The Crystal Creek Lodge Blog is a place of possibilities, where you can learn deeper insights into how to explore the tens of millions of acres of wild Alaska surrounding us. Whether you’re after fishing, wildlife, the perspective of history or simply feeling the awe of being in wide-open spaces, it’s all here. Enjoy the journey.
Workhorse in the sky The De Havilland Beaver has a rich history around the world. Of course, now it is a great part of Alaska’s aviation heritage. The Beaver has been a cornerstone of the sport fishing community in Bristol Bay since the first lodges and fishing outfits began in the 1950s. We at Crystal Creek…
Read more »
The Naknek River produces some of the largest and hardest fighting rainbow trout on planet Earth. From mid-August until mid-October, we have the opportunity to catch steelhead-like rainbows that move into the river from Naknek Lake. During this time, you start to see the trout transition from eggs to eating salmon flesh. So, you can…
Read more »
Aniakchak National Monument sees under 300 tourists every year. Each year, Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve consistently ranks as the least visited of all National Park Service lands. Located halfway down the remote and rugged Alaska Peninsula, it is a truly primitive area. The volcanic geology and natural history of Aniakchak tell a tale of…
Read more »
Naknek River, Alaska If you were wondering what fishing would be like in late September and October at Crystal Creek Lodge, check out this photo gallery of the big Naknek River rainbows that we see each fall (click on the image to enlarge). This late fall time is ideal for landing one of these giant…
Read more »
The Valley of 10,000 Smokes In the year 1912 on June 6th, the Katmai Eruption (also known as the Novarupta Volcano eruption) occurred. It sent nearly 30 cubic kilometers of ash and debris into the atmosphere. The Katmai eruption was the largest of the 20th century. This cataclysmic event created a barren and Martian-like landscape in…
Read more »
We need your help! At Crystal Creek Lodge, we are in the middle of a fantastic fishing season. We are seeing a terrific run of sockeye salmon throughout the region, which is the life blood of the Bristol Bay ecosystem and economy. For the past 30 years, our guests have enjoyed the world-class salmon resource in Bristol…
Read more »
Our Backyard Wilderness at Crystal Creek Lodge Crystal Creek Lodge, located on the Naknek River in King Salmon, Alaska, was chosen with great intention. Notably, the lodge is only 5 miles downriver from the world-renowned Katmai National Park. While Katmai is famous worldwide for its brown bears, fishing, and wilderness, we also have another significant…
Read more »
A herd of Pacific Walrus has relocated themselves to the nearby Bristol Bay coast at Cape Grieg, about 60 miles south of Crystal Creek Lodge. We went for a quick scouting trip yesterday and saw 1500-2000 animals either beached or in the water. Shown is the herd after a rain squall came through and the…
Read more »
Miss Rosanna Trestman of Connecticut returned to Crystal Creek Lodge in search of a King Salmon to exceed her personal record of 42 inches, set in 2014, but, alas, she didn’t beat her record, yet she still caught some nice Kings and Sockeye Salmon. Here is Rosanna with her best King of the week, held…
Read more »
The bar at Crystal Creek Lodge has been rechristened as “The Beaver Bar”, a tribute to the hard-working DeHavilland Beaver aircraft that have served us and the north country since 1947. Have a sneak preview of the modifications at the album on our Facebook page, or, better yet, be our guest and enjoy a cold…
Read more »