LAVA CREEK LODGE - Kienes' Premier Destination
Alaska
LAVA CREEK LODGE
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Destination Overview
Lava Creek Lodge is a new small outpost lodge on the Aleutian Peninsula of Alaska, approximately 110 miles south/southwest of King Salmon, Alaska. The lodge accommodates a maximum of eight guests during king, chum, and silver salmon seasons.
It is custom-tailored for the serious salmon angler who values remote and nearly untouched water, swing fishing for dime-bright kings and chums, and popper and streamer action for big, hyper-aggressive silver salmon. With the ultra-low occupancy, anglers get the pick of the litter of the best pools on the home river, as well as other rivers accessed by float plane.
This is a classic jet boat and fly out operation. You will rarely if ever see other anglers on the river, so there is no rushing to get to the best water, and you will always be able to fish full days regardless of what the weather is doing. The boats are used for access only, and allow anglers to reach prime wading runs filled with fish.
Weather permitting, some lodge guests will have the option to fly out to one of the other nearby rivers that are equally stacked with ocean bright fish during their stay, also using boats to access the best wade fishing opportunities. Since you will be fishing water influenced by tidal pushes daily, the boats can follow the fish as they shoulder upriver, or find the pools where they are stacked up at any given time. With two anglers per boat and guide, and only eight guests in camp at any one time, there is always plenty of fresh, fish-filled water to choose from.
At a Glance
Location: On the banks of a remote lake, far out on the Alaska Peninsula
Target Fish: King, Chum and Silver Salmon - Rainbows and Grayling available
Time of Year: The season runs from June through September
Lodge Capacity: The Camp comfortably holds 8 anglers.
Nearest Airport: Anchorage
Documents Required: Appropriate U.S. travel I.D.
Fishing Program
The angling package at Lava Creek Lodge includes a combination of guided fishing on the home waters and, weather permitting, some possible fly-out fishing on regional rivers. After a hearty breakfast, you'll put on your waders on the porch of your cabin, grab your tackle, and take the short walk down to where the jet boats and/or plane will be awaiting to whisk you to a seemingly endless supply of picture-perfect runs and pools. The guides will have you moving all day, jumping from one piece of water to the next with their boats, then getting out and wading. It is not unusual to cover miles of river in a day.
The Chinook salmon fishing at Lava Creek Lodge is classic down and across swing-fishing with a double handed rod or appropriate single handed stick. In some situations, especially in this type of fishing, a double handed rod is a better tool. The rivers we fish are not fast or terribly deep, and usually light sink-tips are all you need to get your fly into the correct water column. Additionally, the rivers we fish are not terribly wide, so long and difficult casts are not needed to be successful.
Silver salmon fishing is about numbers. They school up in pools by the hundreds, and these hyper-aggressive fish will jump on pink poppers and wildly-colored streamers during the months of August and September.
Typical of the Bering Sea coastal rivers in this area, Lava Creek Lodge silvers are large - 10 pounds on average with daily chances of hooking into a fish in the 15 to 18 pound range.
Anglers can expect high volume silver salmon fishing both on the home-water as well as the remote rivers creeks and inlets the lodge accesses by short float plane flight
Lava Creek Lodge guides are professionals who know the rivers and each daily fishing experience will be a memorable adventure, unique and full of action. Fishing days are full; expect long days on the water, only interrupted by a quick lunch break, then back at it. Lunches are normally taken in the field, prepared by the cook staff and carried by your guide, along with drinks of your choice.
At the end of each long, fish-filled day, guides will return their guests to the lodge, tired from hooking fish. A quick shower in your private bathroom is in order, and then you’ll head to the lodge for appetizers and cocktails and listen to your fishing buddies tell of the day’s events on the river.
The lodge serves up tasty lodge dinners, and after eating their fill, anglers will walk to their cabin and collapse, getting a good night’s sleep. The best part is that tomorrow you get to do it again!
Best Fly Fishing seasons:
• King Season: June - July
• Grand Slam Season: July - Aug
• Silver Season: Aug - Sept
Accommodations
Lava Creek Lodge is located on the banks of a remote lake, far out on the Alaska Peninsula, which is linked to the home river by a small channel.
There is a main lodge building where all the meals are served, then a series of double occupancy wooden guest cabins, each complete with a bathroom and shower. The Lodge is located approximately 110 miles southwest from the town of King Salmon.
The lodge complex features 24-hour electricity, hot and cold running water including comfortable showers, flush toilets, sinks, limited wifi (adequate to send and receive emails) and facetime phone service (no cell reception), and all of the buildings are heated. It’s not fancy, but it is new, comfortable, and dry, and offers spectacular views of the coastal range and ancient Aniakchak Volcano rising 4,400 feet from sea level, separating the Pacific Ocean from the Bering Sea.
Your time spent at Lava Creek Lodge will be comfortable, and memorable in the extreme remoteness of the location. You are a long way from the nearest town, and the nighttime skies can be spectacular. It is a very special place, made even more so by the lodge’s small weekly occupancy!
Getting There
Airline and Hotel Reservations Airline and hotel reservations should be made well in advance in order to ensure you receive the best flights and rates for your traveling needs.
Saturday, (the day prior to flying to the lodge):
On Saturday - the day prior to your arrival at Lava Creek Lodge - you should plan on traveling to Anchorage and overnighting at one of the many fine hotels in the waterfront city. (Please see our Anchorage Guide to Hotels and Restaurants.)
This is a great day to relax, check out Anchorage, or purchase any personal liquor you want to take down to the lodge.
Sunday, Day 1: Lava Creek Lodge has arranged for a private charter from Anchorage, Alaska, to a landing strip eleven miles from the lodge. The charter service used is Anchorage Aero, located at Lake Hood, Anchorage, Alaska.
You’ll want to take a hotel shuttle or taxi to their hangar in order to catch your flight. Check in time is noon, with a scheduled departure at 1:00 PM.
Upon arrival to the airstrip, you will be met by Phil Byrd and flown in his float plane (usually two to three anglers at a time) the approximate 10-minute flight to the lodge.
Upon arrival to Lava Creek Lodge you will be shown to your cabin, where you’ll have a chance to get settled in, unpack, and ready your gear for the action-packed week of fly fishing ahead of you. A light lunch will be served in the main lodge.
Your arrival day is considered a non-fishing day. Phil and Beth Byrd will give a brief orientation of the lodge facilities and outline the daily fishing schedule. The rest of the day is at your leisure to relax and prepare for a full week of angling.
Weight is CRITICAL in the bush plane environment:
Maximum baggage allowance: 70 pounds total per person. This maximum weight allowance includes your soft duffel bag (50 pounds), carry-on bag (10 pounds) and any liquor you purchase in Anchorage that you are flying down on the charter flight for your week at Lava Creek Lodge (10 pounds). Absolutely no hard suitcases, avoid HUGE duffel bags, and rod tubes must not exceed five feet. Keep in mind that two medium-sized duffels are much easier to pack into a small plane than one large one.
If you exceed the 70 pound maximum baggage limit per person, you will be asked to leave some gear at Anchorage Aero to be reclaimed on your trip back home.
Wading Boots: Felt sole boots are not allowed (illegal) in Alaska. You must bring rubber-soled wading boots.
Fishing Licenses: The most convenient way to buy your Alaska Sport Fishing License is online. If you are fishing for king salmon, you will also need to purchase a king stamp.
The lodge does NOT sell fishing licenses; you must purchase your license in advance of your arrival to the lodge, online, at: http://www.admin.adfg.state.ak.us/license/purchasing.html
Day 2 – 7: Fishing Days at Lava Creek Lodge:
Each morning you will awaken to a hearty breakfast and hot coffee, followed by pulling on your waders and loading into the boats for a run to the pools and runs where you will begin the day. If you are flying out for the day, you will be loading up in Phil’s float plane. A nice advantage of such a small occupancy lodge is that there is some flexibility to the daily schedule. This is your fishing vacation so please relay your preferences to Phil and he and his staff will do their best to accommodate you.
River skiffs are used to navigate the rivers, but virtually all the fishing is done while wading. Lunches will be taken in the field, and your fishing days are full. At the end of each day, tired anglers will load back into the boats or float plane and ride back to an awaiting hot shower, hot meal, and comfortable bed.
Day 8 (Sunday): Return to Anchorage, and on home:
Phil will fly you back to the landing strip from the lodge in plenty of time to make your afternoon private charter connection to Anchorage - the late departure gives Phil plenty of time to do so, in case of weather delays. Anglers may arrive to Anchorage in time to make a red-eye connection home, or might choose to overnight in Anchorage and fly out the next morning.
The Lava Creek Lodge to Anchorage charter is scheduled to depart at 4:00 PM, arriving Anchorage at approximately 6:15 PM.
BUSH PLANE FLIGHT ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE TIMES ARE APPROXIMATE AND SUBJECT TO WEATHER DELAYS
Rates
2021 Season:
7 night/6 day package (Sunday - Sunday) (2:1 angler/guide ratio)
• King Season: JUN 06 - JUL 11, 2021 ($7,900 PP)
• Grand Slam Season: JUL 11 - AUG 08, 2021 ($6,800 PP)
• Silver Season: AUG 08 - SEP 12, 2021 ($7,900 PP)
Inclusions: Seven nights double occupancy lodging and six days guided fishing (a mix of fishing on the home river and some fly-out fishing, weather permitting), all meals, (limited wine and beer, see alcohol policy, below), round trip air charter between Anchorage, Alaska, and the lodge, flies and leaders, as well as the use of lodge single-handed fly rods and reels, if needed.
Not Included: Alaska State Sport Fishing License and King Salmon Stamp (the latter only needed in June and July) available online to purchase before your trip, fly fishing equipment (though there is some at the lodge if need be), gratuities, alcohol (limited wine and beer - otherwise BYOB, usually purchased in Anchorage or brought from home), and items of a personal nature.
Lava Creek Lodge Alcohol Policy:
One bottle of wine (red or white) (750 ml) (4 – 5 glasses) will be provided by the lodge to each table of four guests for dinner each evening. In addition the lodge will provide two cans of beer per day for each guest.
If you think you will want more wine, beer or spirits, please plan on bringing your own. The lodge will provide all the mixers. We recommend you purchase your preferred liquor in Anchorage, the day before flying to the lodge.