Fly-in fishing fantasies.

• Author: Woodring, Jeannie
• Position: Alaska's fly-in fishing lodges

Offering scenic wilderness, first-class fishing and world-class accommodations, Alaska's fly-in fishing lodges are legendary attractions for adventurous travelers from around the world.

For those who love to fish, Alaska's fly-in fishing lodges are a dream come true.

After all, where else can you find more than 100 lodges that provide fishing on lakes, rivers and oceans, price ranges from $50 to $5,000, self-guided to pampered angling vacations, and some of the wildest, grandest country on earth?

"We get people from all over the world," says Sonny Peterson, president of Anchorage-based Katmailand, echoing the experience of many other Alaska fly-in fishing lodge operators. "Our reputation has been built up over the years by word-of-mouth advertising. Many of our clients wouldn't go anywhere else."

If you've never ventured to an Alaska fly-in fishing lodge, listed below are the kind of adventures you'll find there.

Captives of Katmai

Before Ray Peterson, Sonny's father, built the lodges of Katmailand in the 1950s, he and a partner flew anglers out to the pristine, fish-filled lakes of the northern Alaska Peninsula. (The area became part of Katmai National Park and Preserve with the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980.)

"They wanted other people to start the lodges, but other people wouldn't do it," says Sonny. "So they picked what they felt were the best rainbow trout spots and built lodges there."

Since those early days, the three lodges of Katmailand have become legendary -- perhaps because of the varied wilderness experiences guests can choose from.

Kulik Lodge, for example, offers superb rainbow trout fishing on nearby rivers and lakes, plus flyout fishing trips to catch grayling, char, pike and five species of Pacific salmon. In addition, guests can join "eco-explorer" adventures to discover the flora and fauna of Katmai National Park. Comfortable guest cabins, an exquisite spruce lodge and gourmet dining complete the Kulik Lodge experience.

At Grosvenor Lodge, on a lake south of Kulik, visitors angle for rainbow trout, char and sockeye salmon, and relax in the intimacy of three guests cabins. (Grosvenor Lodge holds a maximum of six guests at one time.) At Brooks Lodge, located in Katmai National Park, Sonny says, "People are beating the door down to get in to watch the grizzly bears."

For more information on the three lodges of Katmailand, check Pgs. 31, 32 and 35 of Alaska Business Monthly's 1995 Fly-In Fishing Lodge Guide, or call (800) 544-0551.

Another gem near Katmai National Park is Katmai Lodge (Pg. 34). Located on the Alagnak River (Alaska's only designated trophy trout stream) in Katmai, the lodge was built by Tony Sarp in 1979.

During the summer season, running from early June to the middle or end of October, more than 600 guests pass through Katmai Lodge's doors. With word-of-mouth advertising, the lodge gets 70 percent to 75 percent repeat clientele each year. For more information, call (206) 337-0326.

Splendors of Southeast Alaska

With thousands of miles of ocean-front coastline, southeast Alaska has established its own tradition for fly-in fishing.

"Southeast offers scenic beauty and great ocean fishing for salmon, halibut, snapper and ling cod," says Mike Dooley, reservations manager for three Southeast lodges known as Waterfall Group, all about 40 minutes by small plane from Ketchikan.

Waterfall Resort (800-544-5125), one of the three, served as a cannery from 1912 to 1978. Located on the migrating paths of salmon and halibut, Waterfall proved to be popular with sport fishermen since opening as a lodge in 1982. A maximum of 84 guests at one time at Waterfall Resort enjoy excellent fishing, deluxe accommodations and full-service attention from 75 to 90 employees.

"At many of these full-service lodges, including Yes Bay and Mink Bay (800-999-0784, also part of Waterfall Group), you'll find a one-to-one ratio of staff to guests," explains Dooley. Such service brings visitors back year after year.

For more information on Alaska's fly-in fishing lodges, comb through the pages of Alaska Business Monthly's 1995 Fly-In Fishing Lodge Guide on Pages 30-43 of this issue. Then, to live the dream of fly-in fishing, pick up your phone, give any of these lodges a call ... and watch your fishing fantasies become a reality.

1995 Alaska Fly-In Fishing Lodge Guide

AFOGNAK WILDERNESS LODGE Seal Bay, AK 99697 907-486-6442... Year-round 3 cabins 6 rooms 12 guests N fly-in PRICE RANGE: $400 per night 50% less for kids under 12 SEASON OPEN: Year-round FISH SPECIES CAUGHT: All salmon, rainbow, dollies, halibut

ALAGNAK LODGE INC. PO Box 351 King Salmon, AK 99613 800-877-9903 ... Year-round 10 rooms 21 guests Y fly-in PRICE RANGE: $1,800 - $2,980 SEASON OPEN: June 15 - Sept 15 FISH SPECIES CAUGHT: All salmon, rainbow, grayling, dollies

ALASKA FISHING CLUB-SUNSET PARK PO Box 1414 Soldotna, AK 99669 907-262-2226 ... Year-round 6 cabins 12 guests Y fly-in PRICE RANGE: $95 to $1,000 per night SEASON OPEN: May 1 - Oct 1 FISH SPECIES CAUGHT: King salmon, rainbow, halibut

ALASKA RAINBOW LODGE PO Box 39 King Salmon, AK 99613-0039 800-451-6198 ... Year-round 1 cabin 5 rooms 12 guests Y fly-in PRICE RANGE: $4,650 per week SEASON OPEN: June - Sept FISH SPECIES CAUGHT: All salmon, grayling, pike, dollies, char

ALASKA SAFARI INC./VALHALLA LODGE PO Box 190583 Anchorage, AK 99519 907-294-2250... Year-round 6 rooms 12 guests Y fly-in PRICE RANGE: $4,300 per week SEASON OPEN: June - Oct FISH SPECIES CAUGHT: All salmon, rainbow trout, grayling, char

ALASKA'S LAKE CLARK INN 1 Lang Lane Port Alsworth, AK 99653 907-781-2224...Summer 3 rooms 10 guests Y fly-in PRICE RANGE: $105 per night to $3,800 per week SEASON OPEN: Year-round FISH SPECIES CAUGHT: Salmon, char, trout, grayling, dollies

ALASKA'S WILDERNESS LODGE General Delivery Port Alsworth, AK 99563 206-863-6795 ...Summer 800-835-8032...Winter 7 cabins 14 guests Y fly-in PRICE RANGE: $3,250 - $4,250 per week SEASON OPEN: June 5...