Mission Lodge has distinguished itself among the handful of best Alaskan fishing lodges through exemplary service and outstanding personnel. Unless it’s a matter of safety, clients will never hear the word “no”. In terms of accommodating and exceeding clients expectations, Mission Lodge gets an A+.
Lodge management is committed to providing clients an incomparable experience and the best fishing of their lives.
Mission Lodge is located 300 miles southwest of Anchorage, near the confluence of Lake Aleknagik and the Wood River, in the heart of the fabled trout and salmon waters of Bristol Bay; the Wood River/Tikchik Lakes, Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, Lake Iliamna and the Alaska Peninsula.
Location. Location. Location. It applies to Alaskan fishing as well. Interested in trophy rainbows (over 10 pounds)? Mission Lodge will fly to the Morraine, Funnel Creek, and Kvichak Rivers, but they have their own secret streams closer by.
For a combination of all 5 species of Pacific Salmon and rainbows, Mission Lodge has leases on the best of the best: Nushagak, Togiak, Good News, and again, their own secrets you’ll be introduced to and never again utter the name, except to your best friend.
Trophy rainbows, char, Dollies, Grayling, and pike: Mission Lodge has them in their backyard and accessible by boat, if you choose not to fly.
For a remote Alaskan fishing lodge, Mission Lodge is relatively easy to get to; a 20-minute ride by vehicle from Dillingham Airport, plus a 10-minute boat ride. It is medium sized by Alaska standards, accepting 22 guests. Mission Lodge is managed by Sarah and Guy Fullhart, whose commitment to operating the finest fly-out Lodge in Alaska is second to none.
Mission Lodge operates a fleet of 3 DeHavilland Beavers and has over 40 boats stashed within flying distance of the lodge. Many destinations you’ll fly in and meet your guide who will be waiting for you with a boat. Other destinations you will fly with your guide and will have a boat at your destination. Some destinations will be accessible only by foot, others will have a kayak waiting for you or your guide will bring a raft. All logistics are expertly orchestrated by the guides, pilots and staff.
Each evening management confers with guests to assess the kind of experience each client is interested in. The guides gather the necessary gear from Mission’s tackle room (which doubles as a great story telling hang out). The following morning after breakfast, guests board one of Mission’s floatplanes and fly to one of the many world-class rivers and streams in the Bristol Bay watershed.
In addition, Mission Lodge operates three mobile camps, which they move from river to river, according to productivity and time of year. Each camp is outfitted with large weatherproof tents, one or two guides and several boats with jet-motors. Guides are stationed at these camps for the entire season, and keep in radio contact with the lodge. They report daily on the weather and fishing conditions (they actually track the progression of migrating salmon) and with this information, the head guide determines the daily fishing plan. Mission Lodge has strategically placed these camps on such notable rivers as the Igushik, the Togiak, the Good News and the Nushagak, and many smaller rivers, which will remain unnamed.
Cots and sleeping bags (with washable liners) are available at the mobile camps should clients elect to spend a night on the river. Overnighting at these camps is strictly an option. Most guests fly back to the main lodge each night.
Mission Lodge’s strategic location in the heart of the Bristol Bay region of southwest Alaska, places it within easy flying distance to the finest fishing waters in the state to fish for sockeyes, chums, kings, pinks or silver salmon, in addition to rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, arctic char, grayling and pike. If you’re looking for the greatest variety, we suggest the late June/July time period, when you can catch sockeyes, chums, pinks (even years) and king salmon in addition to the fresh water species. If you’re interested in silver and pink salmon (in addition to the fresh water species), we recommend August and the first two weeks of September. If your primary interest is rainbow trout and char, we recommend early June, the middle of the season (mid-July through August) and the month of September.
If weather prevents the planes from flying (which happens an average of 3 days out of a four month season), jet boats docked at the lodge can transport guests to several rainbow trout, char and grayling streams that feed into Lake Aleknagik, as well as the well-known
Agulawok and Agulapak Rivers, which are loaded with grayling and 2-8 pound rainbow trout and char. In addition, guests can travel by boat (with guide) to the McClung River or on foot to the Wood River, which has an excellent run of sockeye salmon, char, pink and silver salmon.
The lodge itself is a modern facility, emphasizing comfort and taking full advantage of the surrounding Alaskan beauty. The well-traveled angler will appreciate the lodge’s dedication to service and commitment to detail.
Mission Lodge’s facilities are deluxe, even by Alaska standards. Twenty guestrooms allow each male guest to be accommodated in a private room with a shared bath and each couple to have a private room with a private bath. The lodge is spacious and includes a large lounge with big screen TV, dining room, private meeting room upstairs, sauna, and hot tub.
A large deck surrounding the facility is just steps from the dock, float planes and boats. Large bay windows frame views of Lake Aleknagik and the beautiful mountains beyond. Alaska is a rugged, immense land of startling beauty – a great place to just step out of everyday pressures and relax. At the end of the day each guest retires to his or her own private room.
Aircraft safety is the absolute top priority at Mission Lodge. Mission Lodge was the first fly out Lodge in Alaska to voluntarily obtain an FAA #135 airtaxi license, which requires stringent maintenance and certification. Now the #135 license is an FAA requirement for all flyout lodges.
Because of a short growing season, all native species must be released without exception. If you are interested in taking back some salmon, your guide will fillet or steak them, vacuum pack them in suitable portions and freeze them. Upon your departure your catch will be put into an airline-approved waxed fish box for the trip home.
Our Services are Free!
Misson Lodge 2023 Rates*
The 2020 cost of a 7-night/6-day stay at Mission Lodge is $14,395 per person.
The lodge operates on a Friday-to-Friday basis. A 50% deposit, payable by check to Angler Adventures, is necessary to secure a reservation. Final payment is due 95 days prior to arrival. We offer trip cancellation insurance to all our customers.
Included: transportation to and from Dillingham, lodging, meals, use of Mission Lodge’s laundry facilities, liquor, soft drinks, tackle (fly and spinning rods and reels), neoprene waders, flies and lures, fly-outs, guiding and packing of fish for shipment.
Not included: airfare to Dillingham; City of Aleknagik’s 9% tax; fishing license ($70, subject to change), plus an additional $45 for a king salmon tag when applicable; fuel service charge (up to $300 pp/week).
While gratuities are at the discretion of the customers, we are often asked to suggest a guideline. At Mission Lodge a guideline would be approximately 15% – 20% of the trip cost per person.
COMMENTS FROM CLIENTS
“Mission Lodge is the finest lodge I’ve been to. The service and thoughtfulness of the lodge staff is unsurpassed.”
“The fishing was as good as it gets. The Mission Lodge staff is totally dedicated to arranging whatever you have in mind. One day of grayling fishing (with dry flies and a light rod) was the best fishing experience I’ve had. Another day we fished what has to be the best silver salmon river in Alaska.”
“Accommodations, food, management, guides and equipment are all excellent. These people worked hard for us. The lodge is extremely well run, better than any other lodge I’ve been to. One day of chum salmon fishing was the best fishing I’ve ever had on a fly rod.”
“The Mission Lodge staff are among the finest people I’ve met in the fishing business. We fished for a week and only saw a float plane from one other lodge. They do a superb job.”
Brig/General Louis Frank USMC, Nashua, New Hampshire (Veteran of nine Alaska fishing trips)