04-02-2015, 04:29 PM
I did the classic backcountry float trip down the Kanektok River 11 years ago. We used an outfitter but it is possible to do that sort of trip on your own. Honestly, though, I think the costs are still going to be high once you've added up all your air fares and gear rental costs. Dillingham is the major jump-off point for SW Alaska. All manner of gear can be rented and food provisioned for you too. Google Dansrentals.com to give you an idea of cost. Sure hope you know what you're getting yourself into. Guides do a lot more than just row and cook.
I was there July 6-14 and the river was teeming with sockeye, chum and kings. Most of the kings and chums had colored by then but were still excellent sport. We did catch fresh kings in the lower river. Anyhow, we weren't out there to fill up ice chests. Fly out float trips aren't practical for meat harvest. There were so many chrome sockeyes streaming up river that it was child's play to kick one into the shallows and grab it or to dip net it off a shallow riffle. That year the water was low and the runs were huge, I'll never see so many fish crammed into so little water again. We ate our fill. The rainbow and dolly fishing was excellent too. 28" was the best rainbow of the trip.
Roads aren't in abundance in AK so if you want to get away from combat fishing, getting away from road accessed fishing spots is what you need to do. FYI, Vancouver Island, with its close proximity to Seattle and comparatively good road network, is a much easier and cheaper place to self-start a salmon or steelhead fishing trip. You'll save so much on airfare you can splurge on charter boats and guides. That fishery happens much later than your July 4 vacation.
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I was there July 6-14 and the river was teeming with sockeye, chum and kings. Most of the kings and chums had colored by then but were still excellent sport. We did catch fresh kings in the lower river. Anyhow, we weren't out there to fill up ice chests. Fly out float trips aren't practical for meat harvest. There were so many chrome sockeyes streaming up river that it was child's play to kick one into the shallows and grab it or to dip net it off a shallow riffle. That year the water was low and the runs were huge, I'll never see so many fish crammed into so little water again. We ate our fill. The rainbow and dolly fishing was excellent too. 28" was the best rainbow of the trip.
Roads aren't in abundance in AK so if you want to get away from combat fishing, getting away from road accessed fishing spots is what you need to do. FYI, Vancouver Island, with its close proximity to Seattle and comparatively good road network, is a much easier and cheaper place to self-start a salmon or steelhead fishing trip. You'll save so much on airfare you can splurge on charter boats and guides. That fishery happens much later than your July 4 vacation.
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