About Your Trip

Water Type

River

Skill Levels

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Weather

You won’t lose your deposit if the trip is canceled due to weather.

About Your Trip

Discover the thrill of fishing Alaska's premier trophy rainbow river at Naknek River Camp. Enjoy world-class fishing, including smolt migrations in June, salmon runs in July, acrobatic silvers in August, and incredible trophy rainbows in September.

Why Choose Naknek River Camp? Jim and his family-run camp provide an authentic Alaskan experience. From housekeeping to guiding and photography, the family works together to offer an exceptional adventure without compromising quality.

If you're wondering why Jim gets away with listing this trip for half of most Alaska lodging/fishing trips, ret assured there is no catch; Jim keeps costs down by maintaining a family-run camp. His wife is head of housekeeping, the chef and a full time licensed guide. His older son, an avid fisherman and 4 time Michigan State Casting Champion, is Jim's right hand man around camp. His daughter has also been the Michigan State Casting Champion. She is the official camp photographer and the desert chef. And his youngest son is just starting his career as a fishing guide. His specialty is netting big salmon.

Naknek River Camp also has a few conveniences that neither one of us expected to have in the Alaskan bush, including phone service for both us and our guests. There is road access to the towns of King Salmon and Naknek, offering medical services, a general store, groceries and even fishing and hunting supplies.
Target Species by Season:
June & July:
- Rainbow Trout: Fish salmon smolt and leeches with fly rods (5-6 weight) using leeches, minnows, and small dries.
- Grayling: Light tackle fishing with dry flies and nymphs.
- Kings & Sockeye: Heavy rods for deep-water fishing; fly or spin tackle recommended.
August & September:
- Rainbows: Focus on salmon eggs and leeches; ideal tackle includes trout beads and articulated streamers.
- Silvers: Use bright streamers, spinners, and jigs in vibrant colors.
- Pinks & Arctic Char: Aggressive fighters, perfect for lighter tackle.
Lodging & Amenities:
- Stay in cozy, hard-sided cabins with real mattresses, private bathrooms, and hot showers. Enjoy delicious meals in the dining room and access to modern conveniences like phone service and nearby town amenities.

What’s Included:
- Private riverfront cabin with linens and towels.
- All meals and transportation to/from King Salmon Airport.
- Fishing gear available for use.

What to Bring:
Jim provides heavy rods and reels (spinning and fly) for guest use, but if you prefer to bring your own, here are some recommendations:

For June & July:
- Spinning Rods:
- 7-foot rod with 30-pound braid for casting.
- 9-foot rod with 30-pound braid for back-trolling.
- Fly Rods:
- 9-foot rod for 10 or 11 weight line with a 400–600 grain sink tip reel.

For August & September:
- Spinning Rods:
- 7–9 foot rod with 30-pound braid for casting.
- Fly Rods:
- 9½-foot rod for 9 or 10 weight line with:
- 400–600 grain sink tip, floating line with strike indicator, or a Climax Zip line (shooting line).

Additional Gear:
- Split shot: sizes B, BB, 3/0.
- Cone sinkers: 1/64, 1/32, 1/16 oz.
- Tapered leaders: 0x, 3x.
- Fluorocarbon tippet: 2x–5x.
- Strike indicators: 1-inch foam and yarn styles.
- #12 black barrel swivels, forceps, nippers, and floatant.
- Polarized sunglasses (brown or amber) with strap.
- Hat with brim, rain jacket, chest waders, and wading belt.
- Fleece pants, sweaters, wool socks, and windproof fleece fingerless gloves.
- Headnet, insect repellent, and sunscreen.

Reminder: Felt-soled wading boots are illegal in Alaska. Please bring rubber-soled wading boots.

Book your adventure today and experience Alaska’s unmatched fishing opportunities at Naknek River Camp!

Amenities

Water Type

River

Skill Levels

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Beer

Feel free to enjoy responsibly, but please no glass.

Live Bait

Live bait is included for this trip.

Weather

You won’t lose your deposit if the trip is canceled due to weather.

Flexible Cancelation

This trip can be canceled for a refund up to 60 days before the trip.

Lunch

Lunch / light snacks are included.

Tackle

You will need your own tackle.

Fish Cleaning

No cleaning service provided.

Boat Restroom

No, this boat does not have a bathroom on board.

Kid Friendly

This trip is best for adults.

Disability Friendly

This trip is not suited for those with disabilities.

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Pricing Matrix

	168 Hours
1 Person	$4,995.00
2 People	$9,990.00
3 People	$14,985.00
4 People	$19,980.00

Pay 20% of the price as a deposit today, with the balance due on the day of the trip.

You're in good hands

Book your trip with confidence — We only work with the best local guides that know where to put you on fish.

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You're in good hands

Book your trip with confidence — We only work with the best local guides that know where to put you on fish.

About Your Guide

James J.

Outfitter 36 years of exp.

Captain James spends his summers running the Katmai Trophy Lodge, one of the preeminent Alaska fly fishing lodges. Born and raised on Michigan's Pere Marquette River, Captain James grew up fly fishing before he could walk. Captain James is a self-proclaimed fly fishing addict. When he's not taking care of the legendary Katmai Trophy Lodge, you can find him globetrotting to the boundaries of the world, testing the limits of what species can be caught...

About Your Guide

James J.

Outfitter 36 years of exp.

Captain James spends his summers running the Katmai Trophy Lodge, one of the preeminent Alaska fly fishing lodges. Born and raised on Michigan's Pere Marquette River, Captain James grew up fly fishing before he could walk.

Captain James is a self-proclaimed fly fishing addict. When he's not taking care of the legendary Katmai Trophy Lodge, you can find him globetrotting to the boundaries of the world, testing the limits of what species can be caught on the fly.

Fill in date, party size, trip duration, and start time above to book and get out there with Captain James of Naknek Lake and Bristol Bay, Alaska and Captain Experiences!

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Start Location & Lodging Options

King Salmon, Alaska

Areas Fished

Naknek River

Trip Details & Amenities

Water Type

River

Skill Levels

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Beer

Feel free to enjoy responsibly, but please no glass.

Live Bait

Live bait is included for this trip.

Weather

You won’t lose your deposit if the trip is canceled due to weather.

Flexible Cancelation

This trip can be canceled for a refund up to 60 days before the trip.

Lunch

Lunch / light snacks are included.

Tackle

You will need your own tackle.

Fish Cleaning

No cleaning service provided.

Boat Restroom

No, this boat does not have a bathroom on board.

Kid Friendly

This trip is best for adults.

Disability Friendly

This trip is not suited for those with disabilities.

Target Species

Color-coded seasonality below is based on .

View Full Species Seasonality Chart »

Get it while it's HOT!
This species is in play.
You might get lucky (as long as things are in-season).
Couldn't tell ya! (no data)

Techniques

Fly Fishing

Everything Else to Know

Private Riverfront Cabin All Food in our Comfortable Dining Room Transportation to and from the King Salmon Airport A Visit to the World Famous Brooks Falls and River World-Class Guided Fishing Trips Every Day on the Naknek River included.

You'll need to buy a fishing license before getting out there. Find out more about licenses here.

This trip is managed by an outfitter. James will be your point of contact and you will go out with one of their guides.

We use a cashless autopay system. We'll send you a boarding pass, and on the day of the trip, your guide will scan your boarding pass to automatically transfer the remaining balance. The only cash needed is to tip your guide (we recommend 20%).

Cancel for free up to 60 days before the trip and receive credit back to your account. Cancelling within 60 of the trip will forfeit your deposit to the guide. Day-of cancellations and no-shows will be charged the full balance of the trip to their card.

In the event of inclement weather you'll be covered by out 100% Weather Guarantee and will not lose your deposit.

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First Time Booking with Us?

Captain Experiences is home to 1,600+ quality, vetted fishing and hunting guides across the US and beyond. Our mission is to Unlock the Outdoors by making it quick and easy to book the trip of a lifetime every time with our Damn Good Guides.

We vet our guides and only partner with the best of the best. Our guides do their very best to keep you safe, show you a great time, and send you home with a memorable experience shared with family and friends.

Once you've paid your deposit at checkout, we'll send you a QR Code boarding pass. Just show your guide your boarding pass on the day of the trip, they'll scan it, the remaining balance will transfer automatically, and you'll be all set to get out there. Just make sure you bring a cash tip for the guide!

In the event of inclement weather, our guides will check the conditions and make the final call on whether its safe to go on the trip. If they decide the trip needs to be postponed, we'll work closely with you to reschedule or provide a credit for the full deposit, which can be applied to any of our trips in the US and beyond.

Each trip's price is determined by the guide and reflects all associated costs. A significant factor in pricing is often the type of boat and the corresponding fuel expenses. Additional costs may include leases, marina or slip fees, bait, and the expenses involved in providing and maintaining the necessary gear for your trip.

After booking your trip, we'll connect you directly with your guide to discuss additional details. In the meantime, our team is here to answer any questions via email, text, or phone.