Alaska

Alaska is the world's largest and most complete outdoor destination. Five species of Pacific salmon, arguably the best rainbow trout fishery on earth, trophy halibut, sheefish, Dolly Varden, Arctic char, grayling — plus brown bear, Dall sheep, moose, caribou, mountain goat, and black bear. No single trip covers the state; every trip has to pick a region.

Bristol Bay — the Kvichak, Alagnak, Nushagak, Naknek — is the salmon factory. Sockeye runs of 30–50 million fish annually support a lodge ecosystem that's been refined since the 1950s. Rainbow trout on the Bristol Bay rivers (Alagnak, Naknek, Brooks) are a world-class fishery in their own right; 28–32" fish eating flesh flies behind spawning salmon are a daily occurrence August–September. Lodges like Tikchik Narrows, Bristol Bay Lodge, and Mission Creek run fly-out programs covering a half-dozen rivers per trip.

Southeast Alaska — Sitka, Ketchikan, Prince of Wales, Baranof — is the saltwater destination. Chinook salmon up to 50 pounds, coho runs into October, halibut on the barn-door class, lingcod and yelloweye rockfish, Dungeness crab. Lodges like Baranof Wilderness Lodge and The Lodge at Whale Pass combine salt with stream trips for steelhead and cutthroat.

Kenai Peninsula and the Copper River offer road-accessed fishing that's a step down in remoteness but still world-class. Kodiak Island is the brown bear destination. The Brooks Range and Alaska Peninsula are for the 10-day expedition crowd chasing Dall sheep, moose, caribou, and grizzly.

Anchorage (ANC) is the hub. Bristol Bay connects via small plane from Anchorage to Iliamna (ILI), King Salmon (AKN), or Dillingham (DLG). Southeast lodges fly into Sitka (SIT) or Ketchikan (KTN). Season runs early June through mid-September; July is the single biggest month. Book 12–18 months ahead for top lodges.