Wilderness Place Lodge is very well run, affordable, and located on a wonderful and productive fishery.
Wilderness Place Lodge has been taking care of anglers on Alaska’s Lake Creek for decades, sending them home with happy smiles and arms tired from catching fish.
Wilderness Place Lodge is conveniently located about 35 minutes by float plane from Anchorage, at the scenic confluence of Lake Creek and the glacial Yentna River. Lake Creek is one of the most fertile streams in all of Alaska, with strong runs of all Pacific salmon, along with native grayling, and rainbow trout. Wilderness Place Lodge offers anglers a unique fly fishing program based on flexibility, guest preferences, and incomparable Alaskan hospitality. Depending on the time of year, guests may target any or all species of Alaskan sportfish, from the mighty king salmon, to plentiful silver salmon, to the ever-sporty rainbow trout.
Within such close proximity to Anchorage, the simplicity of getting to Wilderness Place Lodge should be of interest to dedicated, hardcore fly anglers, as well as to those interested in adding a fishing side-trip to a broader Alaska vacation. Wilderness Place also welcomes trips of any length, corporate trips and couple’s trips. Proximity to Anchorage also means that with minimal flying involved it is priced moderately compared to Alaska’s more far flung destinations. Flying a shorter distance from Anchorage also guarantees less travel time and more fishing time.
Anglers are accommodated in deluxe, 2-4 person occupancy cabins with en suite baths. All meals, guided fishing, and fishing equipment is included in the package price. Meals are first rate, with three Cordon Bleu trained chefs on staff. The fishing day is molded around each angler’s specific interests, with quick and easy access to the nearby fishing waters via jet-boat. Their home river is ideal for wade fishermen of all abilities.
Maximum capacity at Wilderness Place Lodge is a modest 16 anglers.
Reservations & Rates
The cost of the week-long Wilderness Place Lodge package is $5,892.00 per person.
Options, there are several day/night angling packages to choose from, ranging in price from $1,248.00 - $5,310.00 per person. Please ask for prices and package details.
Inclusions
Included in your angling package at the Wilderness Place Lodge is float plane transportation from Anchorage to the Lodge and full lodge services including all meals, all fly fishing and spin tackle (including flies), waders and wading boots, private cabins, guided fishing and jet boat service. Rates are based on noon arrivals and departures.
Non-Inclusions
Not included in your angling package at Wilderness Place Lodge are fishing license, beer and wine, staff gratuities, tackle and items of a personal nature.
Travel Insurance
The Fly Shop® is not in the insurance business, but we recommend Travel Guard coverage as a service with a desire to see your best interests protected. It is impossible to know when an unfortunate situation (loss of luggage, fly rods, illness in the family, or an accident) may occur. However, such things can and do happen, and this insurance can provide a means of recourse against non-refundable financial losses.
• Travel Insurance Information
Seasons at Wilderness Place Lodge
Wilderness Place Lodge's season begins in early June with the arrival of the mighty king salmon, follows the mid summer coho run, and concludes with epic fall trout fishing.
Wilderness Place Lodge's season begins in early June with the arrival of the mighty king salmon. Lake Creek king salmon are quite large on average with most fish between 20 and 40 pounds, and occasionally over
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60 pounds. Anyone who has done battle with this magnificent sportfish knows that their reputation as bulldogs of the river is well earned. Fishing during the king season – June and early July – is typically with subsurface flies and shooting head or sink tip fly lines. Double handed 'Spey' rods are also extremely popular on Lake Creek, and for good reason - Wilderness Place's outstanding stable of guides concentrate their guests on fishing river runs, channels and structure wonderfully conducive to the swung fly presentation. There is nothing in freshwater fishing that can compare with the great strike and powerful run of an Alaskan king. And while there are other lodges that also fish their guests on Lake Creek, Wilderness Place prides itself on giving the finest service and beating the crowds.
Once the king salmon start to spawn in July, rainbow trout fishing picks up as they feast on the salmon's spawned eggs. Lake Creek is a fine trout fishery, know for fantastic numbers of medium sized (by Alaska standards) fish.
In late July and August, silver salmon also show up in tremendous numbers. They take both subsurface and surface flies with aggression, guarantee sore arms, and make a fine meal.
As the salmon runs subside in late August, Lake Creek quiets down (both with salmon and fishermen!) and trout fishing improves into September. Methods for trout fishing include indicator 'nymphing' with single salmon egg patterns, as well as swinging sculpin, leech and flesh flies on floating or sink tip lines. During this period is when you have the best chance to get into much larger rainbows averaging 18 – 22 inches and occasionally hit monsters up to 25 – 28!
Getting to Wilderness Place Lodge
Plan to arrive in Anchorage the night before your scheduled arrival day to the lodge.
Wilderness Place Lodge is one of the most easily accessible, high quality fly-in lodges in Alaska. All trips start at a float-plane dock on Anchorage's Lake Hood at about 11 a.m. The flight into the lodge is only 45 minutes, leaving plenty of time for an afternoon of fishing on your arrival day, and
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a morning of fishing on your departure day.
Sample Itinerary
Day 1 – Fly to Anchorage, overnight.
Day 2 – Fly from Anchorage to Wilderness Place Lodge late morning (included in package price.) Guided fishing in afternoon and in the evening after dinner.
Day 3 - Add as many full days of guided fishing as you'd like.
Departure Day – After fishing in the morning, you'll return to Anchorage in time to catch a late afternoon flight home.
Lodging at Wilderness Place Lodge
Wilderness Place can accommodate your meal plans either in the lodge, or on the water to maximize your fishing time.
Wilderness Place Lodge has six deluxe riverside cabins, all with full electricty, full bath, heat, wireless internet and all the comforts of home. One log cabin is located on the banks of Lake Creek and five knotty-pine interior frame cabins are located a short distance from the river's edge.
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The cabins are heated with woodstove or electric heat, decorated with local artwork, and equipped to offer each guest a comfortable, deluxe Alaskan accommodation. Daily housekeeping service with fresh towels is provided and we do have clothes washer/dryer facilities for the use of our guests.
Meals: Wilderness Place can accommodate your meal plans either in the lodge, or on the water to maximize your fishing time. Optional in-camp breakfast is served in the lodge dining room at 8:30 a.m. every morning for those interested in sleeping in, or for those who prefer returning to the lodge for their meal.
For early risers who want to fish throughout the morning, a hot breakfast is delivered to you streamside. On-water breakfasts usually consist of hot egg, cheese and sausage bagel sandwiches, croissants or breakfast burritos, fresh fruit, granola, hot coffee and juice. For those interested in lunch on the water, we will deliver deli sub-sandwiches, chips, soda, snacks, vegetables, water, fruit juices, etc.
We give every fisherman the option to maximize their time on the river. Also, fireside shore lunches cooked by your guide may be arranged if desired. We typically grill fresh salmon, vegetables and baked potato plus a glass of wine and prepared dessert right from the kitchen. It's your trip, let us know what best suits your tastes!
A four-course, gourmet dinner is served at the lodge every evening at 6:00 pm to allow for evening fishing afterwards.
Fishing at Wilderness Place Lodge
Fishing at Wilderness Place Lodge is an all day event.
This is your trip, plan it as you please! Your personal guide(s): 1 guide/ 2-3 fishermen, will coordinate your daily fishing schedule based on your preferences. Fishing hours for Alaska king salmon in June and early July are 6 am - 11 pm. Most fishing guests hit the water early, in time for the 6 am opener. For the remainder of the summer (sockeye, silver, pink and
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chum salmon + trout), legal fishing hours are 24 hours/day.
While primarily a fly fishing lodge, Wilderness Place Lodge is also able to cater to spin fishing should any non-fly fishing group members have an interest.
Our chefs can cater to your fishing preferences. For early risers who plan to maximize their fishing time, we offer hot breakfast delivered on the water around 8am each day. Fishermen also have the option of an in-lodge breakfast at the same 8am hour. Similarly, lunch can be delivered on the water, or may be enjoyed in the lodge dining room at noon each day. Arrangements for your group's meal schedule must be made with the chef a day prior. A 4-course gourmet dinner is served in the main lodge each evening at 6pm, with hors d' oeuvres served during the 5 pm happy hour. We do our best to accommodate your personal preferences when it comes to fishing hours.
Competition for space during the peak of the salmon runs can be tight, so be sure to get in touch with The Fly Shop® as soon as possible to begin your trip research.
What Makes This Destination Special and Unique?
• A well-appointed wood-frame lodge a quick flight from Anchorage (included in the rate), that is happy to take anglers for short trips of less than a week. A great option to tag onto another lodge stay, or a business trip in Anchorage.
• The comfortable camp has newly refurbished guest cabins right on the banks of a salmon and trout river, with en-suite bathrooms and showers, and delicious wilderness dining. There are no flights or long boat rides needed to access the daily fishing, so no time wasted here. You are always fishing within minutes of leaving the lodge in a jet boat!
• The home river (Lake Creek), a short walk from your cabin, gets a tremendous run of king and silver salmon. Guides take clients up and down the river to places that can be waded and fished; guests that prefer it can also fish from the boats. This is a small, intimate, beautiful river that can be easily and effectively covered with average length casts. You don’t have to be an expert to hook good numbers of salmon here.
• All gear including rods and reels, leaders and flies, waders and wading boots, are included in the package rate. This is particularly convenient for family or corporate groups, or those just wanting to add a few days of fishing to a trip to Anchorage. No need to try and purchase all the correct gear in advance – just show up with the appropriate layered clothing system and the rest will be provided.
• Though primarily a salmon fishery, guides can also find some quality rainbow trout fishing for guests that want to mix up their fishing day a bit. You want to plan on spending most of your time fishing for the large salmon species – and you can bring home some salmon fillets from your catch, if you like – but if you would enjoy picking up a light trout rod from time to time, the resident trout population makes for some fun diversity.
• For guests that are new to fly fishing, guides are happy to provide expert instruction. As well, the lodge keeps a full selection of conventional gear on hand, so if you are more comfortable fishing that way, guides are more than capable of making that switch. The point at Wilderness Place Lodge is to have a fun fishing experience, and the lodge staff will do whatever is needed to make this happen!
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