Alaska is a land of superlatives. Among the sportsman’s wonderland found throughout its nearly 98 million acres, one river reigns supreme in the annals of Chinook angling. Every year fishermen from far and wide descend upon the burly brute looking to capture its mighty king salmon. That river is the Nushagak.
From mid-June through mid-July, the Nushagak is a superhighway of salmon, with kings, reds, pinks and chums streaming by in amazing numbers. Into August, Coho begin to arrive, completing the annual five-salmon-species entry into the Nush’.
For the last 20 years, we have been traveling to the Nush’ to do battle with the fish that swim within its waters. Apex among the list of species is the king. With annual runs of king salmon between 40,000 and upwards of 100,000 fish, it’s a target-rich environment. Most anglers would agree that it is the best king salmon river in Alaska when it comes to catching lots of Chinook. There are definitely rivers in the state where larger specimens are possible, but they lack in numbers compared to what the Nush’ offers. And while the average adult Chinook is around 20 pounds, it’s possible to catch fish in the 30-, 40- and even 50-pound range. Looking at the ADF&G fish counts, the average run of kings in the Nush’ for the last 10 years is approximately 82,569 kings per year. That’s a lot of chances to catch the state fish of Alaska.
The lodges and camps that dot the banks of the river, especially in the lower section near the town of Portage Creek, are the conduits for anglers to get to kings. They make it possible for visiting anglers to pack some clothes, hop on a few planes and end up in the Nirvana of king salmon angling. There are a few permanent lodges on the river, several upscale tent camps, and multiple spike camps for fly-in lodges. Anglers have their pick, with a wide range of amenities and services available across the spectrum. Here’s a rundown on several king salmon lodges and camps that we have grown to love.
Alaska Kingfishers
AlaskaKingfishers.com • 907-843-1605
Rob Fuentes has been fishing the Nushagak since 2003. As the owner of Alaska Kingfishers, Rob’s goal is for people to have a fun and relaxing experience. Rob bought Alaska Kingfishers from Bob Kratzer in 2013, after Bob ran it successfully for 15 years. I asked Rob for an overview of his camp and he replied, “Alaska Kingfishers operates a remote Alaska salmon-fishing facility located on the banks of the Nushagak River in the heart of Bristol Bay, Alaska. We offer four-day, four-night trips and accommodate up to 26 guests at a time. We have 20- to 23-foot boats that accommodate four fishermen comfortably. We are all-inclusive and provide all gear, tackle, meals, guided fishing, fish processing, etc. The camp has power, running water, hot showers, flushing toilets, comfortable beds and plenty of areas to hang out. Our guests enjoy 10 hours of guided fishing and if that is not enough, we have gear set up to fish from the bank in front of camp.”
Rob’s background was as a biologist, and also as an avid angler. He got a BS Biology degree from Baylor University. “Immediately out of college I worked as a field biologist for a state agency in central Texas which focused on environmental projects in the Brazos River basin. Projects included both chemical and biological assessments of lakes, rivers and streams, which focused on water quality and biological diversity and provided data to determine the health of the watershed,” Rob shared. He’s had a USGC license and an Alaska Sport Fishing Guide license since 2003 and has guided in the Nushagak River and Wood River systems since then.
I asked Rob what makes the Nush’ special to him and he replied, “Aside from having the largest fishable run of kings of any river in Alaska, the Nushagak River is rich in history, wildlife and fish of multiple species.” It’s been a special place for Rob and when I asked him for a lasting memory he shared, “All my special memories involve having my family in Alaska and at camp. I have always enjoyed taking them fishing and sometimes catching something special like a 43-pound king in 2013.”
Rob and his guides fish for kings by pulling plugs, dragging bait, and trolling spinners. Clients can expect a well-run fishing program, clean and comfortable living quarters, good meals, and excellent guide staff, all of whom are full-time fishing guides in the Pacific NW when not in Alaska.