9 Irresistible Reasons to Join Us at Bear Trail Lodge Next Summer
We’re heading back to Bear Trail Lodge, in Alaska’s stunning Bristol Bay region, next summer—my fourth visit and Hanna’s third Alaskan fishing adventure. We’ve taken anglers and adventurous travelers from all over the country, and we’re bringing another new group this time – all first-timers, some of them serious anglers, some of them less excited about the angling and more interested in just having a bucket list experience.
I’m confident that every one of them will have a great time. Why? Because everyone who goes there has a near-life-changing experience. Alaska is in the U.S. but not necessarily of the U.S. It is its own ecosystem, and Bear Trail Lodge provides the perfect mix of feelings: the ability to fish in primitive, virtually untouched surroundings; first-class service at the lodge; and fishing that makes the hard core guys drool with envy.
Here are a few things that I hope will make you consider joining us:
Turnkey Planning for the Easiest Alaskan Fishing Trip Ever
This is a turnkey operation. All you need to do is get to Anchorage and we’ll take care of the rest, from flights to King Salmon, to telling you what to pack, to helping you pick out the perfect fly-out adventures or river floats that’ll make the trip unforgettable. The goal of a great vacation is to let you focus on the greatness, and not have to think about the details. More time to build that memory bank
“America’s Africa” – Wildlife Encounters You’ll Never Forget
That’s what I often call Alaska. When Hanna and I went to Zambia and Zimbabwe, every day we saw some sort of wildlife experience that we thought could not be topped…and then it was the next day. Whether it was lions defending a cape buffalo corpse or rare painted wild dogs, the “wow factor” was high. Alaska’s the same way, and you don’t need to go as far. You’ll see bears at Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park, you may see walruses, and you’ll definitely see unheard-of fish runs.
Premium Fishing Gear Included at No Extra Cost
You need to bring clothes that fit you and account for a variety of weather conditions, a camera (or your phone, really) and that’s about it. If it’s your first time fishing, or first time fly fishing, they have the best of the best ready for you. You don’t need to spend a dime on rods, reels, flies, waders, any of that! The trip is not inexpensive, but it’s worth every penny, and the fact that you don’t have to figure out (or tote) the necessary gear is a huge savings of dollars and energy. You don’t even need to bring that much clothing – they do your laundry every day.
Gourmet Meals With Local Flavor
You may feel bad for your guide who’s toting a big cooler as you wade down a remote stream – until you taste the sandwiches, homemade cookies and soup that you’ve earned after battling giant rainbows all morning. Of course, that assumes you’re hungry, because the breakfast buffet is insane – and again, all homemade. Dinnertime is equally gourmet. They focus on local foods like king crab, halibut and of course salmon (Bristol Bay has the largest sockeye run in the world), but there’s beef and chicken and pork, too, and they can meet your dietary needs.
Customized Alaska Fishing Itineraries Tailored to YOUR Needs and Preferences
Some guides, outfitters and lodges tell you what to do. At Bear Trail Lodge, they tell you what’s available, and it’s likely more than you can do in repeated trips (we haven’t scratched the surface in four visits). Do you prefer remote flyouts? Can they be physically demanding if the bite is worth it? Or would you rather stay on the Naknek, right out the back door, which has incredible runs of fish? Each day you’re told what’s likely going on (there are no guarantees in fishing) and you can adjust to the way you feel and what you want to accomplish. I will recommend, however, that you try a variety of things.
Bristol Bay = World-Class Trout and Salmon Fishing
If you’re not a hard core angler, your friends who know even the slightest bit about the sport will drool when you tell them where you’re going. The salmon runs are the best in the world (of course, you need to be there when they’re going on – we can advise on best times for specific species) and the rainbow trout grow huge. They put a picture of you up on the wall if you catch a 30-incher and the wall is remarkably full. They don’t even seem to touch the northern pike around there. I’m thinking I may have to convince someone to take me for at least half a day to whack on a few of them.
Great Teachers Make Great Fishing Guides (and they want you to succeed)
Lodge owner Nanci Morris Lyon is so dedicated to teaching the hard and soft skills associated with fishing that she started the Bristol Bay Guide Academy to teach others how to fish. No one will laugh at you if you’ve never fished before. In fact, that might be an advantage, because they’ll get you going down the proper path before you have a chance to develop bad habits. Because of my bass fishing bubba roots, I’m still a mediocre fly caster at best, but my results on my Bristol Bay fishing trips make me feel like a world champ.
Perfect for Families, Couples or Solo Travelers
This is the perfect trip to take your spouse, your significant other, your kids or the whole family. It’s rugged enough that you’ll feel tested, but you’ll be pampered enough that it won’t feel like a struggle. You can split up and do different things or get some serious “together time” in one of the most beautiful environments on earth. There’s Wi-Fi, but anyone who gets serious screen time in Bristol Bay needs the reset badly. We’ve seen grandparents there with their grandchildren, couples on honeymoons, and so on – there is no singular profile of the perfect BTL guest. One other nice thing is that if you don’t have friends who want to go, we can fit in singles on our hosted trips, space permitting. Just ask.
Half Past First Cast Hosted Trips Feel Like Family
We screen for the “jerk” factor and we’ve developed a sixth sense for building groups that naturally produce camaraderie. We’ve taken people who were from completely different backgrounds and ways of life, people who might have never met let alone become friends elsewhere, and they’re joined at the hip. In fact, many of the people going next May have been with us on past trips to Mexico, Guatemala and Panama. One of the couples went with us to Alaska in 2023 and they threatened us with physical harm (!) if we didn’t include them again.
Let’s be upfront: This isn’t a budget trip—but if you’re going to experience Alaska, this is the way to do it right. Bear Trail Lodge books out a year in advance for a reason: it delivers serious value in every sense. Gourmet meals, guided fly-outs, premium gear, and even vacuum-sealed fish (a souvenir like no other – included in the price -- possibly reason number ten) to take home are all included.
Ready to experience Alaska like it’s meant to be done – whether it’s your first time or you’re a repeat visitor? We have just a few spots left for next May, and they’re going fast. Reach out now and we’ll help you lock in your dream trip to Bear Trail Lodge. Whether you're an avid angler or just want to see the Last Frontier in style, we promise it’ll be one of the best decisions you’ve ever made. Shoot us an email or contact us through this website and we’ll get you going.
