YAKUTAT LODGE

The beautiful thing about Yakutat Lodge is that trips are tailored to the desires of the visitors. Fishing is always included in your package, so you can divvy up the number of days between the river and the salt. Or you can choose to tour and see some of the majestic Gulf Coast on trips like the flight-seeing tours of the Hubbard Glacier. The lodge is rustic, and rooms are clean and comfortable, each with a private bath. All rooms accommodate up to four persons. The full-service dining room offers a variety of items, including a daily breakfast of your choice and a full dinner of anything on the menu.

The Yakutat Lodge is the closest lodge to the Situk River and other fishing hot spots. Fly-outs literally originate from the front door, with offered packages that include fishing. They prepare, fillet, freeze, and box your catch in custom fish boxes. They’ll even prepare any trophies for shipment to your favorite taxidermist.

WEATHER

Yakutat’s climate is characterized by mild, rainy weather. Average summer temperatures range from 42 to 60 degrees, while winter averages 17 to 39 degrees. As part of one of the northernmost rainforests in the world, Yakutat gets some of the heaviest precipitation in Alaska. The weather in Yakutat is wet. Don’t forget to pack your rain gear and clothes that will keep you warm in 40 degrees! We lucked out with sunshine during our trip, but it is a lot easier to remove layers to get cool than to not have enough layers to stay warm.

HOW TO GET THERE

There are daily scheduled jet services to Yakutat. The most common way to get there is to fly Seattle-Juneau-Yakutat on Alaska Airlines flight #61 in the morning. Or Anchorage, Cordova, Yakutat on Alaska’s evening flight #66.

BASIC FISHING EQUIPMENT
(We have a fully equipped tackle shop)

Fishing vest, hip boots or neoprene waders, good quality rain gear, gloves, insect repellent, polarized glasses, waterproof bag, hook sharpener, needle-nose pliers or hemostat, leader clippers, knife, appropriate assortment of high quality swivels, weights, hooks, new line, extra spools and reel oil or WD-40.

Steelhead — April, May, November, December

Fly-fishing: 7-9 weight rod, floating line, high density sink-tip line, high speed HD sinking line (or shooting head), high quality fly reel with smooth adjustable drag and capacity for fly line plus 100 yards of 20 lb. test backing, leader material in 6-20 lb. test, or well designed tapered leaders in 6' to 9' lengths with 6-12lb. tippets, small split shot or strip lead. Flies: Sizes #2, 4 & 6-egg patterned, yarn, green butt skunks, black girdle bugs, a myriad of other favorite conventional steelhead flies.

Drift fishing: 8-8 1/2' ft. graphite or boron rod, good quality bait casting reel w/100 yards. of 12 lb. test capacity, pencil lead, surgical tubing, 8-20 lb. test line and an assortment of steelhead lures; including , Spin 'n Glos, Corkies, Mepps, Okie Drifters, etc.

Spin-fishing: Medium weight freshwater rod, graphite or boron are recommended for sensitivity; appropriate matching reel w/adjustable drag, 8-12 lb. test line, extra spools and same terminal gear as drift fishing. Blue Vibrax, Aeroflies.

Sockeye — Late June and July Primarily taken on flies, most enjoyable on a fly rod, can be taken on spinning rods with flies.

Fly-fishing: 6-8 weight rod, matching reel, 100 yards backing, floating and high density sink tip lines, leader material in 6-20 test for building tapered leaders, small split shot or strip lead, flies in #2, 4, & 6 (flies in yarn patterns or streamers seem to do best). Sockeye are squirrelly and experimenting with different colored yarn produces best results. Chartreuse, hot pink and fluorescent orange have been the best producers in some past years. Sockeye are frequently difficult to catch but offer the seasoned angler some of the most challenging and exciting wet fly fishing.

Spin and Drift-fishing Gear: Comparable to that used for steelhead, with terminal tackle described above in combination with split shot or pencil lead.

Pink Salmon — Late July & Early August

Fly-fishing: 5 or 6 weight rod, good reel, 50 yards of backing, floating and sink tip line, 4-10 lb. leader material and size #4 & #6flies, attractor pattern and yarn work well.

Spinning & Drift-fishing: Can use ultra light to medium weight rods and reels with 4-8 lb. test line. A variety of conventional spoons and spinners will work, Mepps, Pixie, Hot Rods, etc.

Silver Salmon — August, September and October

Fly tackle: 7-9 weight rod; floating, high D sink tip and high speed high D sinking line; matching reel with 100 yards of 20 lb. backing leader material in 6-20 lb. test; small split shot or split lead; #2 & #4 flies, bright patterns, yarn flies and flash about’s seem to be consistent producers.

Spinning and Drift Gear: Same as for steelhead. Additional terminal gear includes Pixies, Hot Rods, Mepps, T-Spoons, VibraxSpinners, etc.

Halibut — April through October Gear provided.

King Salmon — April through September (best in April, May & June) Trolling (Bay fishing) — gear provided on salt water charters.

King Salmon — Mid June through July Fresh Water

Fly-fishing: 8-10 weight rod with fighting butt, sink tip and high D sinking line, good quality fly reel, 100 yards backing, 12-20 lb. test leader material, split shot and strip lead and flies size 2/0 to #2 in egg patterns and attractor bucktails.

Spinning Gear: Heavy freshwater rod with good quality reel, 100 yards of 17-20 lb. test line, Mepps spinners size 3-5, Pixies, T-Spoons, Vibraxes, Hot Rods, Spin ’n Glos and yarn attract Kings.

Dollies and Rainbows — April – December Ultra light equipment provides the most enjoyment.