Hooked On Adventure
We’re lovers of adventure, fishing and nature. At The Unalakleet River Lodge, a big draw for our crew is getting to spend the summer in remote Alaska surrounded by wilderness. We also find great joy in hosting others. Seeing folks have an experience of a lifetime is extremely rewarding for our crew.
Lodge Story
The Unalakleet River Lodge was started in 1998 by Jeff and Sal Appel. A pilot by trade and a sportsman at heart, Jeff had always wanted a fishing lodge in the remote wilderness of Alaska. On the other hand Sal said that she was taken “kicking and screaming” in the spring of that year to the remote location but upon her first glance she knew it was everything and more that they had hoped for. They started that summer, with a few guests, mostly friends, brought in their charming son Steve, and vowed to make the Unalakleet River Lodge a go-to destination for Alaska salmon fishing. Since then, the lodge has been recognized and regarded as one of the finest lodges in Alaska.
The Next Chapter
In 2023 the lodge began its next chapter with new owners, Mitchell Wisniewski and Skyla Delerme. When the opportunity arose to become lodge owners, there was very little deliberation over the idea. They were ready for a new adventure. Meeting in college Mitch and Skyla bonded over their passion for the outdoors. When they aren’t in Alaska running the lodge, they can be found fishing and hiking in Asheville, North Carolina with their rescue pup, Bean.
“Alaska is a special place and we know what we have here on the Unalakleet River is unique. We want to share our little slice of paradise with anyone willing to dive into the adventure.”
Mitch Wisniewski – Owner
Born to fish, made to fish, and will probably die fishing, Mitch (aka Wiz) has spent some time on the water. Cutting his teeth in the mountains of North Carolina, Mitch started guiding at the lodge in 2018 and vowed to come back every summer no matter what it took. Doing a little bit of everything here at the lodge, Mitch is the passion behind the lodge mission. You can find him behind the bar in the evenings serving up fish stories and fresh cocktails.
Skyla Delerme – General Manager
Born to hike, made to hike and will probably die hiking, Skyla spends her free time completing long distance hikes (like the whole Appalachian Trail in 2023). Skyla was introduced to the world of fly fishing by Mitch and soon came to enjoy a day on the water almost as much as backpacking. As a former teacher, Skyla was excited to take on the new adventure of lodge ownership. Skyla’s role at the lodge includes marketing and communications, guest bookings and keeping us well organized.
Our Crew
GUIDES
Our guides are exceptionally talented anglers, great people and knowledgable about the river. Guests often highlight their time spent with their guide as one of their favorite parts of the trip. They are patient teachers, bad joke tellers and the best line untanglers we’ve seen.
STAFF
Our House staff and chefs are also here to enrich your experience and provide top-notch service. Our house staff create a welcoming and comfortable lodge environment for guests. We hope you walk away feeling like family.