FISHING TRIP ALASKA

Tal River
Overview

Overview
Come and experience an unbelievable adventure in the Great North
A region with no limits where you can enjoy unspoiled nature at its best.

The Talachulitna river seems to have been created with the sole ambition of making fishermen happy. Its crystal-clear waters flow through the Alaskan wilderness, more than 100 km from the nearest road. Sandbanks and shallow riffles offer easy wading access to many deep pools teeming with salmon, rainbow trout and arctic char.

Many international fishermen have already made their fishing dreams come true in these waters, enjoying at the same time the hospitality and comfort of the lodge. So, if
-you fly-fish or spin
-you’re a singlie angler or part of a group
-you want to get away from it all
-you lilke nature but want to stay in safe and comfortable conditions
Then this is the destination for you!

Geography

Geography
The land of the midnight sun, the last frontier, Alaska, the 49th state of the US in indeed a country of contrasts. One fifth of the size of the US, its land area is 1518800 km 2 and it measures 3862 km from east to west and 2285 km from north to south. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, by the Yukon to the east, by British Columbia to the south-east, by the Gulf of Alaska and the Pacific Ocean to the south and by the Bering Sea, Bering Strait and Chukchi Sea to the west.

The River
If there was a paradise for fishermen, you would know what it looks like : deep pools, amber-coloured water, wild salmon and rainbow trout just waiting for your first cast….. Well, we know where it is and we can take you there – right to the heart of Alaska to the Talachulitna River. The ‘Tal’, as it’s affectionately known by fishermen around the world, lies to the south of the Alaskan mountain ranges , in the foothills of the highest North-American summits and runs for 50 km through some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. In this idyllic setting, you’ll be fishing for 5 species of Pacific salmon as well as rainbow trout, arctic char, grayling and Dolly Varden. What’s more, you’ll be staying in a place which will allow you to combine an adventure in the middle of this natural habitat with the level of comfort you require. Many species of wildlife are present along the river including bears, beavers etc.

Accommodation

Accomodation
The lodge you will be staying in is an impressive building, nestling among the spruce trees near the edge of the Talachulitna river and offers a level of comfort which will surprise for such a remote setting. The unique knotty pine interior of this lodge complements cosy furnishings, polished hardwood floors, large picture windows, and a spacious deck.
The ground floor has large living and dining areas plus kitchen and full bathroom amenities. The second level is completely carpeted and features comfortable guest rooms, each with twin beds. At the end of the hall are two large bathrooms equipped with tub/shower combinations.

Old-fashioned hospitality is what counts at the lodge when everyone gathers in the dining area for family- style meals.
After your day’s fishing, you can enjoy pre-dinner drinks on the deck while you discuss your catches with your fellow anglers over the pleasant sounds of the river.
After dinner you can go fishing, play horseshoes, relax by the fire-side, tie a few flies, read a book or a magazine in the library or take an evening stroll along the hiking trail.
The  friendly staff will make sure you have the trip of a lifetime and the guides are on hand to give you all the information and advice you need, whatever method you are using. They are experts on the river, know where the fish are and which techniques to use, and will pass on their know-how and use their jet-boats to take you to any spots which are not accessible by wading. Beginners will appreciate their patient and simple instructions while experienced anglers will enjoy their competence and skills.

The fish

The Fish
There are five main species of Pacific Salmon and they all migrate annually to the Talachulitna River, sometimes at different periods.
That’s why we offer dates in June-July for the King and in August for the Silver. These dates have been calculated from the statistics on runs in order to give you the best possible chance of making the most of your trip.

The King salmon (or Chinook) is generally taken on large spinning tackle. However, many flyfishermen have experienced a great angling adventure when a King has taken their weighted streamer fly.

The Silver salmon is, perhaps, less familiar to European fisherman. That could, however, change as the Silver, although a little smaller than the King, abounds in the river and fishermen of all sorts will have a heyday.

You will also be able to try your hand at rainbow trout, arctic char, grayling and Dolly Varden, all present in the Tal. The Talachullitna rainbow trout are wild and their speed and endurance have earned them the respect of those who catch them and who are only too happy to release them back to the river where they will await next year’s trip….. Our trips are organised when the weather is usually warm and sunny, which gives perfect water conditions for unforgettable fly-fishing.
Arctic char of around 35 to 45cm are just waiting for your fly or your lure and sunny afternoons can give excellent results, even for novices.
Pike are present in a lake located not far from the river (a fifteen-minute walk after a short boat trip)

Fishing seasons

June to mid-July for King, August for Silver

Useful Info

Tips
Giving tips is part of the American culture. The reason why ? It’s considered as part of the salary. For example, in a bar or restaurant the service is not included in the bill. Therefore, giving a tip is extremely important as it makes up a large part of an otherwise relatively low fixed salary.

The Talachulitna lodge functions in the same way and it’s customary to leave a tip for the staff (lodge manager, cook and, above all, fishing guides). To give you an idea of how much to give, we can say that a ‘normal’ tip would be 40$ per client per day to be shared among all the members of the personnel. The fishing guides are usually given more than the other members.

Administrative requirements
French, Swiss, and Belgian citizens do not need a visa to enter the US if they have an electronic or biometric passport valid at least six months after their return date or if they have a machine-readable passport issued before 26th October 2005. If they do not have this type of passport , they should apply for a visa from the US embassy. If you do not know if your passport enables you to enter the US without a visa, do contact us for more details.
You must also have the ticket for your return flight.
Since the 12th January 2009, all passengers going to or passing through the US are required to fill in an ESTA form on internet on the site : https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov
This must be done in advance in order to have an authorization to travel at least 72 hours before departure.

Other nationalities : please contact your embassy

Fishing permits: 2014 prices. (the cost of the permit varies according to updates by Fish and Game, the Alaskan fishing authority )

Health : no vaccinations required

Language : English. Alain, your host, speaks a little French

Time: 10 hours behind France. (when it’s noon in France, it’s 2am in Alaska)

Climate: The surface area of Alaska is large and the weather varies; southern parts are damp and mild, inland, the weather is cool and dry and northern parts are cold and dry.

Currency: the currency is the US dollar

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