Best practices to catch, handle, and release fish.

High fives for Fish Need Water! Check out some amazing shots of catch-and-release underwater footage of rainbow trout, char, and dollies.

Thirty years ago, when Crystal Creek Lodge was founded, it was one of the first Alaskan fishing lodges to fully embrace catch and release, with zero exceptions for trout, char, grayling, and dollies, whether for trophies, shore lunch, or take-home. Despite some initial pushback, we have taken great pride in releasing them to grow, spawn, and continue the cycle that is so very precious to us and the environment.

Keep Em Wet

Keep Em Wet is now an important and growing movement. According to the Keepemwet® website: Keepemwet® is about releasing fish in the best condition possible. It’s a motto for minimizing air exposure, eliminating contact with dry surfaces, and reducing handling. It’s a movement to empower anglers to take small, simple steps to responsibly enjoy and share fishing experiences. Our goal is to minimize the impact of catch & release angling on fisheries by uniting conscientious anglers, organizations, and companies to promote science-based practices for handling fish that are released.

Over the last few decades, releasing fish has become increasingly common. Whether by choice or regulation, many anglers regularly release fish, aiming to return a healthy fish to the water. However, mishandling a fish is not good. Like placing it on dry surfaces like a riverbank or exposing it to air for an extended period can impact fish health. In reality, just because a fish swims away doesn’t mean it has quickly recovered from capture and handling. Impacts can range from short-term impairment of swimming to delayed symptoms such as reduced fertility and even mortality.

Fishing Guides at Crystal Creek Lodge take these concepts seriously. They work hard to ensure that fish are released as healthy as possible to ensure their safety. Guides and their anglers will be happy and confident that fish are released in the best possible condition. By following the keepemwet principles and incorporating a handful of easy practices when handling, photographing, and releasing fish.

Check out our Fishing page and our Adventure page to learn more about opportunities to enjoy the Alaska fishing season. Discover the wonders of Crystal Creek Lodge through our Instagram page, where you can immerse yourself in stunning visuals and learn more about our exciting adventures in the Alaskan wilderness!

Crystal Creek Lodge, nestled on the banks of the Naknek River, near King Salmon, Alaska. It is a renowned Luxury Alaska Fishing and Adventure Lodge with over 400 5-star reviews. Since 1988, we’ve been delivering thousands of exciting and memorable flyout excursions.