You know, we have a limited number of trips each season, and the prime dates, especially, fill up really fast. To make sure you secure your preferred dates, we highly recommend booking as early as possible – sometimes even a year or more in advance!

We take care of a lot to make your adventure seamless! Your trip typically includes those scenic floatplane flights to and from the river, all your delicious meals and limited snacks, plus non-alcoholic drinks such as Tang. We also provide really comfortable camping gear – think roomy Alaska-made tents for two with cots and chairs – and, of course, expert guidance and fishing instruction. We can often lend you rods and reels if you need them too; just let us know when you book.

Good question! You'll need to handle your commercial flights to Anchorage and then to your smaller hub city like Bethel, King Salmon, or Dillingham. Guide gratuities are not included, nor is your personal fishing gear like waders, boots, or your full fly/lure selection (though we provide a limited selection of flies, and a detailed packing list). Your fishing license is also your responsibility. If you'd like alcoholic beverages we can point you toward a "bush order" provider, but remember it must fit into your weight allowance.

This is a big one for remote Alaska! We shoot for a maximum of 250 pounds per person or less, which includes both you, your gear and beer. Or, to put it another way, your personal gear should be 50 pounds or less, whichever keeps the total down. The reason is simple: those small planes have strict weight capacities, and we need to fit everyone and everything safely. If you are over the limit we will try and accommodate you if it fits within the total allowance of aircraft for the trip. If you are over the limit, any additional cost is on you, or you might need to leave some non-essentials behind. So, pack smart!

Alaska's weather can change in a heartbeat, so a layered approach is absolutely key. Think modern, lightweight synthetic fabrics that wick moisture – no cotton for fishing or around camp, because if it gets wet, it stays wet! We'll provide a detailed packing list upon booking, but generally, be ready for anything from crisp mornings to mild, sunny afternoons, and be prepared for rain.

Getting to remote Alaska requires some planning, but we'll guide you through it!

Your Route: First, fly commercially to Anchorage, then catch a connecting flight to one of our hub cities—Bethel, King Salmon, or Dillingham, depending on which river you're fishing. From there, you'll take a floatplane to the river.

Timing: We strongly recommend arriving in your hub city the day before your trip starts. This buffer protects against commercial flight delays and gives you time to organize your gear.

Accommodations & Air Taxi: In Bethel, we work with specific B&Bs and Renfro's Air Service. In King Salmon, we recommend Antlers Inn and use Branch River Air Service. They'll coordinate your airport pickup and floatplane flights.

Gear Storage: Any items you don't need on the river (street clothes, extra luggage) can be stored at the air taxi hangar during your trip. You'll collect them when you return.

Important: Bush flying is weather-dependent. We'll provide detailed travel information with specific contacts and recommendations when you book.

All residents age 18 or older, and nonresidents age 16 or older must purchase and possess a sport fishing license to fish in Alaska.

Purchase Online: You can buy your license through the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website at: www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=license.main

King Salmon Stamp: If you're fishing for Chinook (King) salmon, you must also purchase a king stamp. The stamp must be signed in ink and affixed to the back of your sport fishing license.

Duration: Purchase a license that covers the number of days you'll be fishing. Make sure it's valid for your entire trip.

Critical Reminder: You are responsible for purchasing your fishing license before your trip and having it on your person at all times while fishing. If you don't have your license, you will not be able to fish!

During your Alaska float trip with Alaska Rainbow Adventures, our policy is to release all species unharmed, except for the occasional male salmon destined for the dinner table.

Taking Fish Home: If you want to take home a salmon or two, we ask that this be done on the last day of the trip only. Cooler space and our ability to keep your catch fresh is very limited during a moving float trip.

Important Limitation: Alaska Rainbow Adventures offers no fish processing services. Such services are also rarely available in the hub cities of King Salmon, Dillingham, or Bethel where we operate. Plan accordingly if you're hoping to bring fish home.

Our Philosophy: We believe in protecting these incredible fisheries for future generations. Catch and release ensures these rivers remain as productive and healthy as they are today.

Proper catch and release is critical to protecting these fisheries, especially during warm weather. Here's what we practice:

Go Barbless: We strongly push barbless hooks. They allow for much quicker, less injurious releases. Crimp down the barb with pliers before tying on your fly.

Keep Fish in Water: Handle fish as little as possible and keep them submerged. If you need a photo, do it with the fish still in the water, cradled gently with both wet hands.

Land Quickly: Use gear strong enough to bring fish in fairly quickly without exhausting them. We use knotless or rubber mesh nets to minimize damage.

Proper Release: Support the fish gently, facing it into the current, until it kicks off strongly. If needed, gently move it back and forth underwater until it swims freely.

Hook Removal: Remove hooks while the fish is still in water if possible. If deeply hooked, cut the line close to the hook rather than injuring the fish.

Respecting Local Traditions: Many Yup'ik residents have traditional concerns about catch and release. We honor these perspectives by treating every fish with utmost care and respect.

Bush flying is entirely weather-dependent, and delays can and do occur. This is one of the realities of remote Alaska.

Common Weather Issues: Dense fog, high winds, and storms can delay or prevent floatplane operations. Safety always comes first.

The Critical 2-3 Day Threshold: Here's what many anglers don't realize: if weather prevents us from flying you to the river, there comes a point—usually after 2-3 days of delays depending on your trip length—where there is no longer sufficient time to safely conduct your full trip. At that point, the trip must be cancelled. The floatplanes can't fly, the guides and resources are committed, and the season window doesn't extend.

Why This Matters: When a trip is cancelled due to weather delays before you reach the river, you've lost your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs through no fault of anyone. This is exactly the scenario where trip cancellation and interruption insurance becomes absolutely critical. Without it, you lose everything. With proper insurance, you can recover your costs and potentially rebook for another season.

Our Strong Recommendation: Book your return commercial flight for either the evening of your trip's end date (with flexibility) or—even better—the following morning. This buffer prevents missed flights and reduces stress.

What We Do: Our guides carry satellite communication devices and stay in constant contact with our air taxis. We'll always work to get you out as quickly and safely as weather allows.

Bottom Line: Weather delays are part of the Alaska bush experience. Build flexibility into your schedule, and most importantly, purchase comprehensive trip insurance that covers trip cancellation and interruption. It's not optional—it's essential protection for your investment.

This is one of the most important questions to understand before booking your Alaska float trip.

The Scenario: You've arrived in your hub city (Bethel, King Salmon, or Dillingham), you're packed and ready, but weather has grounded all floatplanes. Day one passes. Day two. By day three, depending on your trip length, we've reached a critical threshold: there is no longer sufficient time to safely conduct your scheduled multi-day float trip.

What Happens Then: The trip must be cancelled. The floatplanes can't fly in unsafe conditions. Our guides and resources are committed to your dates. The rivers don't change. And Alaska's fishing season is extremely short—we can't just extend into the fall when weather improves.

Why This Point of No Return Exists: Here's the reality that many people don't understand:

• Alaska's Season is Brutally Short: We operate from roughly mid-June through mid-September. That's it. There's no "later in the season" to reschedule to—the season ends, period.
• Back-to-Back Trip Commitments: Every week of the season is fully booked with trips. The group scheduled after you is already in transit or waiting to depart. We can't bump them—they have the same rights you do.
• Fixed Permit Windows: Our federal permits with USFWS specify exact dates and group sizes. We cannot operate outside these permitted windows.
• Guide and Aircraft Logistics: Guides, aircraft, and support crew are committed to a precise schedule. Everyone's commitments cascade—if we delay your trip, we cancel someone else's trip.
• River Conditions Change: A 7-day float requires specific water conditions and river flow. If we start late, we may not reach the takeout point safely, or conditions downstream may have changed.
• Safety Windows: Starting a multi-day wilderness trip with insufficient time means potentially pushing into unsafe conditions, night travel, or equipment/food shortages.

The Financial Reality: Because Alaska Rainbow Adventures maintains a strict no-refund policy for any reason (including weather-related cancellations), if your trip is cancelled before reaching the river due to weather delays, you lose 100% of your prepaid trip costs. This isn't because we want it that way—it's because our costs for permits, guides, aircraft commitments, and the limited season window are already committed and cannot be recovered. We've turned away other paying clients to hold your dates.

Why Trip Insurance is Required: This exact scenario is why we now require—not just recommend—comprehensive trip cancellation and interruption insurance. With proper insurance covering weather-related cancellations, you can recover your trip costs and potentially rebook for another season. Without insurance, you lose everything—typically $7,000-$11,000 per person.

The Bottom Line: Weather in Alaska is unpredictable. Extended delays happen more often than you might think, especially in early June and September. The rigid constraints of Alaska's short season, back-to-back scheduling, and permit requirements mean that after 2-3 days of delays, we've simply run out of time. Trip insurance isn't an optional extra—it's essential financial protection for this exact scenario.

We provide a limited but carefully selected collection of effective flies. However, many anglers prefer to bring their own tackle.

Fly Rods:

• 6-weight minimum, 9 feet long
• 7-8 weight ideal for most situations
• 9-weight for King salmon or big silvers
• Bring at least two rods (backup is essential)

What We Provide: A small but thoughtful fly collection including Dalli Lama (black and white), orange gurglers, mouse patterns, beads, and flesh flies. This should cover most situations.

Additional Tackle to Bring:

• Floating lines (primary), plus sink-tip or full-sink lines
• Leaders and tippet: 0X-3X for salmon, 3X-5X for trout and char
• Pliers (NOT hemostats) - essential for heavy hooks
• Line nippers, hook sharpener, split shot, strike indicators
• Spare rod tips and waterproof fly boxes

Important: Barbless hooks are strongly preferred. If you have favorite patterns that give you confidence, bring them!

We'll send you a detailed packing list with specific tackle recommendations when you book.

We provide a limited selection of effective flies, and we can often lend you rods and reels. However, many anglers prefer to bring their own favorite setups. We'll send you a detailed packing list upon booking that includes specific recommendations for fishing gear, waders, and other personal tackle. Just remember, no felt-sole wading boots (they're not allowed in Alaska anymore!) or wading studs.

Imagine waking up in a comfortable wilderness camp, enjoying a hearty breakfast, then heading out on the river with your guide for a full day of fishing as we float downstream. Most evening brings us to a new, beautiful campsite, where we'll work together to set up camp, enjoy a delicious dinner prepared by your guide, and unwind around the fire under the vast Alaskan sky. It's a wonderful rhythm of adventure and relaxation!

We offer three distinct trip styles to match different preferences and budgets:

Standard Style (Our Most Popular): This is our normal trip offering and strikes the perfect balance between wilderness immersion and elevated comfort. You'll enjoy the same high-quality camping amenities as our Fisherman's Deluxe—spacious Alaska-made tents, comfortable cots and chairs, gourmet riverside dining, private facilities with showers—but with some guest participation in camp setup and breakdown. It offers a true "lodge-style" feel on a moving river. Available on the Kanektok, Goodnews, Alagnak, and Togiak Rivers, as well as Moraine Creek.

Fisherman's Deluxe (Ultimate Luxury): Our most inclusive option for those who want zero camp chores and maximum fishing time. A separate gear boat and camp assistant travel ahead each day to set up your next camp, so you arrive to a fully prepared riverside haven—often with a warm fire waiting. This is the ultimate in seamless wilderness luxury, maximizing every moment on the water. Available on the Alagnak, Goodnews, and Kanektok Rivers.

Intimate Rivers (Authentic & Minimalist): For adventurous anglers seeking a more rugged, hands-on experience on smaller, less-traveled waters. This program features simpler expedition-style camping with more guest participation in camp duties, but maintains our commitment to expert guides and high-quality essential equipment. Perfect for those who value solitude, remote fisheries, and a deeper connection to true wilderness. Available on the Arolik and Talachulitna Rivers.

All three programs feature our 30+ years of experience, expert guides, custom-built rafts, and unwavering commitment to your safety and success on the water.

You'll be sleeping in spacious, high-quality Alaska-made tents set up for double occupancy, giving you plenty of room for your gear. Inside, we provide comfortable cots and sleeping pads. You'll just need to bring your own sleeping bag, or you can opt to rent one of ours (with a fresh liner, for a small cleaning fee).

Expect delicious, hearty, and wholesome meals prepared by your guides – and trust me, they're pretty good at it! We aim to provide substantial breakfasts to fuel your mornings, satisfying lunches often enjoyed right on the river, and fantastic dinners under the Alaskan sky, sometimes even featuring fresh-caught fish from the day's angling. We'll make sure you're well-fed!

Safety is our absolute highest priority. We have over 30 years of experience, and our professional guides are all CPR and first aid certified, with extensive knowledge of Alaskan rivers and wildlife. We use top-of-the-line equipment, provide thorough safety briefings, and carry satellite communication devices for emergencies. We also take a common-sense approach, avoiding dangerous conditions and ensuring guests are always aware and cautious.

Travel Insurance is Now REQUIRED, not just recommended. Through our many decades of experience, we've learned that trip cancellation and interruption coverage isn't optional—it's essential protection for your investment.

The Reality of Weather Delays: Here's a scenario that happens more than people think: You're in your hub city, packed and ready to fly to the river, but weather has grounded all floatplanes. After 2-3 days of delays (depending on trip length), there's no longer enough time to safely conduct your trip. The trip must be cancelled. Without trip insurance, you lose 100% of your prepaid, non-refundable costs—typically $7,000-$11,000 per person. With proper insurance, you're protected and can recover those costs.

What You Need: Comprehensive travel insurance that covers trip cancellation, trip interruption, and emergency medical evacuation. This protects you against weather delays, illness, injury, and other unforeseen circumstances that could force you to cancel or cut your trip short.

Global Rescue Partnership: We partner with Global Rescue, a world leader in medical and security advisory and evacuation services. An emergency evacuation from remote Alaska can cost over $100,000 without coverage. Global Rescue provides field rescue from your point of injury or illness, 24/7/365 support, and medical evacuation to your hospital of choice.

Two Levels of Protection:

• Global Rescue Membership: Emergency medical evacuation and field rescue coverage
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance: Protects your financial investment (we recommend IMG Signature Travel Insurance as an add-on to Global Rescue)

We strongly recommend enrolling with Global Rescue and purchasing comprehensive trip insurance. We can provide you with direct links and contact information for their services. This isn't about selling insurance—it's about making sure you're protected when the unexpected happens.

A wilderness float trip in Southwest Alaska is one of the most immersive fishing experiences in the world. It's also more physically and mentally demanding than most anglers expect. We believe in honesty, preparation, and setting you up for success—so here's what these trips actually involve.

Travel Fatigue Is Real: Most guests arrive after long flights, time zone changes, and disrupted sleep. Then comes a floatplane ride into remote country. We help you settle in, pace yourself, and ease into the rhythm of the river.

Daily Physical Demands: Even moderate fishing days involve:

• Repetitive casting
• Wading on uneven terrain
• Balancing in boats
• Walking gravel bars and tundra
• Exposure to wind, rain, and cold

You don't need to be an athlete—but you do need to be ready for consecutive days of activity.

Environmental Conditions: Alaska weather is part of the adventure. Wind, rain, sun, and cold can all show up in a single day. Our guides help you layer properly, stay comfortable, and adjust to conditions.

Mental & Sensory Load: New water every day, wildlife, weather, and the immersive nature of wilderness travel create a constant stream of sensory input. We pace the trip to keep you comfortable and present.

How We Support You:

• Small groups and high guide ratios
• Flexible daily pacing
• Comfortable Arctic Oven tent camps
• Honest communication
• Experienced guides who know how to read clients as well as water

Our goal is simple: help you enjoy every day of your trip—not just the first two.

You're in for a treat! Depending on the river, you'll likely see iconic Alaskan wildlife like brown bears (often fishing for salmon!), majestic eagles, various hawks and seabirds, loons, and in the evenings, you might even hear the calls of wolves and owls. Our guides are experts in wildlife viewing and safety.

No, you won't have cell service or internet access out on the river. This is true wilderness, and we like it that way! Our guides carry satellite communication devices, but those are strictly for necessary business communication and emergency purposes. You're certainly welcome to bring your own for personal communication – we often suggest Garmin inReach devices for their satellite texting capability. But honestly, wouldn't you rather completely disconnect and truly immerse yourself in the Alaskan experience?