked Salmon to bacon-wrapped cheese and Alaskan-style sushi. The main courses include Salmon Wellington, Prime Rib, Blackened Halibut and Buffet style BBQ. Delicious pastries, tarts, fruit sorbet and combinations of ice cream and brownies or chocolate chip cookies complete these excellent dinners. One thing for sure is you will not go hungry.
Although the fishing days are fixed, the below itinerary is still flexible should you require additional free days to explore at the beginning or end of your holiday; we can tailor this itinerary to suit you personally. Feel free to talk to our travel consultants who can explain all options available.
Depart Any international Airport (See Details)
Arrive Seattle Depart Seattle
Arrive Anchorage
On arrival take a taxi to the Anchorage Hotel.
Overnight accommodation: Anchorage Hotel (Twin Rooms) R/O
Early in the morning, take a taxi to Ted Stevens Airport.
Depart Ted Stevens Airport
Arrive Goodnews Airstrip
On arrival, you will be met by the staff for the 20-minute boat ride to the Lodge. Lunch will be served while you wait for your luggage to arrive at your tent, then it’s time to tackle up and go fishing! Fish until 5:30 PM.
Overnight accommodation: Goodnews River Lodge (Twin Bedded Tents) F/B
Your typical day will start with breakfast at 7:00 AM. At that time you will also make a sandwich for lunch, order a shore lunch, or decide to come back to the camp for lunch. Each day you will fish from 8:15 AM and return at 5:30 PM. Guides are assigned each evening after dinner for the next day’s fishing. This gives you a chance to discuss what species you want to fish for the next day with your Guide.
Overnight accommodation: Goodnews River Lodge (Twin Bedded Tents) F/B
Each day we rotate our guides, that way you get to know all of the Guides and experience many different parts of the river. Guiding is based on 2 anglers to 1 guide.
Overnight accommodation: Goodnews River Lodge Twin Bedded Tents F/B
In the morning its time to depart back to Anchorage.
Depart Goodnews Airstrip
Arrive Ted Stevens Airport
On arrival take a taxi to the Anchorage Hotel. Overnight accommodation: Anchorage Hotel (Twin Rooms) R/O
Take a taxi back to Anchorage International Airport.
Depart Anchorage
Arrive Seattle Depart Seattle
Arrive Home
The season runs from June to September.
Season: 20 June to 31 July
Peak: 27 June to 25 July
Weight: 10lb to 60lb
Average Weight: 20lb
Season: 27 June to 31 July
Peak: 4 July to 25 July
Weight: 5lb to 16lb
Average Weight: 10lb
Season: 27 June to 31 July
Peak: 27 June to 11 July
Weight: 4lb to 12lb
Average Weight: 8lb
Season: 18 July to 8 September
Peak: 8 August to 5 September
Weight: 6lb to 20lb
Average Weight: 12lb
Season: 18 July to 29 August
Peak: 25 July to 22 August
Weight: 1lb to 12lb
Average Weight: 4lb
Season: 20 June to 5 September
Peak: 21 July to 12 September
Weight: 1lb to 12lb
Average Weight: 4lb
N/A
Remember that Sportquest Holidays' services are completely FREE! When you book a trip with Sportquest Holidays, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge and flights independently.
| From | To | Duration | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09/07/2024 | 19/07/2024 | 11 | £10,983 | Enquire Now |
| 08/07/2025 | 18/07/2025 | 11 | £11,331 | Enquire Now |
Prices are based on two adults sharing transfers, fishing and accommodation (unless otherwise stated) and are correct at the time of going to press. Subject to time of year or date and currency fluctuations, these prices may fluctuate slightly due to flight price increases or fuel surcharge.
Another great trip, this was my second time and with more water the fishing for Kings was even better.
I have already booked for a third trip as Robert the host and the other customers made such a great group.
Steve
Thanks for your feedback and continued support. I have already booked you again for next year. So lets talk when you get back from Iceland.
I was hard to pull us away. We have never wanted to stay on at a location so much before. Great camp, guides, equipment, food. Just can not fault any of it. Thank you for suggesting Goodnews River.
Dr Moat, a pleasure as always and thank you for using our services. I look forward to the next time.
King fishing at its best. Thanks to Mike and the staff, top class holiday
Thank you for taking the time to complete your customer feedback, so nice to hear just how much people have enjoyed their holiday. I will pass on all your comments to the camp. Mel
Wow just returned and getting back into the swing of things. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. We all had a top trip. Mike and the lodge staff really work hard and they had their work cut out with us. What with easily landing 30 t0 40 fish each day each the guides were kept very busy. Also a nice touch was the huge rainbows and what stunning markings. Thanks everyone, now starting to save up for the return trip. Mike.
Mike, thanks for your kind comments and pictures I revived them today. Yes Mike and the crew are fantastic hosts and the camp right on the river is a great destination. Saving up for next year? so shall I pencil the 6 of you again? Regards Peter
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