FAQs
Have questions about your trip with Tidewater Fly Fishing? See our frequently asked questions below, or contact us via email: dave@tidewaterflyfishing.com. We look forward to welcoming you in Juneau, Alaska!
Logistics
When you get here! We work around cruise ship schedules, airplane and ferry arrival times, and work schedules. We'll arrange the time around your schedule once you've booked.
We will pick you up and drop you off anywhere on the Juneau road system.
Our trips are mainly walk and wade, so even on those foul weather days when other excursions have to cancel (such as rafting trips, helicopter rides, small plane flights, and boating excursions), we can still go fishing, and we can help keep you comfortable in our top- notch rain and weather gear.
Clothing, Gear, and Food
We provide all of the fishing gear, plus waders and boots, raincoats, and even insulating layers for those colder days. We do recommend that you wear pants that allow you to move well in waders. Fleece pants are ideal, and we have extra if you need to use some. Synthetic socks that come up over your calf are helpful as well, and on top a light fleece pullover, or something of that nature (although on the warmer days, that might be a bit overkill!). We will provide you with a drybag backpack that you can use for your extra layers and valuables.
We also have available first aid items and toiletries, including things like toilet paper, sunscreen, bug dope, hand sanitizer, Advil, Pepto Bismol, and more.
About one month before your trip, we will send you a link to a brief form that we'll use to gather your sizes and sandwich preferences, (for full day trips) so we can tailor your trip to your needs. Email us at info@tidewaterflyfishing.com if you'd like us to send you the form early!
We provide snacks, such as chips, granola bars, jerky, fruit, etc., water, and soft drinks. If you are on a full day trip, we provide sandwiches, as well.
Safety and Mobility
This depends on your level of mobility, the fishing, and time constraints. On a full day trip, if you are up for a longer walk, we can get to some beautiful and relatively remote fishing spots. Some of the fishing spots are closer in and only involve a short walk on relatively flat ground.
So is my wife (in fact, she wrote this question!). If any aspect of the fishing is out of your comfort zone, we would absolutely move along to a place that better suits your comfort level. That said, we provide Simms wading staffs and cleated boots, which can make a world of difference in walking and balancing in rocky streams.
Some of our fishing locations are out of cell phone range, and there are some others that have spotty service. I carry a Garmin Satellite Communicator that we can use in case of any kind of emergency.
The Fishing
No, but we do guarantee that we will work as hard as we can to help you catch fish and have an enjoyable experience.
For several reasons, we are primarily catch and release. First, some of our permits are for catch and release fishing only. Second, we do not keep trout because they are repeat spawners and we would have too big of an impact on the population. Third, we are in bear country, and cutting and gutting fish in the woods could create a dangerous situation for us and for people who visit that spot in the near future. However, there is a run of hatchery silver salmon in September, where keeping fish is appropriate. We can provide you with recommendations for where to bring your fish to have it processed and shipped.
Both our trips offer a private guided fly-fishing experience for one or two people, but they cater to different needs.
Our Partial Day Trip (up to 5 hours door-to-door) is ideal for cruise ship passengers or those with limited time. It leaves time for exploring downtown Juneau and is an affordable option. We provide all equipment, transportation, instruction, snacks, and drinks for a comfortable outing.
The Full Day Trip (up to 8 hours) offers a significantly more fishing time. With more time, we access a wider variety of locations and species that face much less fishing pressure. This is perfect for independent travelers who have more flexibility and time. That said, if you are on a cruise and you will be in town for eight or more hours, this could definitely work for you. You'll experience incredible scenery and a remote feel without the high cost of fly-out trips. Full days include lunch, snacks, and beverages, providing a complete and memorable experience.
That depends greatly on the time of year, tides, your casting ability, and mobility. See the fishing page for a lot of detail on this one.
Sure, but there are some fishing times of year that are appropriate for beginners, while others require a good deal of experience with casting. Early season can be quite challenging as the fish are roaming beaches and you need to be pretty quick to cast and retrieve in a timely and accurate manner. This is a lot to get the hang of if you've never cast a fly rod before, but most first timers enjoy the experience of learning to cast and getting into the woods or walking beaches. Fishing tends to get easier as the salmon start entering estuaries and streams to spawn, as this concentrates both trout and salmon in the same general location. If you have varying levels of ability, we can have a discussion about how you want to prioritize your day. That is, should we emphasize the more experienced or the less experienced person, or should we balance both?
Sure! We'll be out in some beautiful spots (particularly on full day trips), and a second person doesn't cost a lot more, so bring them along! If the second person doesn't like to fish at all, they're welcome to come along if they enjoy the outdoors. We'll usually get them to at least make a few casts while they're out there! If that's the case, let us know we can bring along a backpacker's chair for them.