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.
Never Gonna Leave: Alaska Fishing Lodge Experience Connection is an essential component of the Crystal Creek Lodge experience; connection to nature, connection to adventure, and connection to one another through hospitality & fellowship. We thank our amazing guests for following our pre-trip protocols so we could, after sitting on the sidelines, gather together again to…
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Despite all that is going on in the world, salmon will continue to thrive this year in Bristol Bay just as they have for thousands of years. Salmon will run and navigate back to their natal streams, the place of their birth. Bears will fish and a wonderfully complex ecosystem supported by salmon will flourish….
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Katie E. of Kalispell, MT is holding one of the many Silver Salmon rushing into the streams at Yantarni this week. We expect the run to peak in the next 14 days. This year we have been blessed with spectacular weather and abundant runs of Silver Salmon. Be sure to visit Yantarni next year in September!…
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It’s a close call and the fish may have it by a fin. Alec J. of California, along with his father, David, scored this beautiful string of Sockeye Salmon recently on a sunny day, fishing together on the Kvichak River. Check out our Fishing page and our Adventure page to learn more about opportunities to…
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Glenn and Sam H. from California fished together on the Kvichak River during a beautiful Bristol Bay day, July 4th. Together they watched thousands of Sockeye Salmon stream by the bank and they caught their limit of five apiece in a matter of a couple hours. Sam is holding his first fish of the day…
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The first King Salmon of the 2014 Crystal Creek Lodge season was caught today at the Nushagak River by William Oberholtzer, age 6. Guiding him was his dad, Alex Oberholtzer, pilot/guide and partner at Crystal Creek Lodge. The Nushagak run of Kings is ahead of schedule and the run is predicted to be strong! Kings…
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We are at the peak of the Yantarni camp Silver Salmon run. Shown is Connor holding a beautiful Yantarni Silver. Photo taken by Ryan Thompson. Ryan works with the Fly Fishing Film Tour and was at Yantarni this week to shoot a commercial short. Yantarni Salmon Camp will be a presenting sponsor of the Fly…
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Guide Connor Scott is shown holding a Chum Salmon caught by Rick and Lee P. of Phoenix, AZ. This is Lee’s 24th trip to CCL and his first to Yantarni Salmon Camp. Rick and Lee went on a day trip. They and two other guests caught numerous Chums and Pink Salmon within sight of the…
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We woke today expecting to fly out all the guests. Duane went to the dock at 5:30 to report the “Black Mamba”, a procession of nose-to-tail Sockeye Salmon several thick, was snaking past the dock. We quickly re-geared all the guests to the Naknek fleet of boats and in short order, all 14 guests had…
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The Kings are in both the Naknek and Nushagak Rivers. Alex and Josh state it’s the best they’ve seen in years. One angler reported bringing 21 Kings to the net yesterday. Incredible! Sockeyes are running the Naknek, Kvichak, Egegik and Ugashik systems and we have had great days at each thus far. Great weather has…
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