Intricate Bay Lodge, AK
Orvis-Endorsed Fly-Fishing Lodge in Lake Iliamna, Alaska
100% Customer Satisfaction
has been our commitment since 1856. It’s who we are. If you aren’t happy with a product or service, we want to know about it. And we’ll make it right. That’s the Orvis Way.
Intricate Bay Lodge
Orvis-Endorsed Fly-Fishing Lodge
At the Lodge:
The main lodge is a beautiful 3,500 sq. ft. custom cedar building. Lodge capacity is 10 guests within the 5 main lodge guests rooms. Private groups of up to 14 can be accommodated by prior request.
Amenities include a mud room with lockers, a bar and game room, and large common area. There is a grand deck facing the lake with an outdoor wood fueled hot tub.
About the Guest Rooms:
Five guest rooms are within the main lodge, all have private baths. Three rooms have one queen and one full, 1 room has queen and full bunk beds and 1 room has one full and 2 full bunk beds.
In the Kitchen:
First class dream kitchen for our chef, designed for function and performance. Breakfast served to order including a buffet of fresh fruit daily. Lunches are served stream side and are accompanied by hot beverages of choice. Appetizers and dinners include the finest Alaskan king crab, filet mignon, prime rib, Alaskan shrimp, Alaskan halibut, chicken and baby back ribs. The meals are well balanced, so you needn’t feel guilty when you devour the homemade breads, delicious pastries and gourmet delights served with each lodge meal.
What is Provided:
Included: All guided actives advertised in your selected package. Daily housekeeping, three meals per day, transfers between the Iliamna Airport and the Lodge. Use of chest waders, fly rods & reels, King Salmon rods & reels; spinning rods & reels and all flies, lures and tackle. Preparation of all harvested fish in an airline-approved non-insulated shipping container. All local taxes.
Not Included: Airfare between your home and Iliamna, staff gratuities, liquor, fishing license and king stamp.
What to Bring:
A detailed pre-trip information document regarding travel and packing is provided for all guests upon making a reservation and beforehand upon request. It is also available by request. or please click on the link below:
Packing List
Gear Recommendations:
Please see:
Packing List
We provide all rods and reels, flies, beads, weights, tippet, fly tying vise…the works. With that said, speaking as a fish fanatic, we understand completely if you want to bring your own gear.
Here’s what we recommend:
- Rainbow fishing: 6-8 weight
- Grayling/Dolly/Char fishing: 4-5 weight
- Sockeye Salmon fishing: 8 weight
- Line – weight forward floating line
- A 8.5'-9.5' rod is ideal
- Ten foot leaders are the best choice with 8 to 10 lb. tippets
- Strike indicators work best in order to pick up Trout and Char
Species:
- Rainbow trout - June/July/August/September/October
- King salmon - June/July
- Sockeye salmon - late June/July
- Chum salmon - July/August
- Pink Salmon - July/August
- Silver salmon - late July/August/September
- Arctic char - August/September/October
- Arctic grayling - June/July/August/September/October
- Northern pike - June/July/August/September/October
Season:
Early season conditions can vary depending upon the size of the previous winter. A heavy snow pack produces higher water, while a light one means low, clear conditions. Either way, June is a great time to target rainbows in the Illiamna region. 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. 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 occur 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: 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 Illiamna to stack up in the rivers. 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 is probably the best month in all of Alaska to really 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.
Region/Terrain:
Lake Iliamna / Bristol Bay rivers - Capping off the great new lodge, mouth watering meals, amazing fishing, unrivaled customer service is the surrounding beauty of the landscape. Heavily treed rolling hills combined with open tundra, marshy low lands and a series of water ways and islands makes the region around the lodge standout as nothing short of magical.
Typical Weather:
- June 40-60°
- July 50-65°
- August 45-70°
- September 35-60°
- October 35-50°
2022 Rates:
Executive Package: From $9,750
Combo Package: From $8,250
Land Package: From $6,250
More details on pricing can be found at intricatebaylodge.com
Additional Activities:
On-Site Activities:
Fishing, fly-fishing lessons, skeet shooting, kayaking, canoeing, hiking, hot tubing and swimming.
Off-Site Activities:
Fishing, bear viewing, photography, rafting trip and hiking.
Other:
Travel to Iliamna, Alaska: Intricate Bay Lodge is located on the South shores of Lake Iliamna 18 miles southeast of the village of Iliamna and 215 miles southwest of Anchorage, Alaska.
The lodge sits just minutes from the world renowned Copper River and the first designated trophy trout region of Alaska. The lodge is just north of Katmai National Park and just south of Lake Clark National Park which allows easy access to famous freshwater fishing; float trips for fishing, wildlife and incredible scenery.
When traveling to Intricate Bay Lodge you must purchase commercial airfare from your home to Iliamna, Alaska (PAIL). The details of booking flights in and out of Iliamna will be provided when you make a reservation. The village of Iliamna is extremely remote there are no roads or water access, fly in only.
Guests living in the western half of the United States, may be able to travel from their city of origin to Iliamna in one day. The majority of our guests need a Saturday overnight stay in Anchorage. A list of suggested hotels and restaurants will be provided when you make a reservation.
Iliamna Airport has 4 paved runways the longest being over 5000ft. The airport offers parking for private aircraft and has jet fuel available.
We will meet you at the Iliamna Airport and provide transportation to the lake in our passenger van. The drive from the airport to the lake takes just a few minutes. Once at the lake we will load up in the floatplanes for a 20-minute flight across the lake.