Bristol Bay Fishing Lodge

The Mulchatna River

The Mulchatna River, a 160-mile tributary of the Nushagak River, carves through the pristine wilderness of Bristol Bay, Alaska. This remote river is renowned for its untouched beauty and exceptional fishing opportunities, particularly for salmon and rainbow trout. The Lodge is based on the river with easy access to two other rivers—the Koktuli and Stuyahok.

2026 Season:  Chatna Lodge is open from June 24 - September 10.
Group Size:  Eight anglers per week.

The Fishing Program:

Boats:  18 ft. Lowe flat-bottom boats with 30 to 45 HP Yamaha outboard motors. Drift or wade fishing.
Guides:  Experienced guides are well-versed in the fishing and the area. Guides prepare a shore lunch each day. The owner, who is also the head guide, has his Wilderness First Responder and Coast Guard licenses.
Equipment:  Use of fly and spin fishing gear—rods, reels, flies, etc. Waders and boots are available for you to use.
Fishing License:  The package does not include an Alaska fishing license ($45) and king salmon stamp ($45) (2025).
Fish Care:  The Lodge provides vacuum-packed fish care for up to 25 pounds of your catch.

A Typical Fishing Day:

A Typical Fishing Day:
You'll have a hot-cooked breakfast.
By 8:30 a.m. - You'll head down the trail to the boats for an eight to 10-hour day of guided fishing.
Midday - Guides prepare a shore lunch of freshly caught salmon in season.
At 5:30 p.m. - You’ll usually return to the Lodge.
At 7:00 p.m. - Dinner is served.
After dinner, tie some flies, play cards, or get in some unguided fishing near the Lodge.

Fish Species

King Salmon - King Salmon range from 10 to 50 pounds, arriving in late June, with the season closing at the end of July. The Lodge practices a strict catch-and-release policy for king salmon, except jacks—smaller male kings typically smaller under 20 inches in length.
Rainbow Trout - Mulchatna are renowned for their size, with fish reaching up to 28 inches. Peak feeding occurs in August, when trout gorge on sockeye eggs and flesh.
Sockeye - Reds run thick in the Mulchatna from late June through mid-August. By the time they reach the Lodge, the Sockeye are often really red and spawning.
Silver Salmon - Silvers, also known as Coho, arrive in early August and run through early September. Averaging 8 to 15 pounds, these hard-charging fish aggressively attack lures and topwater flies.
Arctic Grayling - Grayling are a high-elevation fish. Although elusive, they can be targeted in the surrounding streams.
Northern Pike - Pike are available throughout the season, but early spring and late fall fishing is best.
Dolly Varden - Dollies are in good numbers from mid-July through mid-September.

Lodge & Float Trip Combo

6-nights and 5.5-days guided fishing
For the Lodge and Float Combo:  You'll fly from Anchorage to Iliamna, then board a floatplane to the headwaters of a remote river. Enjoy a four-day, 40-mile raft float in 14-foot NRS rafts with riverside camping before reaching Chata Lodge on the Mulchatna River. The trip concludes with 1.5 days of guided jet-boat fishing while staying at Chatna Lodge on the Mulchatna River.

Katmai Brown Bear Viewing Flight

Katmai National Park is home to roughly 2,200 brown bears. In early summer, bears forage for clams and sedges in open meadows. In late summer, you'll find them dining on salmon along Katmai’s rivers and streams.
An 8-hour bear viewing roundtrip flight from the Lodge to Moraine Creek may be arranged with at least 30 days' advance notice.
2026 Rates:  $1,000 - $1,300 per person per excursion (takes the place of a fishing day).
Two to six guests per trip. Rates are subject to change.

Chatna Lodge on the Mulchatna

Chatna Lodge is the only established lodge on the Mulchatna River. The Lodge sits on 80 acres of private land that overlooks the river and is surrounded by state land.

Aerial View of the Lodge

The Lodge has four double-occupancy bedrooms, each with a full bathroom. The Lodge comfortably accommodates eight anglers. Oversized black leather recliners, generated electricity, hot showers, a fly-tying desk with materials provided, river views, and wildlife viewing.
Communications:  Complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi is available at the Lodge. A satellite phone is available in case of an emergency.

Four Bedrooms at the Lodge

Two anglers per room with a private ensuite bathroom. The bedrooms have two full-size beds or a full bed with a bunk bed, as pictured above.
Electricity:  The generator runs daily from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. CPAP users may request extended generator hours or bring a battery pack for overnight power.

Meals at Chatna Lodge

Meals:  Hot-cooked breakfasts. Daily guided-prepared shore lunches with the morning catch, plus sandwiches and chips. Dinners feature a nightly entree such as prime rib, king crab, fresh salmon, ribs, and more. With advance notice, the Lodge can accommodate special dietary needs.
Alcohol:  The Lodge does not provide alcohol. You can purchase any alcohol for the trip while you’re in Anchorage, or, with advance notice, the Lodge will pre-order alcohol for your stay and bill you at cost.

Five Salmon Species

The Lodge on the Mulchatna River

40-Minute Floatplane Flight (Included)

Getting to Chatna Lodge:

1.) You’ll fly to Anchorage and stay one night at a hotel of your choice.

2.) The following morning, you’ll take a one-hour charter flight to Iliamna. This roundtrip flight is not included and costs $580 to $650 (2025). The Lodge will arrange this flight for you in advance, and you will pay for it at the time of your check-in with the airline.

3.) From Iliamna, you'll take a 40-minute floatplane flight and land on the river near the Lodge. You'll walk up to the Lodge, about 100 yards.
(The roundtrip floatplane flight between Iliamna and the Lodge—is the only flight included in the package.) The first- and last-night hotel stays in Anchorage are not included in the package. A list of recommended hotels is in our confirmation packet.

Departure Day:  This is a non-fishing day. You’ll leave the Lodge mid-morning or midday for the 40-minute Beaver aircraft flight to Iliamna. Exact departure times vary based on weather conditions. From Iliamna, you’ll connect on a one-hour flight to Anchorage.

2026 Rates:

Season:  June 24 - September 10.
Prices based on double occupancy

Lodge-Based Trip:
6 nights / 5.5 days guided fishing
$7,800 per person

Lodge/Float Combo:
6 nights / 5.5 days guided fishing
(4-days of float fishing and 4 nights at a float camp, plus 1.5 days of jet boat fishing and 2 nights at the Lodge)
$7,800 per person

The Packages Include:

• Roundtrip floatplane flights between Iliamna and the Lodge
• 6 nights lodging
• All meals and sodas at the Lodge
• 5.5 days guided fishing
• Starlink Wi-Fi
• Use of fly and spin fishing gear
• Fly-tying materials
• Use of waders and boots
• Up to 25 pounds of your salmon vacuum-packed
• Airline-approved wax fish box

The Packages Do Not Include: