Our fly-in fishing trips take you by float plane from the Kenai Airport to Big River Lakes or Crescent Lake, where you fish for sockeye or silver salmon and watch brown bears from our boat. A trip takes about 6 hours, with about four hours on the lake, and costs $650 per person to Big River Lakes or $750 to Crescent Lake. All fishing gear is included. These are bear viewing and fishing trips: the bears come first, and we fish when the salmon are in.
- $650 / $750per seat, Big River Lakes / Crescent
- Sockeye and silvers3 per person per day
- About 6 hoursabout 4 on the lake
- Kenai Airportfloat plane basin
Salmon, bears and a float plane, in one day
You fly about 40 minutes across Cook Inlet toward Mount Redoubt, land on the lake, and step into our boat. The first part of the day goes to the bears. Then, if the salmon are in, we fish for sockeye or silvers, with a daily limit of 3 per person. No experience is needed; your guide sets you up and shows you how.
What you fish for
Big River Lakes and Wolverine Creek
$650 per seat · starting at $575*- Season: June 10 to August 31
- Best bear viewing: June 15 to July 31
- Fishing: sockeye, then silver salmon, depending on the date
- Also: lake trout
Crescent Lake, Lake Clark National Park
$750 per seat · starting at $675*- Season: July 15 to September 30
- Best bear viewing: July 15 to September 15
- Fishing: sockeye, then silver salmon, depending on the date
- Also: lake trout and Arctic char
*$575 per person at Big River Lakes and $675 at Crescent Lake when your group books the full plane (up to 6 guests; weight limits apply). Individual seats from $650 and $750.
The day, step by step
- Meet at the float plane basinAt the Kenai Airport, a short drive from Soldotna, Kenai or wherever you're parked. Flights depart at 7:00, 8:30, 10:00 AM and 12:00, 1:30, 3:00 PM.
- Fly about 40 minutesAcross Cook Inlet toward Mount Redoubt, in a de Havilland Beaver, Otter, Cessna Caravan or Cessna 207, depending on the group.
- Bears from the boatAbout four hours on the water, watching brown bears first.
- Fish for salmonSockeye or silvers, depending on the date. Then fly back to Kenai.
Pick a date: Big River Lakes $650 · Crescent Lake $750
What’s included and what to bring
Included: the flight, the boat and your guide, rods and reels, bait and tackle, and waders and boots if your trip needs them.
Bring: your Alaska sport fishing license if you’re 16 or older; layers with a waterproof shell, plus a hat and gloves; your own food and water (we don’t provide lunch; no glass or hard alcohol); your camera, and motion-sickness medicine if you need it. There are no restrooms at the lakes, so use the restroom before the flight. Crescent Lake has a $12 per person National Park user fee.
Book two or more of our trips, such as a fly-out and a day on the Kenai River, and you get 5% off all of them. See our fishing and bear viewing packages and the bear viewing prices and dates.
Interested in Brooks Falls? Call (907) 268-2925.
Questions about fly-in fishing
How much is a fly-in fishing trip from Kenai?
$650 per person to Big River Lakes and $750 per person to Crescent Lake, with all fishing gear included. Prices don't include sales tax.
What fish can I catch on a fly-in trip?
Sockeye and silver salmon, depending on the date, with a daily limit of 3 per person. Lake trout live in both lakes, and Arctic char in Crescent Lake.
Where do the fly-in fishing trips leave from?
From the Kenai Airport float plane basin, a short drive from Soldotna.
How long is a fly-in fishing trip?
About 6 hours: about 40 minutes of flying each way and about four hours on the lake, watching bears and fishing.
Do I need a fishing license for a fly-in trip?
Yes, if you are 16 or older. You can buy an Alaska sport fishing license online from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and show it on your phone.
Is a fly-in fishing trip good for beginners and kids?
Yes. It is not a strenuous trip; you only need to climb in and out of the plane and the boat, and we help anyone who needs it. Your guide provides all the gear and shows you how to fish.