In this guide 2-3 Welcome to Katmai Lodge 4 Plane Travel Information Sheet 5-6 Pre-Trip Checklist 7 Recommended Fly Equipment 8 Taking fish home 8 Baggage and Freezer Storage Services: Anchorage Int’l Airport 9 Dining in Anchorage 10 Hotels near Anchorage International Airport 11-20 Things to do in Anchorage 21 Things to do in King Salmon 22 Dining in King Salmon 23 Useful Trip Planning Links This information packet is useful for answering your questions prior to embarking on the fishing adventure of a lifetime at Katmai Lodge Alaska. If you have further questions, please inquire at [email protected] or call 1-800-330-0326. 2 Welcome to Katmai Lodge! Arrival Your personalized service begins the moment you step off the plane at Katmai when you are welcomed by your professional guide and our hospitable staff. Tour and Orientation During a brief tour and orientation, staff will check you into rooms and issue fishing licenses. Welcome Buffet Lunch Enjoy a hearty welcome brunch in the dining room before your day of fishing. Itinerary and Gear Your expert guide will provide an overview of daily activities and the needed gear for fishing the scenic Alagnak River. Ask your guide about fly-outs. The lodge-based 10-passenger turbine De Havilland Otter floatplane is available for fly-out fishing trips or bear viewing excursions to Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park. These trips can be arranged prior to, or upon your arrival at the lodge. Social Happy Hour Exchange stories and bragging rights with guests during the complimentary happy hour offering appetizers, beer, wine, and soft drinks served in the main lodge between the hours of 5 - 7 p.m. Meals Delicious meals are prepared daily and included throughout your stay at the lodge. Breakfast is cooked to order and is served from 6-8 a.m. every morning. Lunch. Typically enjoyed on the river. Your guide will ask what you prefer to eat the day prior. Dinner. Relax at dinner time with a great selection from a buffet style dinner at 7 p.m. Wine is served with meals. If you prefer, a selection of well drinks is available for purchase. For preferred spirits we may not have in our bar selection, you are welcome to bring it with you on the trip. Water in Alaska is safe and delicious on tap. In addition, bottled water is offered to guests. www.katmai.com 1-800-330-0326 ©All Rights Reserved 2019 Katmai Lodge Corporation Offices: 2230 South Anne St., Santa Ana, CA 92704 3 Main Lodge Offerings Fully stocked fly-tying area. Lounge areas. Gift shop offering clothing, fishing accessories, and gifts made in Alaska. Purchases may be accumulated on a continuous bill for payment later. Games, books, and internet access. Honor bar offering a wide selection of spirits Wi-Fi and Mobile Phone Service Mobile phone calls and texting are available via satellite Wi-Fi. The lodge also provides landline phone service accepting calling cards, toll free, and collect calls. There is no cellular service. Emergency calls Call (800) 330-0326 or (907)-246-1527 during the summer season. Email messages can be sent to [email protected]. Departure Home On the last night of your stay, you will receive departure information and settle any charges. The lodge accepts cash, check, and most credit cards, including American Express, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. Gratuities If you wish to leave gratuities, the following guideline may be helpful. Position Amount Specifics Fishing Guide $75 - $90 per rod, per day Lodge Support Staff $25 - $30 per guest, per night Tips for the lodge support staff are pooled. This includes kitchen, housekeeping, and maintenance. www.katmai.com 1-800-330-0326 ©All Rights Reserved 2019 Katmai Lodge Corporation Offices: 2230 South Anne St., Santa Ana, CA 92704 4 Plane Travel Information Katmai Lodge is located 300 air miles southwest of Anchorage in the Bristol Bay drainage, on the Alagnak River, the only designated trophy fishing river in Alaska. The closest commercial airport is in the town of King Salmon, located 30 miles south of the lodge. We have our own air strip for easy access in and out of the lodge. Lodge Accessible by Charter Katmai Lodge is not accessible by road, only by the lodge’s direct charter or transfer through King Salmon. Please read the information below for travel information. IMPORTANT: Transfer days to and from the lodge are Saturdays and Wednesdays. Unscheduled transfer days can be arranged if necessary and subject to additional charges. Scheduling your arrival to Anchorage When planning your trip to Katmai Lodge, schedule an arrival date to Anchorage for the night prior to your reservation date. For example, Katmai reservation date is August 10th, so arrive in Anchorage August 9th. In this Trip Planning Guide, you will find a list of Anchorage hotels with airport shuttle services. Departing Katmai Lodge If you are departing Anchorage for home the same day you depart the lodge please schedule your flight out of Anchorage after 4 p.m. Weather (fog) delays are not uncommon in the area. This will avoid the chance of missing your connection home. **There is no fishing on the day of your departure. ** Direct Charter from Anchorage On most Saturdays and Wednesdays, the lodge offers convenient direct charters from Anchorage to and from the lodge. Chartered services typically depart Anchorage between 9 - 10 a.m. If charter flights are not available, you will be routed to King Salmon airport (via a commercial airline) where you will be met for transfer to the lodge. Flights from King Salmon If you prefer to make your own flight reservations through King Salmon, or other direct charter, please notify Katmai reservations at 1-800-330-0326 prior to booking your flight to help prevent delays. Should you prefer to travel this way, please schedule flights into King Salmon arriving at or before 10a.m. On your day of departure, schedule your flight out of King Salmon after 12pm. We apologize in advance should there be a wait time at King Salmon Airport when transferring to and from the lodge. The lodge tries to keep the wait to a minimum; however, we combine arrival and departure times into one flight to and from the lodge. Outside the times of 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., you may incur extra charges. www.katmai.com 1-800-330-0326 ©All Rights Reserved 2019 Katmai Lodge Corporation Offices: 2230 South Anne St., Santa Ana, CA 92704 5 Pre-Trip Checklist Essentials ☐ Airline ticket information and trip itinerary, hotel reservations ☐ Phone numbers for airline, hotel, and Katmai Lodge. (907) 246-1527 ☐ Check-in instructions for flight to lodge ☐ Medications ☐ Credit card, personal checks, and cash ☐ Camera (Battery charger, extra battery, waterproof bag) ☐ Chargers and extra batteries for your electronic devices ☐ Toiletries Clothing Suggestions Dressing in layers is recommended as weather extremes can be expected. The following list may serve as a guideline. The lodge atmosphere is informal, casual dress is the norm for dinner and around the lodge in the evenings. ☐ Comfortable camp clothing (Jeans, khakis, casual) ☐ Shoes (comfortable camp shoes or boots – waterproofing is useful) ☐ Socks – heavyweight smart Wool or poly blend ☐ Light to mid-weight thermal/insulated underwear tops and bottoms ☐ Long sleeve poly/cotton shirts ☐ Sweater and/or pullover ☐ Raincoat with hood- GoreTex or similar material ☐ Stocking foot waders (if bringing your own) ☐ Fleece jacket and pants ☐ Hooded sweatshirt(s) ☐ Head net (if allergic or sensitive to insect bites) ☐ Neoprene fingerless fishing gloves/Full finger gloves for cool morning boat rides ☐ Sunscreen and insect repellent (35% DEET) ☐ Polarized sunglasses – two pair *Our gift shop carries many of the above items for your convenience. www.katmai.com 1-800-330-0326 ©All Rights Reserved 2019 Katmai Lodge Corporation Offices: 2230 South Anne St., Santa Ana, CA 92704 6 Packing for the Trip ☐ Keep total luggage weight to 50lbs or less, including carry-on and checked bags. This works well with airline regulations as well as with the charter and lodge aircraft. ☐ If you check your bag, pack a second set of clothing, medications and toiletries in a carry-on bag, in case of lost luggage. Katmai Lodge is in a remote area, it’s always better to be prepared. ☐ Pack all travel documents. Fishing Gear The lodge furnishes all rods (fly, spin, and spey), reels, lures, and tackle. If you prefer to use your own equipment, please feel free to bring it. Katmai Lodge has waders and boots available for usage at no additional cost to guests. Guests are welcome to use their own. Please note that felt soled boots are banned in Alaska. Should you wish to use Katmai Lodge’s equipment during your stay, please specify size and preferences on your guest registration. *Please note, firearms are prohibited. Thank you. www.katmai.com 1-800-330-0326 ©All Rights Reserved 2019 Katmai Lodge Corporation Offices: 2230 South Anne St., Santa Ana, CA 92704 7 Recommended Fly Equipment Fly Rods Kings……………………………………….10 weight line Silvers, Chums, Sockeye…………7-8 weight line Rainbow Trout……………………....6-7 weight line Grayling…………………………………….5-6 weight line Lines Kings: 300, 400, and 500 grain sinking lines. Sockeye: floating line or heavy 10’ sink tip. Chum: floating line. Rainbow and Grayling: weight forward floating line and 200 grain sinking lines. Spey Rods & Lines King Salmon: 14', 9 or 10 weight rods. Skagit 550-650 weight line. 12-18 feet of t -14 sink tip. Chum and Silver Salmon 12.5' to 14' 8 or 9 weight rods. Floating line that fits the rod.