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Rapids Camp Lodge

Naknek River
King Salmon, Alaska
Katmai National Park


Have you ever dreamed of sharing a river with a monster Grizzly Bear or touching the nose of a Humpback Whale? Have you ever considered visiting a place where the sun sets for three hours a day? What about checking out a land where the four-legged predators outnumber humans ten to one? Ever thought of hearing a fresh salmon or hot rainbow rip the backing off your reel twenty five times a day? Then for heaven's sake, GO TO ALASKA!

When Secretary of State William Seward negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867 for a little over seven million dollars, he quickly became the butt of dozens of jokes for this excessive and "worthless" spending amongst his fellow Americans. It seems that not many anglers back then saw the potential in "Seward's Folly". Even if Secretary Seward did not intend on purchasing Alaska for our angling pursuits, you'll soon discover that for two cents an acre, we have all received a pretty good return on the investment! We could write a nine hundred-page novel discussing the amazing qualities Alaska has to offer (North America's largest mountains, enormous glaciers, extensive forests, vast tundra, diverse wildlife, and of course countless salmon and trout choked rivers are all a part of the 600,000 square miles of America's greatest wilderness). However for fear of sounding like every other angling travel agent, I need not say more than the fact that every American; and certainly every fly-rodder should experience Alaska. Catching fish is typically not technical so experienced skill level is not usually a prerequisite, the fish are large, and wildlife encounters are around every corner.

Through the years we have developed strong relationships with a small handful of lodges throughout the state to make this selection a little easier for our clients. Perhaps you are interested in a float trip down one if the world's wildest rivers, or a fly out lodge in Western Alaska where you can experience dozens of rivers and see hundreds of miles of pristine wilderness and wildlife by float plane. Or you may have interest in visiting often overlooked Southeastern Alaska and haul in king salmon and halibut amongst frolicking humpbacks and killer whales. Even if you are not interested in fishing at all, or have a non-angling companion, we can facilitate an Alaskan adventure that will exceed your expectations.

Alaska is very friendly towards families, beginners, as well as the "hard-core angler". Allow us to assist you select a location, time of year, make sure you have the right gear, and introduce you to a fishing and wilderness experience you'll never forget.


King Salmon, Alaska is located three hundred miles southwest of Anchorage on the northwestern side of Katmai National Park, in what is known as the Bristol Bay area of Southwest Alaska. The majority of the rivers and streams in the area are found in the Bristol Bay watershed, which is world renowned for its runs of wild Pacific Salmon and thriving resident populations of rainbow trout, arctic char, arctic grayling, northern pike, lake trout and dolly varden. Commercial salmon fisherman and native people of Eskimo descent are the primary population of King Salmon.

Rapids Camp Lodge is our most popular fly-out fly-fishing lodge located upriver from King Salmon on the bank of the Naknek River, a world famous trophy rainbow trout destination fishery. Guests fish the Naknek and, with the use of the lodge's float planes (largest fleet in the business), hundreds of miles of rivers and creeks within close proximity to Rapids Camp Lodge within nearby national and state parks and federal wildlife refuges which have little or no human development. Western Alaska is the last American frontier in the world of fly-fishing, and there is perhaps no better venue to experience the wonders of this amazing wilderness and wildlife than Rapids Camp Lodge.

Owner and Dallas native, Jerry Shults, purchased the property home to Rapids Camp Lodge from the U.S. Air Force in 1996. After building the lodge on the grounds of the old officer's retreat, Rapids Camp Lodge has become one of the most complete and reputable fly-out operations in Western Alaska. The lodge's family atmosphere, superior food and service, first rate equipment and airplanes, and a world-class roster of tenured guides and pilots combine to create the greatest Alaskan experience imagineable.


Guests at Rapids Camp fly out daily aboard one of Lodge's four aircraft to numerous remote streams and rivers in the area. Rapids Camp Lodge operates the largest fleet well maintained planes in the industry. With two DeHavilland Beavers on floats, a DeHavilland turbine driven Otter on floats, and an additional Beaver on tundra tires, Rapids Camp guests are best equipped for accessing the areas remote fisheries and wildlife viewing areas. In the event of weather precluding flying, the incredible rainbow trout and salmon fishing of the Naknek River is right out the back door. In fact, numerous guests throughout the season will forgo a fly-out day for longer fishing hours and the convenience of the Naknek. The Naknek is home to some of Alaska's largest Rainbows, many exceeding 30 inches on a weekly basis.

Dependant upon the specific rivers to be fished, on any given day guests will most often walk and wade streams and other times access more remote fishing areas by jet-boat after landing in the float plane. The entire experience is geared towards avoiding crowds and fishing undisturbed water, and every day is planned based upon the guest’s wants, needs, and expectations.

Fish species available throughout the season include the Pacific Salmon species of king, chum, sockeye, pink and silver, as well as the resident fish species of rainbow trout, arctic char, dolly varden, arctic grayling, northern pike and lake trout. Southwestern Alaska offers an incredible diversity of fishing opportunities with eleven game fish species available throughout the season at Rapids Camp Lodge.

Rapids Camp pilots have decades of experience flying and guiding the local area, and have relationships in place with local concessions and access to hundreds of miles of the best water in the state.

The fishing program strictly caters to your expectations and specific needs, as delicate care is taken to ensure that you truly have an angling and/or non-angling experience of a lifetime. Novice and beginner anglers should not be fearful of the fishing program or feel intimidated. Rapids Camp's guide and lodge staff is amazing. Fishing success of novice anglers is virtually assured while Rapids camp's guides are providing patient instruction and good company.

In addition to the traditional river based programs, guests at RCL may venture down and try their hand in the saltwater for halibut, salmon, rockfish, yellow-eye, and many others. Their saltwater program takes place at beautiful Geographic Harbor and the waters around Kodiak Island, also a wonderful spot for viewing bears and sea lions.

Other than a few necessities such as sunglasses and a rainjacket, Rapids Camp Lodge can provide all the necessary gear for their guests. The lodge maintains high quality rods, reels, waders, etc for their guests. All flies, leaders, tippet and other tackle are also included in the trip cost. Although we encourage guests to bring their own gear, you can show up at RCL with close to nothing and expect to be fully outfitted upon arrival.


Following a long day on the water, anglers are able to relax and enjoy exceptional accommodation and amenities at Rapids Camp Lodge. The facilities traditional log cabin style buildings are tastefully decorated and tailor made for a luxurious Alaskan wilderness experience.

The lodge houses their guests in eight spacious double occupancy bedrooms with private baths. The ten acre property sits directly on the banks of the Naknek River. The float planes and pier are a two minute walk right out your back door!

Meals are taken in the lodge's main building adjacent to the comfortable great room equipped with satellite TV, open bar, and high speed wireless internet. The lodge employs two full time professional chefs that turn out phenomenal meals from fresh seafood to prime rib. Buffet style meals are the lodge are one of the highlights on the trip; including the shore lunches. Desserts are delicious, the bar is always well stocked, and the wine selection is always top notch.

Other amenities include a private reading room and a workout facility. Cohesive parties of four may request staying in the lodge's "owner's cabin" on the property if available. This two bedroom cabin grants guests a little more privacy and square footage as well satellite tv and a small kitchen.


The lodge capacity is traditionally 16 anglers per week. However, cohesive parties of four may have access to the lodge's "owners cabin" just up the hill from the main lodge building. See "Accommodations" section for further description. If guests are staying in the owners cabin, the lodge will operate with 20 anglers per week.


Rapids Camp Lodge operates on a Friday - Friday schedule.

The first leg of the trip to Rapids Camp is accomplished by guests reaching Anchorage, Alaska, which is serviced by numerous commercial carriers. Most guests will need or want to spend that Thursday night in Anchorage at one of our recommended hotels the night prior to traveling to the lodge. The second leg of the trip, occurring on Friday, is a one hour ten minute ride (285 miles) aboard a Peninsula Airways’ Saab 340 from Anchorage to King Salmon, Alaska. The cost of round trip air between Anchorage and King Salmon is about $400.00. Upon arrival in King Salmon, you will be met by representatives of the lodge who will load your luggage onto their limousine van. The ride from the airport to the lodge is about twenty minutes.

When you get to the lodge, you will have time to get unpacked and get oriented before getting your fishing license meeting your guide and getting outfitted for any necessary gear. Most guests arrive late afternoon but for guests who desire to arrive early and fish, guided fishing on the day of arrival is oftentimes available for an extra fee.


Thursday
Travel to Anchorage, Alaska. Spend the night in Anchorage at a recommended Hotel.

Friday
Travel to King Salmon with Pen Air (approximately 80 minutes) and twenty minutes by van on to Rapids Camp Lodge. Upon arrival at the lodge, you will have time to get unpacked and get oriented before getting your fishing licenses. That evening you will meet your guides and get outfitted for any necessary gear.

Saturday - Thursday
Fishing days. Each morning will begin with breakfast, served between 6:AM and 7:AM. After breakfast, get your gear and meet your guide. Planes will depart lodge at beginning at 7:30 - 8:00 AM. After fishing, planes, boats, and anglers will return to the lodge between 4:30 and 5:30PM. Cocktails and hors d’ouevres will be served before dinner, which is usually scheduled for 7:30PM.

Guests at Rapids Camp are booked on a full week fly out package that includes six fly out trips if desired. Many guests often prefer the local fishing on the Naknek in front of the lodge. Many guests enjoy the Naknek so much, they elect to forgo a fly out day and simply fish around the lodge.

Friday
Departure day. Guests check out of the lodge after breakfast and are transferred to the King Salmon Airport to start the return journey home. There is no additional overnight required in Anchorage en route back to the lower forty-eight, and most commercial flights are “red-eye” overnight flights arriving home early the following morning.

*** Shorter week fishing packages are available based upon availability. See Packages and Prices for Details.

*** On some occassions it is possible to fly directly through to King Salmon from DFW via Seattle, Washington with Alaska Airlines. Please inquire for details if you would like to avoid spending the night in Anchorage the Thursday prior to the Friday arrival at the lodge.


Choosing a date to fish anywhere in Western Alaska is completely contingent upon which species of fish you would like to target. Rapids Camp Lodge is open from early June through early October. Fishing in general is excellent any time in the season but the conditions and species available vary from month to month and may impact when you decide to visit. All months are excellent for viewing wildlife, and anglers often find themselves sharing the river or stream with multiple grizzly bears doing a little fishing of their own.

The annual salmon run plays a huge role in the productivity of the fishing. Every summer millions of Pacific Salmon return to their home streams to spawn and die, contributing in this natural cycle of life that maintains the health and productivity of the fishery.

The month of June is marked by the arrival of the mighty king salmon and the mass exodus of salmon fry heading down stream to the ocean. Trout fishing during this period is typically very excellent and perhaps the best time of the year to experience some of Alaska’s dry fly-fishing.

July is a month noted for its huge variety of options including the peak of the king and sockeye runs as well as the addition of the chum and pink salmon. By the end of the month nearly every fish migration is in effect on some level, and July is a wonderful month for anglers looking to experience a sampling of nearly all the species and styles of fishing Alaska offers.

August is the month of the silver salmon, the most acrobatic and eager of the five pacific salmon species. Although pinks and chums are still around in August, the silver salmon steal the show. As the silvers make their grand entrance, most other species are on their spawning beds and the rainbows, char and dolly varden are in tow feeding non-stop on the protein enriched salmon eggs. Fishing technique during august typically revolves around feeding egg patterns to eager, one track minded, rainbows, dolly varden, and char gorging below spawning salmon.

The silver salmon are still around by mid September, but the highlight of the month are the huge rainbows! After a full summer of feeding on salmon eggs and flesh, rainbows are at their fattest weights of the year. The salmon runs are complete by the end of the month and the biggest rainbows are still on the move feeding on anything they can grab in anticipation of the conclusion of the gluttonous summer. September and early October offer the angler the best opportunity to catch a real legendary monster Alaskan Rainbow.

The weather is about the only thing you CANNOT count on with your trip to Alaska. Guests must plan on every type of weather to occur at anytime. Daytime temperatures range from cool to hot and rain showers can occur at any moment. On any given day you could see hot weather turn to cold, calm turn to windy, and sunny to rainy almost before your eyes. If you decide to visit Alaska a rain jacket is an absolute must. Typically, June and July are a little warmer and drier than August and September.


Although fishing is the predominant activity at Rapids Camp, we encourage everyone to visit the lodge. Perhaps the best way to see Alaska's beautiful countryside, wildlife, and wilderness is on a fly-out fishing trip. Although daily activities are oriented around fishing, guests at RCL can detour to enjoy some wildlife viewing, an Eskimo village, go on a hike, etc... Beginner anglers are encouraged to use spinning equipment instead of fly-rods if required to make guests more comfortable.


All prices based upon double occupancy/participation

2009 FISHING PACKAGES

7 Night / 6 Day Package

$7,295 Per Angler

4 Night / 3-1/2 Day Package

$4,795 Per Angler

3 Night / 2-1/2 Day Package

$3,695 Per Angler

***PLEASE INQUIRE ABOUT SHORT WEEK ITINERARIES. OFTENTIMES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST***


7 Nights double occupancy accommodations at Rapids Camp Lodge; 6 Days guided fly-out fishing with shared guide; Daily transportation via aircraft to rivers, streams, lakes, and wildlife viewing areas; Daily housekeeping and midweek laundry service; Three meals per day from a daily menu; All transfers between the King Salmon Airport and Lodge; Use of chest waders, fly rods & reels, flies, tackle; Preparation of all harvested game in approved shipping container for traveling home


Roundtrip airfare to/from Anchorage, Alaska -- Airfare to King Salmon, Alaska from Anchorage with Pen Air (approximately $400.00 per person); Accommodations while in Anchorage Thursday night prior to Friday arrival at the lodge; Alcohol at the lodge (with the exception of wine with dinner); Applicable fishing licenses; Use of lodge telephone and fax; Souvenirs; All applicable gratuities (10-20% of trip cost is customary)


A non-refundable fifty-percent (50%) deposit is required at the time of booking to confirm all reservations. All trips must be paid in full 60 days prior to departure day. All trips booked within 60 days from departure must be paid in full. Refunds are not granted for non-flying days due to weather or reasons out of the lodge’s control.

Tailwaters Travel must adhere to the cancellation policies of the guides and lodges which it represents. Rapids Camp Lodge’s policy follows: A deposit may be transferred to another person who is not booked at the lodge for the current season. Deposits are refundable for cancellation only after/if the cancelled space has been filled. Refunds are not granted for non-flying days due to weather or reasons out of the lodge’s control. Refunds of deposits/payments made on credit cards will be charged a 3.5% service charge to fully compensate TailwatersTravel for all bank charges incurred.

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