You’ve been dreaming about this

Intricate Bay is the iconic Alaskan fly fishing adventure.

Intricate Bay Lodge is a world-class, Orvis-endorsed lodge that sits near the center of Lake Iliamna. Simply put, this is a fly fisherman’s dream. We get after it from the moment we wake up until the second we come back to the lodge to relive the day. Then we wake up and do it again every day you’re with us.

Our home waters are a major destination for the largest sockeye salmon run in the world. The run from Bristol Bay into Lake Iliamna, and the world renowned Copper and Gibraltar Rivers, make this North America’s most exalted rainbow trout region. In fact, our home waters have been designated as a Trophy Rainbow Trout area.

ALASKA FISHING SEASON

Intricate Bay Lodge is nestled in the prime location in Bristol Bay. Most lodges in the region require daily fly-outs to access local water. When the weather turns, this can be a serious drawback and limits time on the water. That’s not the case at IBL. We can access two world-class rivers, the Copper and the Gibraltar, by boat.

We also fly out to rivers and streams in Katmai National Park including the Moraine, Funnel, Battle and American rivers. The Kvichak, Newhalen and Talarik rivers are close as well. The diversity of water in this area is truly amazing.

June

DRY FLY FISHING SEASON

Early season conditions can vary depending upon the previous winter. A heavy snow pack produces high water, while a light one means low, clear conditions. Either way, June is a great time to target rainbows. Coming out of their winter dormancy and spawning period, the rainbows are anxious to fill their empty bellies. A favorite style of fishing this time of year is sight-fishing for large trout, using dry flies and mouse patterns.

July

SOCKEY SALMON FISHING & GREAT TROUT FISHING IN KATMAI

Early July produces epic days of dry fly fishing.  Historically, by the second week of July, the largest sockeye salmon runs found anywhere in the world are beginning in this region. The sockeye – rated by many anglers as the strongest salmon pound for pound – will make for countless fish-fighting memories. Nymphs and streamers can be productive during July, with many of the larger fish taken on bugger and sculpin patterns.

August

THIS PREMIER TROUT MONTH SELLS OUT QUICKLY!

The rainbow feeding frenzy begins! Sockeye salmon start to spawn, leaving a scent in the water that ignites voracious rainbow trout. As the spawning accelerates throughout the month, more and more food invites brutish, big-shouldered rainbows from Lake Iliamna to stack up in the rivers, presenting anglers with the best chance of the year for a true trophy. As if that weren’t enough line-ripping excitement, this is also silver salmon time, with the run beginning in early August and finishing in September.

September

TROPHY TROUT AND SILVER SALMON FISHING

September is probably the best month in all of Alaska to go after trophy trout. While the weather can be challenging, this is when the largest numbers of big lake rainbows come into area rivers. The fish know this is their last chance to pack on weight for the long winter ahead. The rainbows are still extremely aggressive toward salmon eggs and will chase a flesh fly with reckless abandon. In fact, they are willing to gorge themselves on just about anything you pass in front of them.

Paul V – My second home away from home!

“I host a trip to this lodge each year in mid-June. What a great time to chase BIG rainbows on the Copper, Gibraltar, and Kvichak Rivers! The heart and soul of a well-run fly-out fly fishing lodge is its staff, and Brian has put together an experienced team! Brian leads by example, and he’s surrounded by solid guides, a second-to-none chef, talented bush pilots, and support folks who provide many behind-the-scenes tasks that ensure each and every day at IBL is a pleasure for guests! You can do no better than Intricate Bay Lodge!”

Karen C – Fantastic Fishing Trip

“We have been to Intricate Bay Lodge on three occasions and are never disappointed. The staff and guides are always doing their best to make our experience memorable. The chef was incredible as well as the guides who were always helpful and knew the best spots to guarantee we caught fish. This recent visit was most definitely the greatest. Hats off to Brian Harry for making our stay the best and having staff that made you feel at ease even when having to untangle my line on many occasions. The fishing was fantastic and our stay was 5 Stars!!!!”

BigSkyMichael – Epic Fly Fishing Trip

“Wow, where to begin. As a native Montanan, I grew up fly fishing and have had the privilege to fish some amazing cold water streams in the US as well as Argentina and Chile. My stay at the Intricate Bay Lodge exceeded anything I could have hoped for or imagined. Brian, Lodge staff, pilots and guides go out of their way to make sure that you are having a wonderful time. From T-Bird’s meeting us at Iliamna and flying us in the Beaver to the beautiful Lodge, I knew I’d made a great choice. The Lodge was super comfortable and oh so clean. Meals were outstanding from breakfast to dinner. Of course the bar was convenient after a day on the water!! Fishing was off the charts as every river we fished was incredibly productive. On the Kulik, I managed to get a great photo of a brown bear feeding while simultaneously hooking a 22″ rainbow. It was THE trip of a lifetime. I cannot recommend highly enough the Intricate Bay Lodge.”

A PRESIDENTIAL EXPERIENCE WITH JIMMY CARTER

“Everyone in our party was really delighted with our choice of Intricate Bay Lodge. The accommodations and service were superb, the food was delicious, and we were all pleased with the fishing. All the guides were competent and very helpful. Please give our personal thanks to everyone on your staff who helped to make our visit both productive and enjoyable.”

SAVE BRISTOL BAY

As wild salmon populations decline globally, Bristol Bay’s prolific wild salmon runs and the economies they support make it a place of international importance. It faces imminent threat from the proposed Pebble mine as well as hard rock mining on adjacent state and federal land. In order to stay thriving, the salmon must be protected from Pebble and other large-scale mining projects.

SAVE BRISTOL BAY

As wild salmon populations decline globally, Bristol Bay’s prolific wild salmon runs and the economies they support make it a place of international importance. It faces imminent threat from the proposed Pebble mine as well as hard rock mining on adjacent state and federal land. In order to stay thriving, the salmon must be protected from Pebble and other large-scale mining projects.

The Outpost

The Outpost at Intricate Bay is a rustic 2-story cabin, designed to host 6-8 anglers for an epic week of fly fishing. You’ll have exclusive use of the property which includes your own private rooms, chef, host, guides, pilot, and plane.

PARTNERS

We’re proud to work with such dedicated partners.