Testimonials
From Our Patrons
“Loved this trip. Exceeded expectations. I loved how all the day trips were very different. I loved how there were challenging days and I could do those with my brother, and there were places to go with my father as well! So much infrastructure and so many pieces come together to make this work. Will recommend to every fisher I know.“
“Thank you for a truly incredible week! I was expecting a bucket-list trip experience and was blown away by the attention to detail and top notch guides, staff, pilots, maintenance, and of course chef and servers! The guests were fantastic and I was glad to get to know the “regulars.””
“Trip of a Lifetime!
A good friend had been dreaming of going to Alaska to fish for big rainbows almost his whole fishing life – it was truly a bucket list trip. I agreed to go and he chose Royal Wolf. Words can hardly do justice to the outstanding hospitality, service, scenery and fishing. It’s one thing not to know something existed – it’s completely another to not image it could exist – but it does in the amazing people and place that is Royal Wolf. From consistently having a new “best fishing day ever” to colors I didn’t know existed (the blue of Battle Lake) to amazing hospitality (the Branhams and their staff), I couldn’t recommend Royal Wolf any more highly. I especially appreciate what great stewards they are of both the land and this amazing fishery as well as how professional and knowledgeable the guides and pilots are. While I’ve been fishing for over 40 years, this was my first time to Alaska and the guides have a wonderful knack for teaching but also creating space to fish and learn on your own. Thank you Royal Wolf!”
“Dreams Realized!
My wife and I were first time travelers to Alaska and we are avid fly fishing enthusiasts. We were recommended to RWL by Fly Water Travel. We followed their recommendation because they said the rainbow fishing would be outstanding and the lodge would be very comfortable. Well, this trip exceeded our expectations. The fishing wasn’t just good, it was hands down the best rainbow fishing we’ve ever experienced. We caught a lot of fish and many were the largest rainbows we’ve ever seen. To catch numerous 20″+ fish on a dry fly is truly an unbelievable experience. Flying out everyday to fish was such blast and seeing the bears and other wildlife was amazing.
But, the fishing was matched and even surpassed by the Staff, Service and Lodge. The Guides are all very knowledgeable, patient and helpful — and best of all really loved what they did and had great attitudes. The Lodge staff was friendly, anticipated our needs and was there to help whenever we needed anything. The food was prepared so well — especially when you consider how far out we were. The Lodge was very cozy and cabins were nice and clean.
If you’re considering a “dream” trip to fish in Alaska and you want catch & release rainbow trout, then you should come to the RWL!”
“Simply the best
Been a RWL regular for 10 years now. Just the best of the best in every way. Fishing, guides, owners, staff, pilots, location, food, accommodations, people, fishing, guides, fishing, and guides 🙂 Already looking forward to next year!”
“Best Alaska Experience Ever
This was my fifth trip to alaska but first at Royal Wolf. Had great hosts, guides, food and lodging. The fly out fishing was off the charts. I will never stay anywhere else. Cannot recommend this lodge highly enough. Catered to the anglers night and day. And don’t forget the cookie jar!”
“Perfect Wilderness Adventure
I am not even sure where to start… the breathtaking landscape, the beautiful main lodge, the clean and comfortable cabins, the wildlife, the fishing, the food… all these were awesome, but not as wonderful as Linda, Chris, Leanna and their staff. Every member of the staff were friendly, professional, and their attention to detail were amazing. When I needed a rest day from fishing, I enjoyed reading by the fire in the main lodge, relaxing in the sauna, then an incredible massage. If I didn’t miss my kids, I could have stayed at RWL forever… Can’t wait to take my kids.”
“Fly Fishing at it’s Best
This was our 45th year of catch & release Rainbow Trout fishing in Alaska, and our 15th year at ROYAL WOLF LODGE. Of the several lodges we’ve stayed, ROYAL WOLF is, by far, the very best. It has the best guides, the safest pilots, and fishes the best rivers; a combination that gives the most rewarding and enjoyable fishing experience”
“We had the absolute best time here! Weather was a little dodgy, but that made it feel like even more of an adventure. Amazing guides – super fun, but also felt safe the entire time. They worked hard to get us into amazing fishing, hiking and bear watching spots each day despite weather challenges. Lodge and cabins are great – super comfortable with great views and everything convenient, especially for a lodge so far into the bush with limited access. Amazing meals – my teenage boys who are picky eaters loved the food and kept talking about it after the trip. One of the highlights was getting to know the owner Nate and his family. Top notch people. Highly recommend Royal Wolf!”
“Trip of a lifetime!
If you want to experience Alaska in the best possible way, I highly encourage you to book a trip at Royal Wolf. Chris and Linda Branham have created an experience that satisfies on each and every level, with outstanding attention to all the little details.
Their staff of talented and experienced guides, pilots, chefs, and housekeepers are the best in the business. Everyone who works at the lodge is 100% focused on providing a unique, first-class, and very special experience.
The Branham’s knowledge of the area provides access to world-class native, wild trout, dolly varden, arctic char, grayling, pike and other varieties of fish, but also to see and experience bald eagles, moose, bear, and all the wide variety of wildlife in Alaska.
I could go on at length about the fishing experience at this lodge. The knowledge that each and every guide has of each nook and cranny of all of the beautiful rivers and lakes — they know where the big ones are, how to fish to them, and are keenly focused on preserving the quality of the native fish populations.
Great food, better people, and the ultimate chocolate chip cookies to boot.
Whether you are a very experienced angler, or a novice, you will have a fantastic time.”
“Trip of a lifetime!
If you want to experience Alaska in the best possible way, I highly encourage you to book a trip at Royal Wolf. Chris and Linda Branham have created an experience that satisfies on each and every level, with outstanding attention to all the little details.
Their staff of talented and experienced guides, pilots, chefs, and housekeepers are the best in the business. Everyone who works at the lodge is 100% focused on providing a unique, first-class, and very special experience.
The Branham’s knowledge of the area provides access to world-class native, wild trout, dolly varden, arctic char, grayling, pike and other varieties of fish, but also to see and experience bald eagles, moose, bear, and all the wide variety of wildlife in Alaska.
I could go on at length about the fishing experience at this lodge. The knowledge that each and every guide has of each nook and cranny of all of the beautiful rivers and lakes — they know where the big ones are, how to fish to them, and are keenly focused on preserving the quality of the native fish populations.
Great food, better people, and the ultimate chocolate chip cookies to boot.
Whether you are a very experienced angler, or a novice, you will have a fantastic time.”
“Trip of a lifetime!
If you want to experience Alaska in the best possible way, I highly encourage you to book a trip at Royal Wolf. Chris and Linda Branham have created an experience that satisfies on each and every level, with outstanding attention to all the little details.
Their staff of talented and experienced guides, pilots, chefs, and housekeepers are the best in the business. Everyone who works at the lodge is 100% focused on providing a unique, first-class, and very special experience.
The Branham’s knowledge of the area provides access to world-class native, wild trout, dolly varden, arctic char, grayling, pike and other varieties of fish, but also to see and experience bald eagles, moose, bear, and all the wide variety of wildlife in Alaska.
I could go on at length about the fishing experience at this lodge. The knowledge that each and every guide has of each nook and cranny of all of the beautiful rivers and lakes — they know where the big ones are, how to fish to them, and are keenly focused on preserving the quality of the native fish populations.
Great food, better people, and the ultimate chocolate chip cookies to boot.
Whether you are a very experienced angler, or a novice, you will have a fantastic time.”
“Outstanding
The guides, the staff, the scenery, the lodge. Wow! This was a trip of a lifetime. There are activities for non-fishing folks but if you want to hike into remote creeks with no one else there but the bears, look no further. Float and boat fishing are also on the menu.
What is the value of being 100 miles from a road with no man made structures or sounds in sight? Priceless. With only the sounds of the wind and the river, I can’t think of a better way to disconnect than chasing the plentiful and beautiful Rainbow Trout, Dolly Vartons and Char. I can’t wait to go back.”
“Top Fly Fishing Lodge
I have been here twice and had a wonderful time fly fishing for rainbow trout both times. I came early in the season, near the end of June. This was because I wanted to fish for trout, both Rainbow and Lake trout. The Guides know their rivers and provide great feedback on the way to fish the rivers here. I think fishing Brooks River, just below Brooks Falls, with the Grizzly Bears is the highlight. I will never forget my experiences there. Got many videos of the bears walking both in the water and along the shore looking for food! Their top guide, Dave Goodhart, is the best. So knowledgeable and easy to work with.”
“Incredible Experience X 7
This was our 7th trip to Royal Wolf Lodge. Everything was first class as it always is with the owners Chris and Linda Branham. The lodging and food was outstanding and the scenery magnificent. With top rated pilots and guides the Rainbow Trout fishing is the best in Alaska!!”
“Amazing In Every Way!
You cannot beat this Alaskan experience! Spectacular scenery, amazing accommodations and the BEST fishing guides from all over the country are at Royal Wolf Lodge! Repeat clients are always returning but they always love newcomers’ faces when they see it too! The best fly-out trophy trout lodge in Alaska!”
“Incredible Royal Wolf Lodge
This is an exclusive fly-in, fly-out fishing lodge, hosted by Linda and Chris, two of the nicest folks you will meet. Awesome guides, ranging from super experienced, to young and talented. Food absolutely terrific, with a focus on quality, not quantity. Every place they took us fishing (Morrain, Kulik, Home River, Little Ku, etc) was nothing short of remarkable, so many rainbows. Yes, the focus of this lodge is on rainbow fishing, and almost every fish caught during the week was a rainbow. Our cabin was the Eagle’s Nest cabin, probably the nicest one, but they all looked pretty great. We will definitely go back!”
“Great Experience
We spent an early season week, June 16-23. Excellent in all areas. Very knowledgable guides and wonderful hosts. Food was great. The fishing was unbelievable. I would highly recommend the Royal Wolf Lodge”
“Amazing time – words don’t do justice!
If you want an amazing fly-fishing experience, this is THE place to go. The guides are world class, as is the water you’ll be fishing. 20-30 fish a day in certain spots is common. Truly. On top of the fishing, you’ll be treated like one of the family by Chris and Linda and their staff. This is a bucket destination.”
“Superb experience: Royal Wolf
If you find yourself cruising RWL reviews here and are considering booking with them then take notice of their five star rating over so many reviews and how many return year after year after year. If RWL suites your pocketbook then look no further for your destination. My family and I had an amazing week there and cannot say enough about how impressed we were with quality of our experience. Chris and Linda are wonderful hosts, all the staff are happy, energetic and attentive. The guides were FUN to fish, very experienced and provided all the needed expert local knowledge to ensure an amazing experience while remaining safe. We caught literally hundreds of fish of 8 different species. My daughters had never flyfished before and left with a collection of fish pics that would make most life long fisherman slobber. I’m still in disbelief.
The program there is superb. Food, cabins,planes, equipment, staff were great. The lodge location is remote and spectacular. We fished different locations everyday. The experiences we had fishing the rivers among the bears cannot be relayed in words. So many bears….so many fish. At night I would skip dinner and go fish the home river solo until dark for even more fish and adventure. Just me, big trout and the bears. I have fished many, many places and can assure you a trip here is worth every cent you will spend. If you are looking for an incredible backcountry fishing/bear experience in Katmai then just book it. You will not be disappointed.”
“A true gem for a fishing and wildlife experience of a lifetime.
An unforgettable experience in the Alaskan wilderness. World-class fishing guides, breathtaking bear viewing, and friendly and personable staff make up the experience at Royal Wolf Lodge. You won’t find a better experience if you’re looking to catch breathtaking fish or see Alaska’s magnificent bears. Lodge owners Linda and Chris Branham have been in the business of providing unforgettable Alaska experiences for a lifetime, and have staffed Royal Wolf Lodge with talented cooks, dynamic guides and the best pilots in the state. The amenities at the lodge are wonderful — local Alaska fare is served in elegance at meals (and dietary restrictions are very much accommodated), clean and comfortable cabins provide luxury in one of the most remote areas of the state — even a sauna for evening relaxation. Each day is a new adventure — flying out to untouched rivers that offer the kind of experience fishermen/women can only dream of. Expert guides harness endless knowledge about the area and ability to put you on the fish every single time. And oh, the bears! You will be bragging about your trip to Royal Wolf Lodge for years, and counting the days until you can return.”
“If you like to fish for the biggest, hottest rainbow trout on the planet, look no further.
The best fishing, best planes and pilots, best guides (hands down !!), best food and best lodge. This was my second time there and we’re going back again for sure. Thanks Royal Wolf Team.”
“Royal Wolf is as good as it gets
I took my two grandsons (15 and 12) and son in law (their dad) for six days there. We are all experienced fly fishermen. Our entire experience from flights in and out and in the Lodge, and fishing was great. The hosts were gracious; food excellent. We all stayed in one cabin, which was most comfortable, better than similar lodges I have been to elsewhere. But what we liked the most was the wonderful fishing. The guides were tops, and I have fished with guides in Colorado, New Mexico, and Canada, and the Royal Wolf guides were as good as any I have used. We had a good variety of fishing: rainbows, arctic grayling, salmon, although our main target most days was the huge rainbows. We flew in to various locations, which provided a great variety of experiences. We all want to go back!”
“Great Experience
We spent an early season week, June 16-23. Excellent in all areas. Very knowledgable guides and wonderful hosts. Food was great. The fishing was unbelievable. I would highly recommend the Royal Wolf Lodge”