FISHING
-
Head Guide
Growing up my Dad was a teacher. Having summers off we were able to road trip for extended periods. When we took family vacations it was always centered around the mountains and native trout. Those summers were special and that's really where my passion for fly fishing began.
I've been a guide for 16 seasons in Alaska with all but one of those having been in the Bristol Bay watersheds. Our lodge is set in one of the most biodiverse fisheries left on our planet, but the Naknek specifically has the largest native non-anadromous rainbows on the planet and provides one of the best two-hand swing fisheries on earth. There is also nothing quite like being able to fish consistently in close proximity to brown bears.
-
Excursion Liaison Guide
Born & raised in Minnesota’s lake country I grew up fishing for bass, pike and walleye every chance I could get. I grew up fishing with conventional gear; fly fishing was always the forbidden fruit in rural Minnesota. After taking a job at a lodge in southeast Alaska I picked up a fly rod and fell in love with fishing all over again.
I currently split time between Minnesota and Alaska, with plans to build a cabin in Minnesota within the next couple of years. In the off season I work at Majestic Heli Ski in Alaska, and I work for Outside Inc on the Warren Miller film tour every year.
Nothing matches Alaska, and once you’re in Alaska, nothing beats the Katmai area. You’re able to chase after beautiful fish in amazing locations. There's nothing like being within a few hundred feet of a bear at the base of a mountain targeting trophy trout. To top it off, you get to come “home” to an incredible lodge with awesome food and a kind, attentive staff which is there solely to make sure you have the best experience possible.
-
Guide
I was born and raised in Ohio with a deep passion and love for the local landscapes. I love teaching beginners to experienced anglers the art of fly fishing and look forward to sharing my passion every day on the water. In my free time I love exploring new water and taking in a Bengals or Reds game.
BRISTOL BAY WATERSHED
The Bristol Bay Watershed is one the greatest fishing areas in the world. People come from all over to fish these waters. There are five species of Pacific Salmon here and Trophy Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, and Arctic Grayling. That's a statement you hear a lot when reading river details in Alaska. The difference here is that the Salmon show up in the millions and the Trophy Rainbow Trout are bigger, wilder, and just plain aggressive. We're talking about 30" rainbows that are fat, hungry, and ready to battle. Sockeye Salmon fishing is another reason people come here. Their runs are in the millions and at one time supported six or so canneries along the River. Today, up to 20 million Sockeye swim the Naknek River during their spawning run.
Trophy Rainbow Trout
The Rainbows are available all season long. The first fish to target on the Naknek River are the Trophy Rainbow Trout. They leave Naknek Lake just as the ice breaks to feed on last year's dead Salmon and the roe that is dislodged by the flow of water. Naknek Lake is also a fantastic place to fish for trophy Rainbow. They spend a great deal of time there feeding on the millions of Sockeye fry.
SALMON
King Salmon, whose presence brings the Rainbow fishing into focus, appear in late June and run through late July. The Sockeye Salmon begin to show up in June and are plentiful by the last week of July. Expect to find the River and its tributaries full of Sockeye by mid-July. The Silver Salmon appear in late July and depending on the year, and the weather may be available in September.
