Alaska job opportunities...

Evan0505 · 02-04-2002, 08:10 PM

Does anyone know of any good summer job opportunities in alaska... Im a freshman at OSU, and im studyin fish and wildlife biology.. I've checked out some of the internships available, but all of the ones that sound appealing are highly competitive, and pretty much always go to juniors or seniors.... Anyone know of fish camps or guide services that might be looking for people to work.. I am a very experienced flyfisherman, and am intersted in doing any kind of work up in Alaska... Anyhoo, just figured maybe someone on IFish could point me in the right direction... tight lines!
-evan-

spooner · 02-04-2002, 10:30 PM

try this one
www.waterfallresort.com
1-800-544-5125

FEAR NO FISH! · 02-04-2002, 10:32 PM

Evan,
In the latest edition of STS, there is an ad about
Tikchik Narrows Lodge in Alaska.
They are asking for guides.
GUIDES WANTED
Western Alaska fly out lodge is looking for experienced salmon and trout guides. Alaska experience not required. We also need guide trainees/lodge workers. Previous guiding experience not required but must have extensive knowledge on fishing. Clean cut, healthy, non smoking. Fax resume to Tikchik Narrows Lodge (907)248-3091 info@tikchik.com
www.tikchiklodge.com
Hope this helps.

whitewaterbill · 02-05-2002, 06:18 AM

Here is another one to try... WWW.withinthewild.com. They have several lodges and the web page indicates many jobs.

Bill

PeterMac · 02-05-2002, 07:12 AM

Evan - In 1985 I wanted to be a guide in Alaska. I handwrote 20 letters to the lodges that advertise in the back of Flyfishing Magazine. I received 2 responses, Bristol Bay Lodge, and Rainbow lodge. I ended up going to Bristol Bay Lodge, and it was an experience of a lifetime.

Another thing may be to go to the Sportsman show coming up, and talk with them personally there.

Good Luck
PeterMac

02-05-2002, 08:06 AM

Are you interested in working for the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game? If you ar, I know the Assistant Deputy Director and can ask him if there is any summer work available.

cosmo · 02-05-2002, 09:15 AM

Right after college I spent a summer guiding in Alaska for Rainbow King Lodge. You'll find some lodges will take "green" guides and some won't. Work the sport shows. Put on some good clothes, speak articulately, and be honest about your skills etc. Of those lodges that take green guides, they're looking for a guy with strong work ethic and one that can hold a conversation with people with monster bank accounts. Being that you're still in college, the time could not be better. You have multiple summers to return and increase pay each year or move to better paying lodges.
Another tip. If you get on with a lodge that operates out-camps, they will choose who will man them the first week after everyone arrives. Let them know up fron that you want a camp position. Be the first one out of bed in the morning, bust your hump all day and be the last one to bed. I spent five weeks on the Copper River in the Illiamna drainage, no one but me the moose, bears and monster trout, the most incredible experience I've ever had.
Lodges should be finalizing guide staffs, this month and next.
Good Luck

Cohodependent · 02-05-2002, 03:03 PM

An other place to check out is Alaska Travel Adventures @ www.alaskaadventures.com When I lived in Juneau I had a lot of friends that worked for this out fit. They have a lot of different activities that are sponsored. They take good care of their employees. The hours are long and you will not get many days off. The folks that made the best money for the summer were the ones that worked in the fish processing out fits. One would be Taku Smokeries. The work is hard and the hours are incredibly long but you will make a fourtune in overtime.

Good luck and have a great summer!

Evan0505 · 02-05-2002, 05:07 PM

WOW, i just wanna thank you all for your time and help.. It is absolutly amazing how everyone on this board is so generous and kind. You have all have given me some great information, and ill be sure to keep you all posted on how i do!
tight lines everyone!!!
-evan-

rcl187 · 02-05-2002, 06:03 PM

Another option is working on the fishing boats. A little different from the lodges but still fun and if you have a nice captain he'll take you out fishing (of course you can also fish whenever your anchored). I've done this for the last 3 summers and it's a blast plus the money isn't to bad.

Gobbaworms · 02-05-2002, 07:40 PM

Evan
Worked my way through school up in Cordova. If the fish camps or guide service options fall through, the canneries are easy to get a job at. Hours are long (my longest week was 120hrs) but it's still fun because 90% of the people there are college students from all over doing the same thing. Always seemed easy to get a halibut or salmon fishing trip in despite the hours. Many offer airfare up and back plus food and lodging so you usually come back with a pile of cash.

Another option is Fish and Game. They seem to have all the cute girls and more reasonable hours. (That's where my wife worked and how we met).

Also, I've got a couple of friends who still run boats up there. E-mail me if you would like me to make a couple of calls.

David Johnson · 02-05-2002, 08:13 PM

between school years and just after college I worked at Hidden Falls Hachery near Sitka. If you want more info on fish hatchery work let me know. i've also worked fishing camps as a grunt and as a guide. I can tell you some good story's and some bad ones. Watch out, it's very common to be taken advantage of up there too.

The Hatchery I worked at was great. It's run by Northern Southeast Aquaculture Assocition. If you get a directory in Sitka I'm sure you can get their #.

fishchaser · 02-05-2002, 11:02 PM

If you want to fish for the summer, or just work for the summer, you can check out the sportsmans show at the Expo Center this week. You could go around to the different guides and lodges and ask if they need help for the summer. You get paid and you will be able to fish at the same time.

I have a friend that did this for 5 years in a row and now he has his own guide service up there in the summer, and a hunting guide service for the fall and spring.

Good luck in your travels, and don't foreget to tell your children and your grand childern about your travels as a young man.

CATCH AND EAT · 02-05-2002, 11:28 PM

Try Bob Maschmedt Jr. for Kodiak Lodge. Cell # 503-819-2487 or e-mail: kodiaklodge@earthlink.net .

He is a good guy and a hard worker. Tell him Bernie sent you his way. He is always looking for hard working and knowledgeable people.

blackdog · 02-06-2002, 05:41 AM

cosmo - what year did you work for Rainbow King? I went to high school with 'Gus' and eventually, after guiding in Montana and Idaho for a few years, spent a summer working for him. I believe that was the summer of '96. It was a low water year, but the fishing was unbelievable. I spent four weeks occupying the silver camp on the Kammy, literally catching fish on our fly rods with every cast, sometimes on topwater poppers. Every place you went was the experience of a lifetime, from monster rainbows, kings by the dozens, fishing over 100,000 or more sockeyes laying in one pool, to big 'buts in shallow waters. I only wish I would have figured this out while I was going to OSU. Working up there would have been the best summer job anyone could ever hope or dream for.

cosmo · 02-06-2002, 10:22 AM

I worked at Rainbow King in '94. Gs was just a guide at that point, Randy was the manager.
Our water year was pretty much perfect, fish everywhere, they asked me to do the Kamishak camp after I finished the Copper but at that point I needed a little lodge livin' and wanted to fly around more.