Hello, Dan Michels here. It's been said that after 36 seasons at Crystal Creek Lodge, I am the only constant. Yet, that being said, it's not about me. It's about our guests, and the staff, of Crystal Creek Lodge. Our guests dedicate their free time to experience what we do and our staff dedicate their careers to serving our guests. This blog series is about snippets of insight as to what we do, and how our guests experience Crystal Creek Lodge. Enjoy.
The Alaska Rainbow Trout is a fish that evolved as an opportunist and, accordingly, is built for speed and aggression. They migrate scores of miles each year, moving in, out and through the rivers, streams and lakes of Bristol Bay in search of salmon fry, small fish, lampreys, salmon eggs, salmon carcasses, insects and even…
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Alex Oberholtzer is the head pilot and guide at Crystal Creek Lodge. He’s the guy who works with you to craft your fishing & adventure vacation. He’s been guiding the rivers and streams of Alaska for 25 years, 20 of them with Crystal Creek Lodge. Alex works hard. When he gets a rare afternoon off…
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When Crystal Creek Lodge began in 1988, we embraced “Catch-and-Release” as a policy for native fish (rainbow trout, the char species, and grayling) when it was a relatively new idea. Despite initial resistance, it has proven over time to be an exceptional and successful conservation practice to promote fish survival and healthy fisheries. We invite…
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The world of Alaska is yours to discover, experience and cherish. The staff of Crystal Creek Lodge takes pride in opening up that world to you through hospitality, adventure and interaction with nature. Let’s take a minute to walk together in Katmai National Park to see many of its natural wonders.
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Bears, Bears, Bears! We are surrounded by millions of acres of roadless, untamed wilderness full of wild Alaska brown bears. The nearby Katmai National Park and Preserve alone holds an estimated, stable population of 2,250. Without searching for them, the guests of Crystal Creek Lodge often see them daily while flying or fishing. If you want…
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At Crystal Creek Lodge, finding wild and unique adventures for our guests is just as important as the quality of the fishing. While we do offer our guests the opportunity to visit the “classic“ locations of Katmai National Park, we constantly search for, then offer destinations that provide the true wild Alaska experience away from…
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A truly exceptional wilderness experience offering diverse scenery, wildlife viewing, and some of the most amazing fishing in the world is at American Creek. It is a world-famous, prolific rainbow trout, dolly varden, and grayling fishery. Located in Katmai National Park, the American is deep in the Naknek River watershed but is a short 20-minute seaplane…
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Take a cruise on the Naknek River, our home water. A short walk from the lodge down our boardwalk brings you to our floating dock, the launchpad of the great daily seaplane and boating adventures. Twisting 35 miles from Naknek Lake to Bristol Bay of the Bering Sea, the Naknek is a cold, clear and…
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When people envision Katmai, they think of bears and salmon… mostly bears. Yes, Katmai is one of the premier brown bear viewing areas in the world but it is also a wonderful backyard playground for guests at Crystal Creek Lodge to explore the wonders of remote Alaska. The landscape and wildlife of Katmai are as…
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It’s simple – vote for the fattest most winter-prepared bear in the Brooks River corridor. If you love the Brooks Falls bears, this is a lot of fun! Fat Bear Week is an annual tournament celebrating the success of the bears at Brooks River in Katmai National Park. From September 30 to October 6, your vote…
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