Northwest Alaska Back Country Outfitters offers discerning Fly fisherman the opportunity to tackle the worlds best fishing for Dolly Varden!
Northwest of Kotzebue, Alaska, are numerous drainages entering the Chukchi Sea. These great watersheds hold Dolly Varden in the 15-20 pounds range and include the Wulik, Kivalina, and the Kelly River. The current world's record is 27.7 pounds on the Wulik River.
These rivers can only be reached via bush planes and using rafts and inflatable canoes. We can arrange your flights and all of your gear. Most of these world class fish have never seen a fly and you will have the entire drainage to yourself!
Call for prices and gear information. In Northwest Alaska the best time to target Dolly Varden in during the spawn which runs from the first week of August through week 3. Most of our clients land between 75-100 fish in the 15+ pound range and most groups will land a few fish over 20 pounds!
All gear rentals are based on 7 day minimum trips.
Read about our service in Fly fisherman Magazine.
"Two rod-and-reel outfits suit the trip. Use a 5-weight for the eager grayling that are often rising, and an 8- or 10-weight outfit for char, salmon, and sheefish. Use a floating line on the 5-weight, and a multi-tip line for the heavier rod (RIO Coldwater VersiTip or Scientific Anglers Tri Tip).
Bring #2-6 streamers such as Barr’s Meat Whistles (black, white, tan), #1/0 to #4 Clouser Minnows (chartreuse over white), and Egg-Sucking Bunny Leeches. Realistic egg imitations (cheese-colored, 6 to 8mm), mouse patterns, poppers, and large rubber-legged stoneflies are also valuable."
SOAR 16 foot Canoes...Perfect for Dolly trips into the Brooks Range!
2018 Fall Dolly Spawn. Lots of really nice Dollies landed with the largest of the season being 38 inches! That is a big Dolly!