Ice Fishing in Alaska: Fairbanks Fun with Rod’s Alaskan Guide Service

Ice fishing in Alaska is something that’s a key part of the full Fairbanks winter experience. Can’t you just picture it? Walking out on a frozen lake to a warming hut, dropping your bait through the hole in the ice and then eating your fresh caught lunch? I know that fishing isn’t for everyone and that ice fishing in particular has a niche audience, but it’s one of those unique things that everybody should try their hand at. We went out with Rod’s Alaskan Guide Service on Chena Lake and had success!

Are you considering adding ice fishing to your winter trip to Fairbanks? If so, read on and we’ll lay out just what to expect and how you can plan for the best ice fishing experience. If you have any questions about the process or experience with kids, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help other plan a great Alaska trip!

Highlights of Ice Fishing in Alaska

Let me start by saying that ice fishing in Fairbanks is an iconic experience, but that doesn’t mean that it’s riveting. Every activity has its audience, and if you’re into fishing, ice fishing needs to be on your bucket list of experiences. It’s unlike any sort of fishing I’ve done before, and I’ve fished a ton (I used to live off the Kenai River). With deep sea or salmon fishing, you’re pretty actively working at catching your prize, even when you’re just trawling.

Ice fishing in Alaska is an exercise in patience. When we did our ice fishing with Rod’s Alaskan Guide Service, they took care of everything for us, from cutting the holes in the ice to cleaning out catches. If you’re going on your own you’ve got to have the right gear for it AND a way to stay warm.

With a guide who’s got the know-how and the equipment to make it happen, ice fishing in Alaska is actually doable and makes for a great story. What’s missing in the thrill department is made up for in the comradery and fishing talk. Both our guide and the other people we were ice fishing with had so much to share about their different catches, both on and off the ice, as well as great stories about fishing while traveling all around the world. Ice fishing with a group tour, like we did, was a great way to experience fishing culture from both the sport and the subsistence angles.

Book ice fishing with Rod’s Alaska Guide Service here!

Tips for a Great Ice Fishing Experience

When you’re planning your time ice fishing in Alaska, whether you’re going with Rod’s Alaskan Guide Service in Fairbanks or somewhere else, it’s important that you go into it with an open mind and a jovial spirit. Ice fishing is actually a really funny process if you’re not used to it. I think a lot of people don’t even know what to expect, and they just know that they want to catch fish and say that they’ve been ice fishing. I am one of those people. Remembering that fishing is called “fishing” and not “catching” is important. You get to enjoy watching the fish swimming below you (through the hole in the ice) and you get to jazz yourself up about which one is going to bite, so enjoy that, but it’s not always a guarantee.

Another thing to keep in mind when you’re doing an ice fishing tour in Fairbanks is that this is usually a group activity. Ice fishing huts tend to accommodate 6 to 16 ice fishing holes, so that’s up to 16 people on a tour. Everyone will have their own seat and fishing spot, but depending on who you sit by, you may be engaged in a lot of chat. I’m fine with it and I love getting to hear from people about their adventures and what drew them to ice fishing in Alaska, but that might not be the case for everyone.

In any situation, the fishing guide is there for YOU and if you are uncomfortable or need a break from the fishing experience or interactions, you can always let your guide know and they’ll help you out and make it all more enjoyable some how.

Being Prepared for Ice Fishing in Alaska

All of the gear is provided for ice fishing when you go with a guide. That is, the fishing gear and bait is all provided. Even though ice fishing in Alaska happens in a hut with a wood burning stove in it, it still gets cold in there. The air comes up from the opening where the ice holes are, which acts as very cold air conditioning. If you’re ice fishing for 2+ hours, despite the warmth of the hut, your feet will get very cold. It’s important to dress warmly in layers, but especially important to wear very warm socks and shoes, including toe warmers.

Bring your camera when you go ice fishing in Alaska because you’ll want photos of your catch. It’s a small hut you’ll be in though, so a big camera isn’t really needed. Simply a camera phone or a DSLR with a wide angle lens is good.

What if I catch Something When I’m Ice Fishing?

One of the cool things about going ice fishing with Rod’s Alaskan Guide Service is that they’ll clean your fish for you and then cook it up then and there. A part of the tour is lunch/snacks, but if you don’t catch any fish that meet the requirements to keep, they’ve got you set up for bbq’d reindeer sausage at the very least. We lucked out and enjoyed that sausage AND got a good sampling of fish too!

What Fish Can I Catch Ice Fishing in Alaska?

That’s a great question! We went ice fishing with Rod’s Alaskan Guide Service out on Chena Lakes between Fairbanks and North Pole. There we caught rainbow trout, small chinook salmon (king) and coho salmon (silver). Some ice fishing might also bring you some pike, grayling or arctic char too! Ask your guide when you get all set up what you might be catching. Different lakes are stocked with different species and they may also have different size requirements for keeping them.

Do I Need a License for Ice Fishing as a Tourist?

OMG, yes you do! Unless you are fishing in your friend’s aquarium you need a fishing license for any and all types of fishing in Alaska. For ice fishing, you can go into nearly any outdoors shop and tell them the sort of tour you’re doing and they’ll make sure that you get the right fishing license for the right date/time/duration. If you forget this step, you can also usually get your fishing license through your guide (an additional fee). When we went ice fishing with Rod’s Alaskan Guide Service, our awesome guide, Cody, confirmed with everyone that we had licenses and the one person who didn’t he was able to complete the issuance on the spot.

Would You Go Ice Fishing in Alaska again?

I would for sure go ice fishing in Alaska again, but not as my primary purpose of a trip or a main itinerary item. It’s fun and unique, but it’s not a must-do-again for me. I think if I lived in Alaska again and was doing another winter I would be more inclined to get into ice fishing, but then I’d also be prepared with board games and adult beverages in my ice fishing hut. As a tourist, I would do it again if I had some extra time and was feeling the ice fishing vibe. It really is a vibe sort of activity, and if you’re not in the right mood or headspace, you might not enjoy it. I would do it again if I was feeling it or if I had friends with me who hadn’t been ice fishing before.

Things to do in Fairbanks

I feel like when people talk about visiting Alaska, Fairbanks is a last thought, but it shouldn’t be. I love this city, it’s people, it’s dogsled culture and the beautiful nature all around it. Fairbanks is THE winter destination in Alaska with ample dark sky space to watch the Northern Lights and endless outdoor opportunities, whether you’re looking for a mellow snowy escape or hardcore Alaskan adventures. In summer, Fairbanks is a great home base for visiting the Arctic Circle, Denali National Park, spending days kayaking or fishing. It’s beautiful!

Ideas for Fairbanks activities:

Where to Stay in Fairbanks, Alaska

Keep in mind when you’re planning your trip to Fairbanks that it is not a large city. It’s the second largest in Alaska, but it’s not huge. Hotel options are limited and when it comes to booking a luxury hotel stay, that’s not really a thing here. There are nice hotels and really cool lodges and vacation rentals, but white glove luxe ain’t happening. We’ve stayed in all kinds of Fairbanks accommodations, so have solid recommendations (below). I like being based downtown if we have a diverse, busy itinerary, but staying outside of town up in the hills is such a treat, it’s worth planning a night or two away from the city.

You’ll find that the cost of lodging in Fairbanks ranges wildly from season to season. In the summer, standard hotel rooms are not likely available for under $250 per night, with the average being well over $300 per night. In the winter you can get some awesome hotel deals as low as $125 per night. Just keep this in mind as you’re planning your visit to Fairbanks or anywhere in Alaska.

Here are our hotel picks in Fairbanks: