North Pole Tours
Fairbanks Ice Fishing Expedition in a Heated Cabin with Fish Cookout
5

Fairbanks Ice Fishing Expedition in a Heated Cabin with Fish Cookout

By Rod's Alaskan Guide Service
Recommended by 98% of travellers
98% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
If you’ve never been ice fishing in Alaska, you may not know where to start. This ice-fishing expedition takes you to a heated cabin in a remote location just outside Fairbanks. A guide helps you set up all your fishing gear and gives tips to help you catch fish. This ice-fishing tour includes hot cocoa, reindeer sausage, and a fish cookout, too.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 5-85, max of 14 per group
Duration: 4h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More

Highlights
  • Go ice fishing in a heated cabin, just outside Fairbanks
  • A guide provides fishing gear and tips to successfully ice fish
  • Hot cocoa, reindeer sausage on buns, and a fish cookout are included
  • Choose from multiple tour times to best suit your busy schedule

  • Deluxe ice fishing cabin with electric and heat
  • Hot grilled Reindeer Sausage on bun and drink
  • Your fresh fish, seasoned and grilled
  • Steaming hot cocoa
  • Fishing poles and bait
  • Local guide
  • Entry/Admission - Chena Lake Recreation Area
What's not included
  • Fishing license
  • Transportation to/from attractions

Meet for this ice-fishing expedition at Chena Lake Recreation Area, and get ready for a fun day of fishing. Your guide takes you to a heated cabin, so you stay warm in the cold temperatures. The cabin comes with covers in the floors that are moved for perfect ice-fishing spots. Plus, hot cocoa and reindeer sausage with buns are provided. Your guide gives you all the gear you need to start fishing and even tells you great tips for catching and pulling in a fish from the ice-cold water. Once you catch a fish, enjoy a fish cookout, where you can eat the fish you caught.

Start:
  • Chena Lake Park Boat Launch, North Pole, AK 99705, USA
    The lake does not have a physical address. Please contact us to receive the pin drop for the exact location and driving directions from Fairbanks.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Near public transportation
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 30637P6

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Most travellers can participate
    • A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
    • Fishing licenses are required for everyone 16 years old and older.
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 30637P6

    From
    AU$274.05
    per adult
    Select date and travellers
    Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.

    Similar experiences

    Itinerary
    • North Pole, AK 99705, USA
      The lake does not have a physical address. Please contact us to receive the pin drop for the exact location and driving directions from Fairbanks.
    • 1
      Your guide will meet you at the deluxe fishing cabin on the frozen lake and guide you through the process of catching fish through the ice for the lakes bounty of fish.
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Rod's Alaskan Guide Service
      2,116
      Fairbanks, United States
      Joined in February 2016
    • haleymJ3075EM
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      So fun!
      LINDSEY AND COOPER WERE AWESOME! So friendly and the dogs were so fun! Such a great adventure. The weather was COLD. So 30 minutes was PERFECT! Thanks so much!! 🥰
      Written 9 February 2025
    • GoPlaces24906923428
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Lots of fun!
      The tour was great! We got to pet the dogs and ride in and drive the sled. They make sure you’ve got enough gear to stay warm and provide anything you might be missing. I’m horrible and don’t remember our guides names but Tesla and Electra were a couple of the dogs and they were great!
      Written 9 February 2025
    • Sonja H
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Nice time
      My tour was with Jimmy and his dogs. He was really nice and told me good stories. I would recommend this activity to anyone.
      Written 8 February 2025
    • paulgT7999ZJ
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Snow. Dogs. Adventure. Perfect
      Absolutely incredible experience Vicky was amazing with tons of interaction and information. Would recommend this to anyone visiting! I have travelled extensively and this was a new/first for me and a highlight of my Alaska experience - just book it.
      Written 7 February 2025
    • angiemM4077DM
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      The cutest dogs!
      This was an awesome thing to do on our trip to Alaska! Our guide was so nice and took pictures for us and let us say hi to all of his dogs. I would recommend taking a dog sled ride here to any of my friends, especially with Jimmy’s dogs.
      Written 7 February 2025
    • M9511OFjayb
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great Ride with Jimmys dogs
      I rode with Jimmy and his dogs and had a fantastic time. He was very knowledgeable and shared a lot of information. The ride was smooth, beautiful, and comfortable.
      Written 7 February 2025
    • emilyidac
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Loved it!
      Incredible experience. We went sledding with Luther Buhr and his super sweet dogs. Luther was phenomenal and the dogs were simply amazing. This was such an amazing Alaskan experience. I recommend it to people of all ages. It’s physically very easy and it’s just so beautiful and fun. Worth every penny. We really appreciated that the office had winter jackets, boots, and snow pants we could use for no extra charge.
      Written 7 February 2025
    • A446WDkaylak
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      100/10 experience!
      Luther was a wonderful musher! The dogs were so great. Truly one of the best experiences of my life. Luther was so educational and informative, he answered all of our questions, and provided good conversation. He gave us a chance to mush and it was awesome!
      Written 7 February 2025
    • rinao910
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      FUN EXPERIENCE
      Joe and Vicky were great! We had a blast and took great pictures throughout the tour! The dogs were super friendly and cute too!
      Written 7 February 2025
    • tiffanydM9468DM
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A must do!
      First if you wear glasses like me you won’t be able to drive one. Glasses get too fogged up. I still had a great time as a passenger. Our guide was super nice. We go fairly fast and keep that in mind with how you dress. It adds extra cold windchill. We were able to stop for photos and even saw 2 moose! Fantastic experience.
      Written 6 February 2025
    • tiffanydM9468DM
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      So much fun with the sweetest pups!
      So much fun! The dogs are so cute! I love how knowledgeable the locals are. Every activity comes with a wealth of knowledge and a little history lesson.
      Written 6 February 2025
    • Bruce F
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Dog sledding
      We had great fun dog sledding - even at 20 below zero! Our musher Jimmy and his team of Huskies were great! He gave us the chance to meet each dog. Definitely a must do in Fairbanks.
      Written 5 February 2025
    • Meander45029573660
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Making memories Snowmobiling
      I must do adventure. This was absolutely a great time for my family of 10.(Ranging in ages from 9 to 60 years old) Our guide was wonderful. He was constantly searching for wildlife for us as we were riding. We had two photo opportunities to get great pictures of the moose in their own element. The moose are amazing. We were there to see the dog sledding also and the dogs get so excited to run. We had to split our group but the guides made sure we could meet up to get plenty of family pictures. Thank you all.
      Written 4 February 2025
    • bethpR9582HJ
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great dog sled ride
      Our guide, Jimmy, was great! His dogs are beautiful and gave us a great ride through the snow-covered Boreal forest. Highly recommend this adventure. Jimmy was knowledgable and you can tell her loves his dogs.
      Written 4 February 2025
    • X3742YOmarkp
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Dog sledding
      A unique and scenic ride through the countryside. Our musher, Laura was friendly and outgoing. No doubt she loves her job and her dogs.
      Written 4 February 2025
    See all 2,116 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    We perform checks on reviews.
    Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
    Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
    When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
    Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
    Learn more about our review moderation.
    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles305 reviews
    Excellent
    294
    Very good
    6
    Average
    3
    Poor
    0
    Terrible
    2

    Emily L
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2025 • Couples
    This was not only my first time ice fishing but also my first time fishing in general, and Mike made it an absolutely fantastic experience! He was engaging, shared great stories, and kept the entire group entertained for the full four hours—no small feat. Mike’s expertise and enthusiasm made the adventure memorable and enjoyable, and the delicious fish we caught was the perfect finishing touch. Highly recommend this experience to anyone looking for a fun and unique Alaskan outing!
    Written 21 January 2025
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Jacob E
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nov 2024 • Family
    Mike was our guide on our ice fishing trip, which took place partly outside and partly inside a cozy hut right on the lake. As a group who had little experience fishing, he explained the entire process in an easy-to-understand and very friendly manner. We had an absolute blast, having caught more than fifteen fish (many of which were thrown back, don't worry game wardens). Mike was incredibly acommodating, giving us helpful tips, making us coffee, explaining the culture of Fairbanks, and helping us get fish. Would highly recommend this experience on its own, but would doubly (or trebly) recommend it if you get Mike! He even helped us drill some new ice fishing holes and let us watch the processing process. Thanks, Mike!
    Written 24 November 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    All anglers are welcome to fish outside for a bit and brave the arctic air to get the "Grumpy Old Men" feel of ice fishing. But the warm cozy cabin is always waiting to fish inside. Thank you for the review.
    Written 27 November 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Janice E
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2025 • Couples
    Had an incredible ice fishing experience with Rod's Alaskan Guide Service in Fairbanks! Our guide Cody was fantastic - personable, knowledgeable, and made our 4-hour trip fly by. The underwater camera setup was a game-changer, letting us watch the fish interact with our lines in real time.
    Cody shared lots of helpful fishing tips and cooked up our catch perfectly. The thoughtful extras really made the experience special - delicious hot cocoa and reindeer sausage hit the spot on the ice. The absolute highlight was watching a majestic bald eagle swoop down when Cody fed it some fish scraps - a truly Alaskan moment!
    If you're looking for an authentic Alaskan ice fishing experience with a great guide who goes above and beyond, I highly recommend booking with Rod's Alaskan Guide Service. Perfect for couples or groups wanting a memorable winter adventure!
    Written 30 January 2025
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for the in-depth review of our fun ice fishing trips.
    Written 3 February 2025
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Kimberly R
    Laredo, TX16 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We went ice fishing with rods Alaskan services and had so much fun! This was my first time ever fishing and I caught two fish, while my husband caught 1. Several other people in our cabin also caught fish. It was so exciting and such a learning experience our guide Trevor did an awesome job and teaching us the ins and outs of ice fishing and providing us with all sorts of tips. He cleaned prepped and seasoned the fish and were able to have an awesome dinner. The entire time we were in a heated cabin while it dipped into the -40F outside during a cold snap. We were cozy and comfortable the 4 hours we spent there. The reindeer hot dogs he provided were also very yummy! Overall 5/5 highly recommend and would do it again.
    Written 7 February 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    We offer 2 trips for ice fishing during the day (10:00AM & 2:00PM). we also offer a nighttime aurora viewing with ice fishing t 10:00PM. Thank you for the review.
    Written 10 February 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    AKSmM
    37 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Enjoyed our time on the ice with kids and grandparents. Trevor did a great job introducing us newbies to the best fishing technique, the kinds of fish in the lake, interesting tidbits of life in Alaska, prepping hot sausages, keeping that oven hot and cabin comfy, and prepping our haul. We had a great time taking advantage of the limited daylight, a short distance from Fairbanks and the ability to stop at North Pole on Christmas Eve.
    Written 27 December 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Our fishing location is about 4 miles from North Pole. Where the famous Santa Claus House is. North Pole also has restaurants, gas stations and a grocery store. Thank you for the review.
    Written 31 December 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Tony Z
    Mountain View, CA13 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful experience for us! Trevor was an amazing guide and took great care of us. He started with detailed fishing instructions, dug outdoor holes for us to switch between inside and outside fishing, gave very nice demos of how to clean, prepare, and cook the fish, and is patient and professional throughout the 4+ hour fishing session. We caught five fish in total, completing the trifecta of King Salmon, Coho Salmon and Rainbow Trout. Eating the fresh-caught fish on the spot feels very fulfilling. Would definitely recommend, patience is the key (and the fish liver does make a great bait!)
    Written 28 December 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for ice fishing with us at Rod's Alaskan Guide Service.
    Written 31 December 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    sabrinak136
    New Orleans, LA1,499 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Unfortunately, our dog sledding trip with another company was canceled on Wednesday due to bad weather in Fairbanks on Monday. Thus, I had to find an activity so we didn’t waste a precious day of our vacation.  We were able to book a 2:00pm tour with ease for that same day with Rod’s Alaskan Guide Service. We were fortunate however, I would always encourage any visitor to always book in advance.  The cost of the tour for an adult and a child was $263.38.   In addition, please note that you will need to provide your own transportation to the fishing location.
    It was a blistering cold Alaskan day however, thanks to the indoor accommodations of the heated cabin we never had to worry about being cold.  Cody was an amazing guide and he managed to keep the cabin warm with a nice wood burning fire.  In addition, Cody helped everyone with baiting their hooks and provided all the assistance that was needed to catch fish.  He added a special touch by playing music while we attempted to fish. This element definitely brought life to such a quiet cabin. In addition, he provided hot chocolate, water, and delicious reindeer sausage on a bun for all who desired. My son is an extremely picky eater however, because he was hungry he stepped outside of his comfort zone and tried the reindeer sausage.  He ate every bite and really enjoyed it.
    Ice fishing will take approximately four hours and most times ice fishing just like regular fishing is a wait and see process. However, talking with the other members of the group and Kody made for a fun adventure and time pasted rather quickly. I must admit that Cody has a winning personality which allowed everyone to feel welcomed and enjoy the sport of ice fishing.  We are from New Orleans so this was a one in a lifetime opportunity to fish on a frozen lake in interior Alaska.  We are happy we took this last minute journey. Thanks Cody for cooking the delicious fish and making sure we had an amazing day.  We truly enjoyed our visit and making priceless memories. Much success!!
    Written 26 December 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for allowing us to show you a piece of Alaska's wild side with a personal touch. Thank you for the review.
    Written 28 December 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Amy S
    Duluth, GA59 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This was one of the best value excisions we did during our Fairbanks vacation. We did this particular one on my husband’s 50th birthday and he was not disappointed at all. We were pleasantly surprised at how nice and warm the cabin was that we were fishing in. We were expecting a “Grumpy Old Men” style shanty. This was very nice with a wood stove and very warm—75 degrees or so inside. We caught so many fish that we lost count. My husband and I each caught over a dozen and there were so. Other people on there catching fish too. We caught junior King Salmon, Rainbow Trout and Char. They feed you a snack of reindeer sausage on a bun (kind of like a hot dog), which was delicious and supply hot chocolate and water. Then they cook your catch at the end. They only cook one fish per person and you have to throw the others back, which was a little bit of a bummer because the fish were small and it didn’t make a meal, but they were seasoned well and delicious. Trevor was our guide. He was fantastic!
    Written 23 November 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Ice fishing has been excellent so far this year. Most fishermen/women have caught so many fish they loose track of their total amount caught. We do practice sustainable fishing methods. Every guest can keep 1 fish, that we prepare and cook for a fresh fish snack. The remaining fish are released unharmed back into the lake. Thank you for the review.
    Written 23 November 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    MidwestVacationer2
    Fayetteville, AR58 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Noah, our ice fishing guide, was the best!

    He was very professional, attentive, and informative. He went above and beyond his responsibilities.

    The heated cabin was perfect in the very cold winter Alaskan weather. It was comfortable.

    Our party caught some king salmon which was very deliciously seasoned and grilled by Noah.

    The water, hot cocoa, and reindeer sausage were good. They were grilled on-site, making them taste better.

    Don’t hesitate to book this activity. Rod’s Alaskan Guide is very organized and you will be well taken care of.
    Just enjoy the experience.
    Written 30 December 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for the review of our fun ice fishing adventures.
    Written 1 January 2025
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Jack S
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2023 • Couples
    Absolute fantastic time ice fishing!! We called about 3 hours before and Kiana couldn’t have been any sweeter as she helped us get everything booked for our 4 hour ice fishing trip! We were the only 2 booked for our session and our guide Mike was the best!! He cooked us up some reindeer sausage while we fished and also kept the cabin nice and warm while helping us along the way. We had great conversation with him for the 4 hours that we fished and we caught over 20 king salmon and rainbow trout between the two of us. Mike then prepared a few of our fish for us to eat at the end. It couldn’t have been a better first experience ice fishing and would recommend to anyone interested in ice fishing in this area!!
    Written 5 December 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Showing results 1-10 of 305
    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

    Fairbanks Ice Fishing Expedition in a Heated Cabin with Fish Cookout provided by Rod's Alaskan Guide Service

    All things to do in North Pole
    RestaurantsFlightsHoliday RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars