Frequently Asked Questions

• Fly fishing lessons: $120 per person, 2 hours, indoor at the workshop

• Half-day trip: $250 per angler, 3.5 hours of wade fishing

• Full-day trip: $350 per angler, 8 hours of wade fishing

Prices are per person. Booking 2, 3, or 4 anglers? Group pricing for additional anglers is calculated at checkout — the more in your party, the lower the per-person cost.

Up to four anglers per trip, plus your guide. We don't run mixed parties — when you book, the trip is yours alone, even if you only book one seat.

Yes. We've taught beginners of all ages, and several of our regulars are families with kids. For students under 12, contact us before booking so we can talk through what makes sense for the trip type and the kid's experience level.

Note that Alaska requires a fishing license for anyone 16 and older — younger kids fish without one.

Most fishing trips out of Juneau put you on a six-passenger boat hunting halibut and salmon offshore. We don't. Dialed Outdoor is a non-vessel, wade-based guided service — you fish from streams, beaches, and estuaries on foot, using fly or spinning gear depending on what you prefer. That means no offshore weather concerns, no shared boats, no seasickness, and no long transit times. It's a quieter, more intimate style of fishing that's accessible to beginners and rewarding for experienced anglers alike.

Depends on the season. Juneau holds sea-run Dolly Varden char, sea-run cutthroat trout, and five species of Pacific salmon — kings (chinook) in late May and June, sockeye and pinks in July, chums in mid-summer, and silvers (coho) through August and September. Steelhead show up in spring for those willing to chase them. We pick the water and target species based on what's running on your trip date. See the Species & Seasons guide for a month-by-month breakdown.

No. Dialed Outdoor specializes in fly fishing, but spinning rods are available for clients who'd rather use them. The focus is fly fishing, but the goal is that everyone catches fish — so whatever rod gets you there, that's the right rod. Mixed groups (some fly, some spin) are common.

No. We guide complete beginners as often as we guide experienced fly fishers. If you've never fished before, Dominick teaches as you fish — casting basics, line management, fly selection — and the trip is paced for learning. If you have your own gear and know what you're doing, we'll match the day to your skill and ambition.

If you'd rather learn the fundamentals before you book a guided trip, the 2-hour fly fishing lesson is built for exactly that.

We fish along the Juneau road system — streams, rivers, and saltwater beaches accessible by vehicle from town. Specific spots are chosen day-of based on tides, weather, and what's running. Most of our water is within a 30-minute drive of downtown. We don't share specific locations publicly because some of our best water is small and gets ruined by crowds.

Sometimes. Some species and waters are catch-and-release only; others allow harvest within Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADFG) regulations. We follow current regulations on every trip. If you're hoping to take fish home, mention it when you book and we can target waters where harvest is legal. We'll handle care and packaging of any kept fish on the way back.

Dom follows Alaska state regulations on all species. Hatchery salmon are raised to be harvested, and keeping them is exactly what the program intends. Resident species like Dolly Varden and sea-run cutthroat are fair game too, within legal limits — and if you ask Dom, they're also fantastic eating. Catch-and-release is always an option if that's your preference, but there's no policy here beyond following the rules and respecting the resource.

For all trips on the water:

• Fly rods, reels, lines, leaders, and flies

• Hip boots

• Tackle and terminal gear

• Round-trip transportation from your pickup point

For lessons at the workshop, we provide all instructional gear — practice rods, tying tools, materials, and a working tying station.

For half-day, full-day, and cruise trips:

• Rain gear (jacket and pants — Juneau averages over 60 inches of rain a year)

• Warm layers — fleece or wool, no cotton next to skin

• Sturdy pants that fit comfortably under hip boots

• Snacks, water, and any medications you need for the day (lunch on full-day trips)

• Polarized sunglasses if you have them — we have spares

• Your Alaska sport fishing license — see the next question

For lessons:

• Comfortable clothes, a water bottle, your own rod if you want to use it (otherwise we provide everything)

For a complete packing list, see the What to Bring page.

Yes — Alaska requires every angler 16 and older to have a sport fishing license. Buy one online at the Alaska Department of Fish & Game website before your trip. Non-resident options include 1-day, 3-day, 7-day, 14-day, and annual licenses. If you're targeting king salmon, you'll also need a king salmon stamp. We can't handle the licenses for you — make sure to get it sorted before your trip date.

Absolutely. Plenty of clients prefer their own gear. Bring it. If you'd rather travel light, we have plenty of rods sized for the species we'll target.

We fish in it. Juneau averages over 60 inches of rain annually — if we cancelled for weather, we'd never go. Rain gear is on you, but a working rain jacket and pants make rainy days perfectly enjoyable. Many of our best fishing days are wet ones.

We will reschedule for genuine safety concerns — lightning, dangerous flooding, severe winds. These are rare and judged trip-by-trip.

Cancellations 14+ days out: full refund. 7–14 days out: 50% refund. Less than 7 days: non-refundable. Cruise itinerary changes outside your control are handled separately — contact us as soon as you know.

If we cancel a trip for weather or safety, you get a full refund or the option to reschedule. We don't keep your money for a trip we couldn't run.

Dominick Phillips owns and runs Dialed Outdoor. He moved from Pennsylvania to Juneau in 2019 but has been tying flies and fishing them since he was a kid. He guides every trip personally — no contracted guides, no rotating staff. When you book, you fish with Dominick. Read more on the Meet Your Guide page.

Yes. Dialed Outdoor operates as a registered guide service in Alaska, holds the necessary state and federal permits to guide on public waters, and carries liability insurance. Specific permit and license details available on request.

Two reasons. First, the best fly fishing in Juneau is on streams, beaches, and estuaries — not offshore. Second, wade fishing is a dramatically better experience for most anglers, especially beginners and cruise passengers: no seasickness, no offshore weather risk, more intimate, more "real Alaska." We'd rather do one thing extraordinarily well than be a mediocre boat charter.

Yes. Half-day trips are designed to fit a standard Juneau port day (typically 7am–8pm) with hours of margin. We pick up at the cruise terminal area, drive 5–10 minutes to nearby fishing water, and have you back well before sail-away. Tell us your sail-away time when you book and we'll build the trip schedule around it.

We meet you at your cruise terminal area in downtown Juneau. When you book, tell us your ship name and which terminal you're docking at (AJ Dock, Franklin Dock, or wherever your line is using that day). We'll confirm the exact meeting spot and time before your trip date. If your ship is delayed coming into port, let us know as soon as you can — we have flexibility because the trip is private to your group.

For cruise itinerary changes outside your control, we work with you on rescheduling or refunds. See the cancellation policy below for specifics, but the short version is: we're not going to keep your money for a trip you can't take because your cruise line changed plans.

Yes — first-time anglers are some of our favorite cruise day clients. The wade format is forgiving (no rocking boat, no seasickness, easy to step out and rest), and Dominick teaches as you fish. You'll be casting within the first 20 minutes. Don't book this if you want a guaranteed-catch experience — Alaska doesn't promise fish to anyone — but if you want a real memorable day on the water in scenery you'll never forget, this is the right call.