The photo with the most Facebook “Likes” will Win a $100 Orvis Gift Card.* Orvis has a wide array of products, not just fly fishing gear. You may use the card for any purchases you like, either in-store or online at Orvis.com. So c’mon, show off that Boardwalk Lodge lunker for a chance to win.

Shoulder Season Specials

This spring you can target our prized native Steelhead (up to 37 inches), plus Cutthroat and Dolly Varden on local waterways. Fall fishing trips let you tangle with the largest of Silver Salmon (up to 20 lbs). Optionally, you can add Black Bear hunting to your spring excursion or Black Bear and Deer hunting with a fall adventure.

This extraordinary package is a 6-night and 5-day adventure for just $3,750. These specials differ from our peak-season packages, as they’re primarily non-guided trips.

Special Packages Include

• 2 Days guided freshwater fishing*
• 3 Days non-guided freshwater fishing
• Premium lodging
• Gourmet dining
• Fishing and hunting license, plus one hunting tag
• Rods, reels and tackle
• Waders, boots and wet weather gear
• Ground transportation and fuel
• Fish packaging

[*Additional Freshwater Guide days are extra. There is also an option for chartering a 28-foot cabin cruiser with Saltwater Captain. Offer limited to space available in 2012.]

These shoulder packages are built with economy in mind, perfect for the do-it-yourself outdoorsman. Get to know some of the best fishing holes during your two guided days, then strike out on your own. If you want more support, you can add guide days for a full-service fishing experience.

Groups and non-fishing/hunting partners receive additional discounts. Reserve your date or get further details by calling 800-764-3918 or emailing info@boardwalklodge.com

See you on the water!

Current Show Special only $3,750

• 7 days lodging*
• World-record Black Bear hunting
• Incredible Southeast Alaska Fishing, including native Steelhead
• Dates open between 1 May to 15 June 2012

Bait and stand are allowed for the Black Bear component of this trip, almost guaranteeing the success of your hunt. Boardwalk provides lodging, dining and transportation for these unguided hunting trips.

Bag your bear, then spend the remainder of your trip fishing in sheer solitude! The island’s lakes, rivers and streams are full of powerful Steelhead, Dolly Varden and Cutthroat. Try your luck at fly fishing or spin casting for these trout and char on some of Southeast Alaska’s most productive waterways. Or go for a saltwater fishing excursion, targeting early season King salmon and Alaska Halibut. Guides are available for both freshwater and saltwater fishing for an additional charge.

* Standard lodge accommodations include lodging, dining, fishing gear, plus licenses and bear tag. Ask for details on guided fishing services. Call now, as special pricing and accommodations are limited: 800-764-3918.

On the saltwater there were some great days fishing for silvers as boats pushed south and found limits on consecutive days. Boats that went north for halibut were not disappointed, and a couple of boats returned with limits of both halibut and salmon. As early September rains continued to pound Southeast Alaska, the freshwater streams were blown out and turned brown and it was so extensive it even turned the bay and areas south brown as well and the bite dropped off.

If you like to see black bears you would no doubt have seen some on the freshwater as they were out looking for easy prey on the streams as pink salmon carcasses were plenty. I personally saw the biggest black bear to date on the way down to Trumpeter Lake, it was probably in the 500 pound range.

Bear hunters arrived the second week of September for the Boardwalk Lodge “Cast and Blast” which is a black bear hunt and silver salmon fishing excursion. Not sure how it turned out because I was catching the float plane as they were arriving. Hope they were successful.

Well, this is probably the last blog post for awhile, as I will be fly fishing for some silvers down in Southwest Washington this fall. I can guarantee you that it won’t be anything like the fishing at Alaska’s Boardwalk Lodge. Hope you are able to get out and “wet a line” before next summer, but until then, tight lines!

Captain Rich

The Stepaniks with a nice mix of silvers, pinks and rockfish.

The Crowells with another mix of silver and pink salmon.

Tight lines,
Captain Rich

Boardwalk's office staffer, Kassi Seubert, with two nice silvers.

Last months saltwater fishing at Alaska’s Boardwalk Lodge was good. We had large numbers of pinks and silvers as well as chrome bright chum salmon in the mix all month. The bulk of the silver salmon run is yet to come with promising signs just these last few days with good numbers of silvers showing up on the boats. King salmon fishing has been tapering off now, with a few being caught. This season was a little better than the last two seasons and next year should be better yet.

Alaska halibut fishing has continued to be good when the winds are not blowing too hard or because of radical tides. Bennett from the Atlas roofing group caught and released a monster halibut that was estimated at 236 lbs and another halibut that could not be brought to the surface and eventually broke the 100 lb. leader was also a potential monster.

On the freshwater, fishing at the lodge has picked up as rain and fish have combined to start August out on the right foot. Lots of pinks and chum are in the Thorne River right now, and the chums have been chrome bright with sea lice reportedly still on many. The purple egg sucking leach and the purple wooly bugger are the salmon fly fishing favorites right now. The silvers will start to trickle into the river system as well as the rivers begin to rise gradually.

August and September is shaping up to be potentially awesome for silver salmon fishing. Hope you can make it up, it will be worth it!

Tight lines!
Captain Rich

What is the Pacific Halibut?

Pacific Halibut is a large, flat fish that has been known to grow to incredible sizes here in Alaska. With a life span that can reach 55 years and sizes that easily hit the 100-pound and higher range, this fish is the kind of trophy catch that leaves anglers with an unforgettable experience.

The average Alaskan Halibut weighs between 20 and 40 pounds, but Alaska’s Halibut sport fishing record currently stands at a whopping 459 pounds. They tend to linger around reefs and the rough crags of the Inside Passage. Our knowledgeable U.S. Coat Guard Certified fishing guides are skilled at navigating both the deep and shallow waters where they feed.

Halibut Fishing at Boardwalk Lodge

One common method for catching Alaska Halibut is bait fishing. Jigging is another favorite method, as it gives you more of a chance to actively fish and lure out the most aggressive Halibut from their depths.

Catching Halibut isn’t an experience you can get just anywhere. The summer months in Alaska remain the most ideal for Halibut fishing. Prince of Wales Island, with its rocky straits and unique combination of deep and shallow waters, provides prime Halibut habitat.

Round Out Your Alaskan Fishing Experience

Whether you come to Alaska for freshwater fishing or saltwater angling, we encourage you to fish for Halibut. Hooking one of these incredible fish will likely give you a huge fight — you’re likely to get hooked yourself!

You can join Rick Barry for a special Alaska fishing trip with us this 2011 fishing season.* We deliver a 5-star adventure and arguably the best Alaska lodge experience.
(*Special rates and space are limited.)

As Alaska’s 5-Star Adventure, we’re pleased to announce another all-star fishing trip with NBA Hall-of-Famer, Rick Barry. You can join Rick this season from July 24-28 for a 4-night/3-day excursion. Rick has secured special pricing at the lodge, with over 20% off for his group.

But that’s not all, you’ll get a FREE Orvis Helios Rod* when you book your trip with Rick. The Helios Fly Rod touts itself as the world’s lightest fly rod, and it’s arguably one of the best. (Your choice of length and weight up to $795.00 value.)

Historically, this time slot begins the coveted salmon run, with Pinks coming in mid-July and Silvers starting their first run toward the end of the month. The latest Alaska Fish & Game report reveals an action packed season ahead, as evidenced with King Salmon limits raised to 5 this season. That’s up from 3 last year and makes the highest King limit in recent memory.

Even with this special pricing, the trip remains one of Boardwalk’s all-inclusive adventures — including float plane from Ketchikan, accommodations, gourmet cuisine, gear and guides.

Group members will spend time fishing with Rick; hear about his extraordinary NBA journey; and have photo opportunities. You can reach Rick at 719-576-5464 and reserve your spot for what promises to be the fishing excursion of a lifetime!

*Excludes Limited Edition rods.