Alaska Fishing

Legendary Alaska fishing... there are not many feelings that beat the feel of a large fighting fish at the end of your pole. Here at Saltery Lodge in Ketchikan, Alaska you will experience that feeling over and over again! Aboard our world class charter vessel, Sarana, your host and a deck hand will make your southeast Alaska fishing experience memorable. We enjoy teaching you how to fish as well, making the experience much more rewarding for you.

For saltwater Alaska fishing, we fish for king salmon, silver salmon, pink salmon, halibut, and other bottom fish. Halibut are good all summer in southeast Alaska. The pink salmon peak from July to mid September. The silver salmon start in July and actually peak in September in our area. We will also let you work crab and shrimp pots so you can enjoy them that evening on the dinner table!

If fresh water Alaska fishing is your game, we can arrange for guided or unguided fresh water trips. We operate under a US Forest Service Special Use Permit. If you choose to go unguided, the Naha River system is a world class southeast Alaska fishing stream containing salmon and trout and is only a short distance from the lodge.

If you book the lodge exclusively (and sometimes in mixed groups, see our boat policy), you will be Alaska fishing on the custom built 40ft aluminum catamaran Sarana (Pronounced "SAIR-ANNA") for your Alaska fishing trip. You will enjoy fishing on one of the best Alaska fishing charters. The spacious front and rear deck offer tons of deck space, while the large flying bridge lets you watch the action from above, if you wish.

Equipped with just under 1,000hp, this boat can get you to the great southeast Alaska fishing without pounding. The catamaran design and 15ft beam keeps the rolling to a minimum which is the major factor on what makes most people sea sick. It is also equipped with some of the most advanced safety equipment available, making your southeast Alaska fishing trip as safe as possible. This vessel is state of the art from top to bottom.

One of the philosophies we have here is that you will have a much more memorable time if we let you get hands on with the fishing and activities. Most Alaska fishing charter operations will bait your hooks, attach down rigger clips, lower it into the water, watch the strike, set the hook, and then hand you the pole. To us, that can feel a little hollow. Your Alaska fishing trip should be more than just counting fishing boxes. While we will have a skipper and deck hand to show you the ropes and to help with anything you would like, the primary purpose is to show you how to be successful. We encourage and will let you do much more, as long as it is safe.

Now you may lose a few more fish with this method, there may be a few backlashed reels, and missed hookups, but we feel that the fish you do bring in will be very rewarding and taste much better on the barbecue when you do it yourself.

Now, with this being said, we will still be happy to do as much as you would like to help you catch that fish of a lifetime!

If you book the lodge exclusively, and sometimes during mixed bookings, your host, Scott Kemp, a licensed USCG captain, will be on the vessel helping you along with a courteous deck hand. Scott will keep you involved and educated about Alaska fishing in the area. Part of a third-generation that was raised in Ketchikan, Alaska, he will share with you his love of the water, Alaska fishing, and boats.

There are many other things to do out on the water other than Alaska fishing. You can set Dungeness crab and shrimp pots to later enjoy their bounty on the dinner table. We can land the boat at a beach under our US Forest Service Special Use Permit and let you do some beach combing and hiking around streams and waterfalls. If you would like, we can just cruise the boat, looking for whales, sea lions, or even deer swimming from island to island. Or we can feed the eagles by throwing herring in the water and watching them swoop down and grab it.

If you book the lodge exclusively, we have the following advantages over other Alaska fishing lodges...

• Vessel Size: 40 ft Custom built aluminum landing craft with front and rear deck, fly bridge, heated cabin, soft seats, Satellite Radio, Galley. Most other lodges have anything from 16 ft open skiffs (self guided) to 24-26ft vessels. Not very many have heat, and very few fly bridges. Virtually none have an open front deck.
  
• Seating: Our vessel comfortably seats 6 + crew. Other lodges fish anywhere from two to a boat (self guided) to four plus a skipper. Few boats fish six comfortably.
  
• Fully Guided: Our vessel is fully guided with a deck hand. Other Alaska fishing lodges are self guided or fully guided.
  
• Hands On: We let you do as much as the fishing as you would like. We show you how to catch fish. Some other lodges are self guided where you figure it out for yourself. Others are fully guided where you get handed a rod with a fish on the end.
  
• In Control: You are in control of your timetable and itinerary. Want to sleep in a little? Want to go exploring the beach for a while? At some other Alaska fishing lodges, you will share a boat with others, so you have less control of your schedule.
  
• Hosted: At Saltery Lodge, the Lodge Owner/Host is your skipper.
  
• Beam: Sarana has a 15ft beam and is a catamaran style which drastically cuts down on the rolling motion. Very, very few southeast Alaska fishing charter vessels offer this design because of its high cost.