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.
Alaska Duck HuntingThe colder weather is bringing the ducks down! The ducks have been flying well on the Naknek River and all of the coastal ponds we have been hunting. The variety of ducks has been great this year from Mallards to teal and both greater and lesser scaup. Dan has been flying some trips…
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Alaska Shore Lunch Paul and Jeff H., father and son from North Carolina and Pennsylvania respectively, are smacking their lips as they anticipate delivery of fresh Silver Salmon to their plates. Paul and Jeff have fished with us several times, but for the first time they did an overnight at Yantarni. We treated them to…
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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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A Magic Day A day of magic with guests Jack and Brad from Connecticut and guests Shari and Judith from Washington. Jack and Brad have been guests of Crystal Creek for over 15 years, and they usually bird hunt and do a little fishing. Shari and Judith love to fish and this is their first…
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Two fish, caught from two rivers, two days apart. One, a 20-inch fish that lives it’s life year round in a stream far from a lake connection, turns pigmented, spotted, green and bright red from exposure to sunlight. The other, a 29-inch fish, remains chrome and without pigment from living it’s life year round in…
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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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Yesterday we put Beaver N602AK on wheels. Man! I love that plane on wheels! It is an incredible performer. After doing a few touch-and-goes last night that allowed me to pilot Steve to brush off the dust, we put it on the schedule today to go char fishing at Becharof Lake. The guests caught hundreds. While…
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Shown are Charles and Mindy of Wasilla, Alaska holding two fat Naknek River Rainbow Trout caught on August 4. We had a slight weather delay, waiting for the morning fog to burn off before we could fly out. Charles and Mindy chose to opt out of their fly-out day to spend the day on the…
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The streams of Bristol Bay are turning red as the bright-red Sockeye Salmon swims into the gin-clear water. It’s an amazing sight to see from the window of an airplane flying 500 ft. overhead. The Rainbow Trout are coming out of the lakes to follow the salmon and gorge on their eggs. The first spawning…
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A guest favorite at our dinner table is always Wednesday’s surf and turf night. Last night Chefs Joe and Brian served up the surf course as claw of King Crab aside a bowl of gazpacho soup garnished with mellon. The turf course was Prime Angus Beef fillet set atop a mole sauce and topped with…
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