Arrival day:
Arrival to Anchorage: Please give yourself a few hours to transfer from a commercial flight to your Lake and Peninsula Airlines (LPA) charter flight. This means you should be in Anchorage by 1:30 pm on Sunday at the latest.

Charter Flight: Sunday depart from Anchorage with LPA at 4:00 pm. Please note that the LPA is located at Merrill Field which is approximately 30 minute cap or Uber drive from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.

Arrival to Iliamna: Upon arrival in Iliamna you will be met by the floatplane pilot. After roughly 45 minutes in Iliamna you will be transferred to the float plane near the airport. You will then be flown to the Copper River Lodge in a float plane which is a short 15 minute flight.

Arrival to the Lodge:
The guides will meet you at the plane with our boats and transfer you to the lodge. This is a 5 minute boat ride so keep your jacket out if it is a rainy day. Upon arrival at the lodge you will unpack, have an orientation and dinner.

Monday through Friday you will fish all day. Usually breakfast is at 7 a.m. and departure is at 8 a.m. You will fish until 6 p.m. Please note that this schedule can change depending on when the best fishing is.

Departure Day:
Saturday is a good fishing day at the Copper River Lodge . You can usually fish for about 6 hours on Saturday. You will then depart around 5:00 p.m. on the floatplane . This gets you to Iliamna in time for the 6 p.m. flight to Anchorage. You will arrive in Anchorage around 7-8 p.m. It is not recommended to book a flight to the lower 48 until after 9 p.m. that evening.

Rainbow Trout Fly Fishing in Alaska

Rainbow Trout in the Iliamna region naturally grow to 18 pounds or larger. Rainbows are caught June through September. Due to the return of millions of sockeye in the month of July, the most productive rainbow trout fishing is during the months of July, August and September. Rainbow River Lodge is located on the Copper River which was just rated in the top 50 best trout streams in the world by Trout Unlimited. If you want to dry fly and streamer fish for big rainbows, June and early July are your ticket.

Arctic Grayling Fly Fishing in Alaska

Grayling Salmon are God’s gift to light tackle fanatics. They are thick in many of the streams and will attack a fly all season long, even in the worst of weather. Most grayling average 10 to 14 inches with trophies measuring 21 inches. Their good reputation comes from their susceptibility to dry flies and the gracefulness in which they take them.

Arctic Char Fly Fishing in Alaska

Char are commonly associated with the Dolly Varden since they are biologically the same. They average 3 to 5 pounds with the largest of the fish tipping the scales at 15 pounds. Available season long, they are a very hard fighter and one of the most beautiful fish in Alaska.

Chinook (King) Salmon Fly Fishing in Alaska

The largest of the Pacific Salmon, Kings average 20 to 30 pounds with the largest weighing in at 60 pounds. They enter our rivers in early June with fishing peaking from mid-June to the middle of July. Rainbow River Lodge fishes “leased” land on the Nushagak River which holds the largest returning run of Kings in Alaska. Fishing “leased” lands on the “Nush” provides the clients with the BEST King Salmon fly fishing available.

Sockeye (Red) Salmon Fly Fishing in Alaska

The Sockeye salmon enter the Iliamna drainage by the millions in late June and early July. For the first few weeks in fresh water they are considered ‘pound for pound’ to be the hardest fighting salmon and the best tasting! Sockeye Salmon average 6 to 10 pounds with a 15 pound maximum. We will package and freeze for you.

Chum (Dog) Salmon Fly Fishing in Alaska

Chums average 8 to 12 pounds and have a keen appetite for streamer flies and spinners. They don’t have as good as a reputation as the other salmon species when it comes to the dinner table, but on the fly line there is much respect for their fighting endurance. Chum Salmon top the scales at 20 pounds and arrive in July and early August.

Pink (Humpy) Salmon Fly Fishing in Alaska

The smallest of the Pacific Salmon, averaging 3 to 5 pounds. They arrive in mid-July and August. What pink salmon lack in size they make up for in aggressiveness and non-stop action. They are excellent sport on smaller rods.

Silver (Coho) Salmon Fly Fishing in Alaska

Fishing for Silvers is at its best in August and September. Most silver Salmon weigh between 8 and 15 pounds and are very aggressive towards flies and spinners.

Northern Pike Fly Fishing in Alaska

Northerns are the freshwater alligators of Alaska. Their strike is vicious, they are usually big and they will hit anything the moves! Pike are usually caught in the 25 to 40 inch class range. Pike can be found as close as your cabin door and are available all season.

Lake Trout Fly Fishing in Alaska

This is Alaska’s largest freshwater fish, inhabiting large, deep, cold lakes with the best fishing just after ice-out. Lake Trout are not usually a target species but are a welcome surprise when landed. “Lakers” are caught in the outlets and inlets of the lakes near the lodge.

This quaint, private cabin nestled on the banks of the Copper River ensures that you will enjoy the same quality and luxury that our guests know and come back for every year. This cabin offers unexpected luxury in the remote Alaska wilderness and spectacular fishing in the famous Lake Iliamna drainage. The cabin holds 4 guests each week making it personal and amazing for small groups wanting an exclusive retreat. Guests will need to fly into Iliamna and we will take care of everything from there.

This fabulous cabin is surrounded by typical breath-taking Alaskan scenery. Nestled among pines overlooking a small picturesque lake from which the float planes land and take off. The cabin and guests have easy access to countless rivers teeming with wild rainbow trout and salmon.

The famed Copper River (that we long ago nicknamed ‘Rainbow River’) is just a little more than a stone’s throw away.

There are no cell towers within range of the lodge. However, we do have a satellite phone available for emergencies. Any standard calling card works to place long distant calls.

No expense has been spared in creating a great atmosphere and comfort level you deserve.

MEALS
Dinners and appetizers like one finds in finer restaurants are served in the main lodge. The chef has no budget in creating the fresh and delicious meals. Prime rib, fresh Alaskan King Crab, roasted chicken, homemade soups, salads and amazing desserts. The bell for breakfast rings early for anglers anxious to get out and fly fish this treasured Iliamna Lake region of Alaska.

Most guests fly commercial into Anchorage on the Friday before their trip. Alaska Air has the most flights.

Copper Ridge guests will then fly from Anchorage to Iliamna on a private charter operated by Lake Clark Air. Copper Ridge will schedule your flight from Anchorage to Iliamna for you. You will need to call Lake Clark and pay them directly or pay them when you board the charter. The cost of this flight is $480 and is payable to Lake Clark Air (907-278-2054). Iliamna Air taxi may also be used but you will be notified either way.

Your flight will depart Anchorage at 4:00 pm on Saturday arriving into the village of Iliamna at 5:20 pm. Chad Hewitt will meet you in Iliamna as you step off the plane and will transfer you over to the floatplanes for a short 15 minute flight to Copper Ridge.

After a week of great fly fishing you will depart the lodge on Friday at 6:15 pm for a 7:00 pm departure out of Iliamna. You arrive back into Anchorage at 8:20 pm. You may want to take a redeye flight out that night or overnight in Anchorage and fly home Saturday morning.

When scheduling your flights from your home city and Anchorage, make certain to give yourself 2 hours to make the charter flight to Iliamna.

6 DAY 6 Night GUIDED FLY-OUT ALASKA FISHING VACATION AND LODGING $9,750 PER PERSON
Homewaters Combo Package includes 4 flyouts and 2 days on the Copper.

Rate Includes:
Float plane transfers between Iliamna and the Lodge, fly outs to other destinations for the 2025 season (weather, schedule, and aircraft maintenance permitting), all accommodations and meals during the week, taxes, flies, leaders, tippet, and guide services are all included in the package. This is considered a partial fly out package. Our fly out package includes a couple "local" or non fly out days. This usually means either fishing the lower Copper River, or taking our lake boat over to the Gibraltar River, but does not include the airplane.

Not Included:
Airfare to Iliamna, fishing license, gratuities for the camp staff, liquor, and fishing equipment. (Some back-up fishing equipment is available at the lodge.)

Gratuities:
Gratuities are not included in the cost of the package and are left to the discretion of the individual angler. However, for planning purposes fishermen can expect the industry standard of 10-15% of the fishing package ($975 to $1,465 is our recommended gratuity in 2025).

Cancellations: Trip cancellation and global rescue insurance is strongly recommended for your Alaska fishing vacation. We can assist you with obtaining a policy if you choose to cover your trip.

Guests are required to provide their own beer, wine and liquor as Iliamna Alaska is a “Dry” village. Ask us how we can assist you in purchasing and shipping your alcohol. We wish you the best of travels and invite you to our favorite fly fishing lodge in Alaska.

Prices are in USD and subject to change prior to booking.