Intricate Bay Lodge

We just finished a week at the Outpost at Intricate Bay Lodge. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! The food was fantastic (thanks Patrick- I'm going to make the recipe you shared!), the guides were top-notch (a shoutout to K-Mart, J-Mart, Evan and Don) and the pilots for the flyouts were highly skilled and just great folks (appreciate you Roy and Brian). Eight of us caught a lot of trout over 5 days, many of which were >20 inches and several were >24 inches. But for us it was not about the size of fish (although that was remarkable- you just can't beat Alaska trout), it was the atmosphere and environment created by the staff that allowed us to fully enjoy our time together. It's worth noting that our group ranged from someone who had never fly fished before, to someone with 13 yrs experience as a professional guide. The Intricate Bay guides worked well with each of us, providing skill-appropriate coaching. A particular thanks to Evan who did a tremendous job teaching the "newbie" on his first day: well done!

8 months ago

Absolutely the best fishing trip I’ve ever experienced. Guides were outstanding, everyone caught plenty of fish with all of us catching our personal best trout. Lots of wildlife and beautiful scenery, and at the end of the day we had excellent food prepared to a warm and friendly lodge staff. I can’t think of a single thing that could’ve been improved upon. Definitely coming back. Brian does an incredible job and all of his staff is exceptional.

4 years ago

If it’s good enough for Jimmy Carter it’s good enough for me. Intricate bay lodge has a perfect location with so much to see and do around Lake Illiamna. I can’t imagine a better place to live an Alaska dream.

8 months ago

My 23 year old son and I had very little fly fishing experience and came into the trip nervous about our preparedness especially given the high experience level of the rest of our group. First and foremost, the guides put us at ease instantly and focused on getting us up to speed with the basics: safety precauthions, the water types, the tackle, the gear, the clothing, the fly types, the casting techniques, the fish, the seasons, the wildlife, waterfowl, etc. We were not only impressed with how much they put us at ease but also their vast knowledge of both trout fishing and the entire ecosystem of the region. As for the lodge, it is expansive with all modern amenities but with an alpine feel in its exterior and interior. The entire team at Intricate Bay Lodge radiated positivity; from the kitchen staff early early morning to the team of guides, pilots and rest of the staff until the evening. We also came to appreciate all the behind the scenes detailed logistical preparations that begin after our day of fishing in anticipation for the next day of fishing. We were afforded tremendous flexibility in accessing a variety of locations via the sea planes. The level of personal attention we received, whether it was the guides, or the staff at the lodge, was exemplary. This is a very remote area that presents a multitude of challenges for the ill-prepared. And at every turn we marveled at the preparedness of Brian and his team. Our room for 2 and beds were very comfortable and we had private bathroom. Both were tidied up every day while we were out. Breakfast and dinners were excellent and lunches on the river allowed us to maximize our fishing time. We went in early June and were surrounded by scenic snow-capped mountains so bring lots of merino wool 1st layer with additional fleece layers and exterior protection from wind and rain conditions. I rate it a 10 out of 10 and plan to return again.

3 years ago

Great Fly fishing experience, we caught four types of salmon on our trip and also some rainbow trout and a few other species. All the guides were very helpful and friendly the hole trip. The silver salmon fishing was by far the best of the trip while we were there. Multiple members of our group caught over 40 fish in a day and the rest of the guys caught 20-30 fish each. The guides Liam, Casey, Sam and John were on point and pilots Brian and Mark always made up feel safe in the sky. Highly recommend.||||Capt. Derek

5 years ago

We stayed at Intricate Bay Lodge Sept 16-22. It was my 7th trip and my wife’s 5th. We loved each visit. We didn't not think it was possible for 2019 to be as good as 2018 but it as good and in some ways better. The fishing was outstanding! Every day we caught lots of large trout. The meals were what I would expect in a 4 star restaurant. This year’s staff was also the best ever, including the guides, Chef Brian, house staff and pilots Brian & Mark. Manager/owner Brian makes sure IBL keeps getting better! We’ll be back in 2020.

5 years ago

We stayed at the Outpost which is a new addition to IBL. It's a house on the same lake as the lodge, but it has its own staff so you probably won't go to the lodge unless there's a reason. It's not fancy but it's clean and the location is amazing. There's also a sauna and a hot tub which were much appreciated at the end of a long day fishing.|||| Brian picked us up in the float plane in Iliamna and that was the start of an incredible adventure. The staff is top notch - Dawn and Macy run the house and handle the meals which are incredible - and Schuler, John and Ray put us on the fish. Each day we boated or flew to a new and beautiful spot where we caught trout and salmon (and even a pike on a slow day). Guides are very knowledgeable and patient and we enjoyed getting to know them. Make sure you take anything you might need, including lots of layers for the changing weather, as this is a very remote location.

3 years ago

Simply Incredible!||I'm still coming down from my Alaskan fly fishing high! My CGCG group has been fishing together for the past 20 years, and our recent trip to Intricate Bay Lodge was beyond awesome.||The fishing was amazing -- voracious 20 to 28" rainbow trout aggressively feeding on sockeye salmon eggs and our fly imitations. My arms got fatigued from reeling in so many of those beautiful trophies!||The guides were really great, and became true friends by the end of the week. Monte, Casey, Nick, Sam, Liam and Joey were so knowledgeable, happy, personable, eager to please and fun to be around.||The flyouts were super cool, and the pilots Brian and Mark were professional but also really great guys. The Alaskan scenery is breathtaking, and when we weren't reeling in big fish, we were spotting the occasional grizzly bear or moose.||It was amazing to recognize the legendary Monte Becker on the dock when we first arrived at the Lodge. We had the pleasure of fishing with Monte at the Magic Waters Lodge in Patagonia, Chile two years ago. What a small world when it comes to avid fly fishermen and world class lodges! ||The Intricate Bay Lodge is a gorgeous facility on beautiful Bristol Bay. The rooms are spacious, and the living room, dining room and bar are well appointed and very comfortable. ||The food was simply spectacular! Ryan the chef is supremely talented, with made to order hot breakfast and fabulous dinners. The lovely Chloe always greeted us with a smile, while warming up our coffee and running the dining room. Our last evening meal of Alaskan king crab and bacon wrapped filet was truly amazing.||What really makes the operation stand out is the do-everything owner/manager Brian Harry. Brian first greeted us at the Illiamna Air Taxi service with his handsome smile and welcoming eyes. It is abundantly clear Brian is 'all in' as he pours his heart and soul into every aspect needed to make the lodge such a phenomenal success. Brian, thank you sincerely for sharing your slice of Heaven with all of us. We now have memories to last a lifetime, and can't wait to go back!||Tom S.

5 years ago