Countless travelers visit Alaska each and every year to see the amazing sites, watch the whales, take a dog sled ride, walk the beaches, and of course: GO FISHING. Whether fishing is the main reason for your vacation, or you are just adding in a half day guided fishing adventure for fun, then keep reading and we’ll help shed light on how best to plan the fishing portion of your Alaskan vacation on the Kenai Peninsula.

Guided Salmon Fishing in Alaska
Even if you are an expert fishermen, hiring a fishing guide for the day is the single best chance you have at catching the lunker of a lifetime. Guides have boats, access, and real time intel on the salmon runs from day to day. It is what they do, and many of them do it very well. Not all guides are created equal, so make sure to check out their reviews online at Trip Advisor and/or Google. Rivers and lakes that have direct access to the road see the most traffic. Examples include the world famous Kenai River, Kasilof River, and the Russian River. Their runs are legendary and will certainly keep you fishing and burning the midnight oil. Access to the remote regions across from the Kenai Peninsula, offer an amazing opportunity to get away from the crowds and see the real Alaska. Adventure Outfitters Alaska offers unique float plane adventures which will certainly be the highlight of your vacation. Fill coolers with fillets and your memory cards with the stunning scenery and incredible bear viewing. And if that’s not enough, book a saltwater combo trip for both salmon and halibut in Homer or Seward.

Self Guided Fishing in Alaska 
Self guided fishing in Alaska is totally doable, you just have to know where to go and how to get it done. Salmon aren’t like other freshwater fish. They don’t behave the same, they don’t feed the same, and they don’t react the same as their freshwater cousins. So if you are going to find real success on your own up here in the Last Frontier, make sure to do your homework and get to know your quarry before traveling. I have been guiding salmon fishermen for almost 20 years and there seems to be 3 distinct groups of folks who come up to brave the Alaskan rivers on their own.
 
The Weekend Warrior
First is the weekend warrior, the folks who like the idea of fishing and catching fish, but don’t spend a lot of time back home doing it. This is not a criticism, just a general stereotype. These folks can find tremendous success when the runs are peaking and fish line up around every bend. Many of them buy a couple of cheap, Walmart specials and then head out with whatever the guy sold to them. The Weekend Warrior can increase their chances of success by doing a few key things. First, do a little research on the species you plan on attacking. Find out where they are running and what’s the best way to catch them. This will no doubt help you when at Walmart or Sportsman’s Warehouse buying gear. Secondly, watch others around you to see what is working. Don’t be afraid to ask those who seem to know what they are doing. It could just be a matter of weight or hook size. The Kenai Peninsula is the perfect place for the Weekend Warriors to come out in force and fill their coolers with fresh salmon fillets.
 
The Meat Slayers
These folks are a special breed of fishermen. They love to fish…..but more importantly, they love to catch. The sport isn’t just fighting the fish and enjoying the scenery, its about filling as many coolers as possible to bring home and feast upon. Under a bridge like a hungry fishing troll, or in the middle of town, as long as they’re catching fish to bring home, they're happy. The world famous sockeye salmon run on the Kenai Peninsula brings Meat Slayers out by the hundreds. They tend to be a fun group to fish with at the many public fishing spots in Soldotna, Kenai, and Kasilof. Do some homework on the sockeye and how we fish them. Its unlike any other fishing I’ve ever done. The term is called “lining” or “flossing”. Look it up if your new to the game, it could be an article all to itself. At any rate, Meat Slayers can easily book a flyout salmon fishing trip during their stay and enjoy limiting out on a boat load of salmon from across the Cook Inlet too. Start filling your fish boxes today with Adventure Outfitters Alaska.

Pure Fisherman
The Pure fisherman is probably my favorite genre of fisherman, since I too, fall into this category. Most folks have polluted this term (often referred to as Purist) to mean the snobby fly fisherman who would never dilute his great self to fish with bait or any other method for that matter. To me, a pure fisherman, is one who truly loves to just fish. Catching is always the goal, but never the measure of success in the long run. It doesn’t matter if they’re specialty is back yard largemouth, speckled trout in the mangroves, or bluegills off the family dock, because the pure fisherman is content, just to be fishing. I choose to fly fish whenever possible (and only get slightly annoyed when my spin fishing partners double my numbers of fish) but in the end; I just love to fish.
 
If you are a pure fisherman of any variety, you will fall in love with the Kenai Peninsula. You can hike to mountain lakes and catch grayling, rent a raft and float the mighty upper Kenai, roll cast dry flies to waiting bows, dunk 3 lb weights to 200 feet for a barn door halibut, and a hundred other fishing trips if you want to keep coming back! So start doing your homework and get planning, summer is right around the corner. 

Contact Adventure Outfitters Alaska today and book your fishing trip with us! We'd love to rip some lips with you this summer.

Best Fishes,
Jake Doth
Owner, AOA

​The state of Alaska is massive. Super-imposed onto the lower 48, it stretches nearly from coast to coast. Alaska has its own time zone for crying out loud. So when your ask yourself, where should I go to fish in Alaska? The answer isn’t always that simple. There are over 3 million lakes and more rivers than there are names. Rest assured, there’s a destination fishing trip in Alaska for every kind of fishing enthusiast.
 
Bristol Bay
With the largest salmon runs on earth, the remote and wild Bristol Bay is top on any hard core angler’s list. Huge runs of all five species of Pacific salmon flood into the major river systems of the area. The Nushagak, Naknek, Kvichak, Alagnak, and many others, explode with life come July and August. Remote fishing lodges are the only way to really fish this area. Your week long stay will surely give you unbridled access to some of the greatest salmon fishing in North America. These trips are for the dedicated fishermen who want to wake up early and hit it hard all day, every day. The cost of these trips is usually very high and the logistics, quite a bit more complicated. Expect several extra flights to get there and a lot of fees to get your fish back home.
 
Southeast Alaska
The famous Inside Passage is one of Alaska’s most prized possessions. Stunning ocean vistas, pods of orcas, humpbacks, and calving glaciers seem to be everywhere. This destination fishing location is great for those who crave ocean fishing. Troll for kings, drop some heavy weight for trophy halibut, and try your luck with the delicious, yellow eye snapper. Vacations based from Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and other small coastal towns can be awesome. 

Kenai Peninsula
The world famous Kenai Peninsula is without question, the hub of most sport fishing for salmon in the state. Easy road access from Anchorage keeps the costs much lower and allows you to experience almost every aspect of Alaskan life. Enjoy scenic towns like Homer, Seward, and Cooper Landing. Experience incredible fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, hiking, biking and more. The diversity of things to do makes this a wonderland for travelers. You can access saltwater fishing adventures, salmon fishing, trout fishing, and all with the flexibility of having your own transportation to explore.

The mighty Kenai River has runs of salmon that are counted by the millions. The annual, summer run of sockeye are definitely the highlight, but you can also hunt for the king of a lifetime, or a monster silver at summer’s end. With unbridled access to the outdoors, and countless places to fish, visitors can easily get their fill. There is something for everyone on the Kenai Peninsula.

​One of the very best ways to see Alaska, is from above. Bush flights, and guided tours bring you into the remote corners of the state so you can experience a real adventure. Flying into one of the many lakes and rivers across the Cook Inlet by floatplane is a great way to beat the crowds, see amazing wildlife, and experience unbelievable fishing. It will no doubt be the crescendo of your Alaskan vacation. Come see the bears, catch some fish, cruise the glaciers from above, and let Adventure Outfitters be your guide. 

We are conveniently located 10 miles north of Kenai, Alaska. Our 6 hour, half day trips are the perfect way to see the real Alaska. Family friendly and affordable, our fishing trips will surely change your desktop! Call and book your trip today. 
​
Best Fishes,
Jake Doth
​Owner, Adventure Outfitters Alaska

The long dark winters of Alaska all become worth it once the summer salmon season finally reaches the last frontier. But when is the salmon season exactly? When do all the different species of salmon migrate? And where do you go to fish salmon once you get here? These are all great questions to ask before planning your Alaskan fishing trip. Keep reading and we’ll help to make sense of one of the planet’s most complex and incredible life story: The Pacific Salmon.

Salmon in Alaska
There are 5 species of pacific salmon, and they all live here in Alaska. The Sockeye (Red salmon), the Silver Salmon (Coho), the King Salmon (Chinook), the Pink (humpy salmon), and the Chum (Dog salmon). Even though they all grow up and use Alaskan rivers to spawn, not every river has all 5 species. Some rivers may have only one of the five that swim up it each summer to spawn. Regardless of species, all Pacific salmon live their lives in the ocean and then come into the freshwater rivers of Alaska to spawn and then die. 

The migration of salmon during the Alaskan summer, is a masterful symphony of nature. Each species has its own time to leave the ocean’s depths and “run” into our many rivers. Once in freshwater, they spread out and begin to locate the place of their birth. To make this all the more complicated, each river is unique in when this orchestra begins.
 
Where to Fish Salmon in Alaska
In order to make sense of this complex web of fin and tail, lets focus our efforts on the epicenter of most salmon fishing in Alaska, the famous Kenai Peninsula. Although run times still vary from river to river, we can pin down a few general patterns that will help you maximize your fishing adventures.

June
Summer’s first full month marks the beginning of the salmon migration. Kings and early sockeye are the first species to enter our rivers. Although run of king salmon have declined in today’s fisheries, there are still a few hidden gems to explore, both on the road system, and from the float plane. The fishing only gets better as the month of June progresses. Each high tide brings fish in and the run counts continue to climb. Expect fewer locations to choose from that have these early runs of fish. Big River Lakes is our go to location for early season sockeye and the world famous Nushagak River is a fan favorite for kings.
 
July
With the onset of warmer weather, the Kenai Peninsula’s salmon fishing begins to really heat up. More salmon enter Alaskan rivers in July than any other month. Even the runs of King salmon don’t mature until July on the mighty Kenai River. Huge runs of sockeye build as the month progresses along with Chum and Pink salmon (pink salmon only run on even numbered years). July is magical in Alaska. Wildlife from every valley, descend on salmon streams and take full advantage of the bounty. This is also the busiest tourist month for the Kenai Peninsula so plan on booking your fishing trips and hotels early.
 
August
Although August marks the final month of the Alaskan summer, there is still plenty of fishing to be had. By now, the kings have dumped their eggs and given their bodies back to the river,  in the exact same stretch of water that they were born in, some 5-7 years ago. With sockeye in full spawning regalia, the rivers seem alive with fish. From the headwaters to the ocean, there are salmon of one species or another in some various stage of their final weeks. Silvers are the last species to enter the rivers, so even though the sockeye are all but too old to eat, there’s fresh fish even in summer’s waning moments.

September
Even though September sure doesn’t seem like summer in Alaska, it still has some salmon fishing left for the hard core anglers. Late run fish and the final tides of the silver run still can be had throughout the first few weeks of autumn. The cold mornings and yellow birch trees let you know that the cycle of birth and death has come to a close on the Last Frontier’s salmon runs. The salmon fishing season in Alaska is complex and dynamic, so be flexible and enjoy just being a part of an age-old symphony.

Come explore Alaska, and let Adventure Outfitters be your guide. The amazing float planes allow us to fish several different, remote locations. We live and breathe salmon fishing on the Kenai Peninsula and beyond. So if you’re looking for a fishing adventure this summer, rest assured, Adventure Outfitters has a spot that will be the best option for any given week. 

Check out our Alaska fishing locations page and feel free to contact us if you are thinking about booking a fishing trip!

Hunting in Alaska is a bucket list item for many sportsmen. Unfortunately, the price tags that goes along with the hunt of a lifetime are often too steep to climb. If you want to have a unique and affordable destination hunt, with breathtaking scenery and high success rates; than keep on reading.
 
Kenai Peninsula, Alaska black bear hunts are often under-rated in many hunting circles. I think it’s because of the style by which most folks hunt black bears. Baiting bears is fine for harvesting game, and boating spring coastlines can be fun. However, Adventure Outfitters Alaska focuses efforts during the peak of the autumn berry season when bears are foraging above the tree line. Most brown bears are still down low eating salmon so the black bears can wander all day long and graze. Crowberries, salmonberries, blueberries, and cranberries keep bears active and out in the open. These alpine meadows, high mountain lakes, and berry covered hill sides, provide hunters with perfect, spot and stalk opportunities from August through September.

What are the best places to hunt black bears in Alaska?
I think most would agree, southeast Alaska has the highest population of trophy black bears. With low populations of coastal brown bears, these apex predators can gorge on salmon and forage without worry of a mauling from their larger and more powerful cousins. With that said, there are also a lot of nice bears on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula as well. Floatplane drop camps from Kenai can quickly get hunters into incredible, high-alpine bear country. Southeast hunts will be double the price of a central Alaskan hunt. Even though Kenai Peninsula black bears have to compete with brown bears, they still have large populations and many units have a 3-bear limit per hunter. Adventure Outfitters Alaska offers affordable, unguided black bear hunts in Alaska, set in some of the most beautiful locations.
 
What is the success rate for DIY black bear hunts?
These unguided Alaskan black bear hunts have high success rates, with groups often taking multiple bears. Because of this, these DIY Alaskan hunts are great for small or larger groups. There are few places where a group of 4 hunters can tag out in a 7 day hunt. This is one of those places! Average success rate is in the high 80’s.

How do you hunt black bears in Alaska?
Although baiting black bears in the spring is legal, most sportsmen planning a DIY Alaskan hunting adventure, would rather engage in a more dynamic hunt. Most hunters either cruise coastlines from zodiaks in April-May, or hunt above tree line in the Fall (August-September). Hunting bears above tree line is sometimes more work, but the payoff of hunting in such amazing locations, far outweighs the stiff hamstrings. Plan on spending a lot of time glassing hillsides. We hunt with our eyes, a lot more than our legs! Basecamps are set up on mountain lakes so you wont have to climb the entire mountain each day. Once bears are spotted, plan your stalk down wind and enjoy one of the best hunts in Alaska. Long shots of over 300 yards are not uncommon so spend some time at the range before you come!
 
Call us today and book your hunt of the decade! Group rates are available and can make this the most affordable, DIY hunt in the entire state. Everything is included: float plane transport, full camp, all meals, and a full comms package including an Iridium satellite phone. It’s time for an adventure!
 
Aim small, miss small.
Jake Doth
​Owner AOA

​​When fishermen dream, it often takes place in Alaska. Huge fish, searing runs, broken drags, and wild fish dance through the night. Unfortunately, you awake and face the same old problems. Where to go? How to make a great fishing trip fit your budget? Where to start? Planning your dream Alaskan fishing trip doesn’t have to be such a chore. Let Adventure Outfitters show you the way!

Inevitably one of the first questions I get asked about unguided hunts for moose in Alaska is: what is the success rate for hunting moose? This is a great question to ask any outfitter, guide, or transporter you plan on using. The answer is usually given as a straight forward percentage or a window of percentages. Just remember one thing, this is hunting, not high fence killing. Percentages can be misleading and quite often change from year to year. So although this is a great question to ask, keep reading so that you can do some of your own independent research on what moose populations are really like in the unit you plan on hunting.

The most common question I get asked about moose hunting in Alaska is “How much does it cost?” It’s a great question, and one that is not so straight forward to answer. This article will focus on the unguided Alaska moose hunts and what a non-resident can expect from a DIY adventure in the last frontier.
 
HUB OR BUSH?
The location you plan to hunt is the most important question to tackle. Your choice quickly becomes either: hunt near the main airports in the state, or venture further into the bush for a much more complicated and expensive hunt. The number of days planned before and after the hunt will depend on your answer to this most pivotal question. The rule of thumb for most hunters is to be in the field for 7-10 days.

​Nothing will raise your heart rate like a massive 50” inch bull moose coming into your calls. It is one of the most fantastic hunts in all of North America. The worlds largest deer is truly a magnificent animal. The problem isn’t in the attraction of a remote, wilderness hunt in the most beautiful country known to man. It’s the cost and the logistics of everything that scares people away. Don’t get me wrong, a DIY or unguided moose hunt in Alaska is not for everyone. But if you’re up for an adventure, a lot of planning, a bunch of logistics, and what could truly be, the hunt of a lifetime; than keep reading and find out how doable this hunt can really be!

The HUNT
Most people use bush planes to get into remote regions for their hunts. The bush plane drop camp is standard operating procedure, however the float hunt is also gaining popularity in some regions. Drop camps are much easier to plan and execute. Bush planes have tight spaces and minimal weight allowances so make sure to contact your transporter or outfitter with weight restrictions. If you are bringing all your own gear, you should have each bag weighed and added up for the air taxi service. Weight is non-negotiable and could be a big damper on your plans if you end up 20 pounds over limit! The easiest way to do this is to rent the necessary gear for the hunt. This adds cost, but is worth it ten times over. Having the right gear for this trip is essential. Plus, you don’t have to pack up wet gear and lug it all over the place, trying to ship it home and get everything squared away. Just give it all back to the outfitter, grab your trophy and meat, and head home!
 
What happens after the moose hunt if you are successful?
When you get done with your moose hunt, the meat, trophy, and any other logistics are your responsibility. The DIY moose hunt is just that: Do-It-Yourself. If you are renting gear from someone, they can help direct you on what places to use for meat processing and trophy shipping. All of these contacts for after the hunt should be contacted beforehand with any specific questions you might have. Ask about processing time, flash freezing meat, Fish n Game sealing requirements, etc. Airlines will no longer take trophies but they will let you pay for an extra piece of luggage which could be a 50 lb box of meat!
 
What does a DIY Alaska Moose Hunt cost?
The cost varies greatly on where you hunt and what services you require for your hunt. Long float plane rides to the game management unit are costly and so is flying commercially into a small village. The most economical hunts are out of Anchorage, Kenai, and sometimes Fairbanks. This is a rough estimate to get you planning. All costs are per person estimates.

• Flights to and from Alaska: $500 - $700
• Drop camp flights: $4000 - $10,000 depending on where you hunt
• Gear rental: $1000 – $1,500 which often includes meal packages
• Satellite Phone: $200
• Car and hotel: $500
• Moose tag: $800

Cost certainly adds up quick on this hunt. But the return on your investment is often worth twice that! Your hunt could be done for as little as $,6000 pp if you plan it right. Some remote places in the state can cost as much as $12,000 pp by the time everything is said and done.
 
AOA offers complete camps, perfectly designed for the floatplanes, Full meal packages, satellite phones, all flights in and out of the field, and full logistical help with the “Do-It-Yourself” part of the hunt. We do not provide tags, flights to AK, or lodging. Unit 16B: $5,400 per person, Unit 17B: $7,200 per person because of the long flight in and out of camp. Book the moose hunt of the decade, today!
 
A self-guided moose hunt in Alaska can be one of the most thrilling hunts in North America. The task of planning it successfully requires commitment and time. Be realistic with your expectations and give yourself the time to do it right. Plan on everything being expensive once you reach Alaska and that inevitably, something will go sideways. Be prepared and flexible. Bring a great attitude and go have the hunt of a lifetime!
 
Best of Luck!
​
Jake Doth, Owner
Adventure Outfitters Alaska ​