Aurora Ice Fishing in Fairbanks: Catch and cook your dinner

Catch fish on a frozen lake, then watch the Northern Lights dance overhead

Aurora Ice Fishing is an evening activity in Fairbanks where you fish from a heated hut on a frozen lake and watch for the Northern Lights, with hotel pickup included. Your guide teaches ice fishing techniques, cooks any fish you catch, and points out the Aurora when it appears. The outing runs about six and a half hours and includes all gear, hot beverages, and your cooked catch.

The experience

What do you actually do on an evening like this? You get picked up from your Fairbanks hotel between 8:00 and 8:30 PM and drive to a carefully chosen ice fishing location on a frozen lake in the area. Once there, you step into a heated hut (the kind that keeps you warm while you fish through a hole in the ice), and your guide walks you through the basics. You're not watching someone else fish. You're holding the rod, learning the technique, and waiting for a bite. If you catch something, the guide will cook it for you right there, so you eat what you pulled from the water.

The Northern Lights are the reason you're out on the ice in the first place. While you're fishing, your guide keeps watch for the Aurora. When it appears, you step outside into the winter night to see it dance across the sky. The contrast (the quiet frozen lake, the dark sky, the green light moving overhead) is the whole point of timing the outing this way. You're not driving to a viewing spot and hoping. You're already there, already settled, and the guide knows the area well enough to pick locations where the Aurora tends to show. All the fishing gear comes with you, along with hot coffee or tea to keep you warm between casts.

What’s included

• All fishing gear and equipment.
• a heated fishing hut.
• your caught fish, cooked by your guide.
• hot coffee and tea.
• hotel pickup and return transportation.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 20:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (5 and older) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 22 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by 1st Alaska Outdoor School

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup means you don't need a car or a ride to the lake. The guide handles the drive and knows exactly where to go. This matters if you're staying in Fairbanks without a rental or if you'd rather not navigate frozen roads at night.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

What happens if I don't catch any fish?

Your guide will still prepare a meal for you using their own catch or prepared fish, so you get to enjoy a cooked dinner on the ice regardless. The fishing is the activity. The meal is part of the experience either way.

How cold is it, and will I be warm enough in the hut?

Fairbanks winter temperatures drop well below freezing, but the heated hut is designed to keep you comfortable while you fish. Dress warmly in layers, and the hut does the rest. Your guide will advise on what to wear when you book.

Is this activity suitable for kids?

Children five years old and up can join. Younger children are not permitted because of the cold exposure and the time spent outdoors waiting for the Aurora.

What if the Northern Lights don't show up?

The Aurora is never guaranteed, even in Fairbanks. You'll still fish, eat your catch, and spend the evening on the ice. The guide will explain what conditions favor the lights and point out any activity in the sky if it appears.

Do I need a fishing license?

A fishing license is not included and is your responsibility to arrange beforehand. Your guide can advise on how to obtain one for Alaska before your trip.