Royal Coachman Lodge

Located in the heart of the Wood-Tikchik Park on the banks of the Nushagak’s main tributary the Nuyakuk River, RCL offers access to exceptional home waters as well as fly-out fishing to some of laska’s most scenic and least crowded trout and salmon waters. As with all of Sweetwater Travel’s operations, the Royal Coachman features full-time professional guides, exceptional cuisine, friendly staff, and great fishing.  The Royal Coachman also holds several exclusive permits in the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge that guarantee access to some of the best king and silver salmon fly water available in southwestern Alaska.  This beautifully situated intimate lodge caters to only eight guests per week, ensuring complete flexibility in the fishing program and a high level of personalized service throughout your vacation.

The lodge features private cabins for each pair of guests. Cabins are complete with bathrooms, showers, and comfortable furniture.  The main lodge is tastefully furnished, with living room and dining room overlooking the Nuyakuk River.

Royal Coachman Lodge Accommodation:

The Royal Coachman Lodge sits on the banks of the Nuyakuk river overlooking its home pool, and caters to a maximum of eight anglers per week.  The lodge is staffed with 6-8 people.   This small number of guests and large staff helps to ensure that you will have the maximum amount of personal service and attention that this truly world class fishing adventure offers.

The Main Lodge houses the kitchen, dining room and lounge, library corner, and fly-tying bench.  It is Comfortable and cozy, and is where you will plan each following day’s excursions. You and your guides will sit around the fire or the tying bench, and decide what type of fishing you would like to do, and plan the details of the next day’s outing.  There is no pre-scheduled fishing program here. Custom tailoring each day’s fishing is one of the major advantages to the small and personal approach.

Guests stay in four finely furnished cottages each with living rooms, one and two bedrooms, and private baths.  There are also two well appointed bedrooms in the main lodge.  Each cabin or room has modern bath facilities, independent heat, excellent beds, and all the creature comforts of home, along with spectacular views of the river and snow capped peaks.

Royal Coachman Lodge Fishing:

Located on the Nuyakuk River in the middle of the Tikchik State Park (the largest state park in the United States) the Royal Coachman Lodge offers tremendous flexibility and solitude.  They have two exclusive permits in the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge and nearly 20 boats cached throughout the best fishing locations in the Bristol Bay Region.  The sheer numbers of fish that this region supports is mind boggling.  It contains all five species of Pacific Salmon: Kings, Silvers, Sockeye, Chum, and Pinks, along with seven species of freshwater gamefish, Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, Arctic Char, Arctic Grayling, Northern Pike, Lake Trout, and Sheefish. You will chase these fish in a variety of waters from very small streams to large rivers, lakes, and the thoroughfares that connect them.

Royal Coachman Lodge Daily Schedule:

Breakfast is served in the main lodge between 7:00 and 7:45 a.m., and if you request, they will serve coffee, tea, fruit, and pastries in your cabin around 6:00 a.m. just to help take the edge off while you get ready for breakfast and the day.  Lunch is served streamside, sometimes pre-packed and often times prepared by your guide on-site.  Dinner is served in the Lodge at 7:00 p.m.

When it comes to the fishing, there are no routines!  It is whatever you and your group want to do, and wherever you want to go, totally your preference.  The aircraft and guides are ready to leave the docks about one half hour after everyone is done breakfast, usually between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m.  We return to the Lodge each evening about 6:00 p.m.  There is great evening fishing in front of the Lodge for those who just can’t get enough of a good thing, and with the Alaskan midnight sun you can fish all night if you want.

Royal Coachman Lodge Travel:

Royal Coachman week long packages run from Sunday to Sunday.  You need to plan for a Sunday afternoon arrival in Dillingham, Alaska, where the lodge will pick you up in one of their vans and transport you to their floatplane base for the trip into the Lodge.  They have reserved seats for their clients to assure a good rate and seat availability on the Dillingham flight. Please inform us before making your final plans.  It is worth considering an overnight in Anchorage, Alaska on your way to and from the Lodge.  Delta, Northwest, United, and Alaska Airlines all fly to Anchorage daily from most major U.S. and foreign cities.  Alaska Airlines provides 737 jet service to Dillingham on a daily schedule.  We recommend the Regal Alaskan as your overnight accommodation in Anchorage.  They are located on Lake Hood right beside the airport, they have a free shuttle to and from the airport 24 hours a day, and the accommodations and dining are superb.