Activities & Adventure

The Angling Experience of a Lifetime

Val Mallinson -- Jan. 2005

We begin with a tale of three fishermen. The first is a dapper 90-year-old who wears a T-shirt that reads, "Women Want Me, Fish Fear Me." Indeed, he is the most eligible bachelor in his retirement community and he regales admirers with stories from his glory days in the land of the midnight sun. The second gentleman volunteers in a small visitors center. He keeps a tin of hand-tied flies in his pocket and a rod in his pickup, dashing out into the snow at lunch to catch some dinner. Then there's the brew master who supplements his refrigerator full of beer with a regular bounty of shrimp, king crab, halibut, and salmon from the Gastineau Channel in Juneau, calling the waters his personal "Gastineau Grocery."

These are all true Alaska stories. So, if you believe that even a bad day fishing is better than a good day at the office, Alaska is your sportfishing playground. The only trouble with that old saw is that you're going to have a mighty tough time finding anything less than an ideal fishing experience in this angler's paradise.

The One that Didn't Get Away

If fishing in Alaska were a numbers game, the odds are heavily in your favor. With more than 627 species of fish in three million lakes, at least 3,000 rivers, innumerable streams, and tidewaters, catching fish isn't the tough part- deciding where to cast your line is the dilemma.

Fortunately for you, Princess has built magnificent riverside lodges showcasing some of the world's richest fishing waters in the unspoiled natural beauty of the real Alaskan wilderness.

Go Where the Big Ones Are Biting

What's your pleasure? Take your pick of the best fly-fishing, saltwater fishing, freshwater fishing, and even ice fishing in the world. Princess takes care of all the nitty-gritty details-our guides will secure the correct fishing licenses and they'll know the catch-and-release rules and possession and bag limits. Gear, tackle, and waders are provided; there's no need to schlep your gear and risk damaging it in transit. Where regulations allow, your catch can be cleaned, deliciously smoked or filleted, vacuum-packed, and shipped to your home to remind you of your adventure for months to come.

Wrangle Salmon on the Kenai

The Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge(sm) is truly special. On the lovely Kenai Peninsula, this grand lodge is within casting distance of the confluence of the Kenai and Russian Rivers, site of what local residents affectionately call the "combat fishing zone."

The Kenai River is famous for its dazzling blue-green hues and as a haven for accomplished and novice anglers alike. The Tour Desk is staffed with Princess professionals who arrange fishing tours on the Kenai River, with a reputation for trophy-sized fish.

Sample sport fishing on the Upper Kenai River, aboard a non-motorized drift boat or raft amidst dazzling mountain scenery. Depending on the season, cast for sockeye or coho and rainbow trout.

Don't miss the opportunity to angle for giant king salmon and fighting silver salmon, with experienced guides who take you to their favorite hot spots for unforgettable fishing surrounded by the beauty of the Upper Kenai River.

Net Sockeye "Reds"

Built where the Copper and Klutina Rivers meet, the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge(sm) is your plush base camp for world-class fishing. Jet boat or raft the scenic tributaries with professional guides and fish for the rich, firm pink sockeye salmon that is the envy of the finest restaurants in the world.

Wilderness Fly-Ins

The Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge(sm) is your pickup point for wilderness fly-in fishing, an exhilarating adventure. You'll travel by motorcoach to Talkeetna, where you board a bush plane for a flight over the Susitna Valley to a secluded wilderness lodge, where you'll be outfitted before going out on a riverboat to the best fishing holes in the area. Cast for sockeye and coho salmon, trout, and grayling.

Brag to your friends about finding the hiding spots for intriguing arctic grayling in the arctic circle while luxuriating at the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge(sm). Flirt with the Dolly Varden, a trout named for the character in Charles Dickens' book Barnaby Rudge, with its distinct olive green skin and brilliant pink, orange, and red spots.

If you'd rather try your line saltwater fishing in Seward, relish an epic battle with a giant "barn door" Pacific halibut; delight in the acrobatics of feisty silver salmon; or go in hunt of an assortment of rockfish while the whales, sea lions, porpoises, sea otters hang out nearby.

These are only a sampling of the fishing expeditions offered by Princess in Alaska. Fish the days away knowing that once you've caught your limit, a cozy armchair awaits by a stone fireplace, an irresistible haven for sharing your Alaska fish tales.

About Val Mallinson

The travel bug bit Val early, in the back of a 1972 Mercury Station Wagon on family road trips. Her adventures have led her to all 50 states and a dozen European countries. She's cruised the Caribbean, hiked the Swiss Alps, snorkeled in Hawaii, bungee jumped in British Columbia, and spent timeless summer nights in Alaska. Val is a contributing author to the travel guide Moon Metro Seattle, and the author of The Dog Lover's Companion to the Pacific Northwest, due in bookstores April 2005.

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