My wife and I made our first trip to Alaska for our 20th wedding anniversary and it was truly a remarkable experience. We wanted a fly in fishing experience, but didn't want the hassle of traveling with all of our own equipment so we opted for an all-inclusive package from a fishing lodge. After months of internet research and obtaining information from family and friends, we chose Wilderness Place Lodge for our long awaited fishing trip and we feel very lucky to have done so because we had a blast! The beautiful scenery, warm accommodations, excellent fishing, professional staff and superb food made memories that will last a lifetime.
The flight from Anchorage to the lodge was truly amazing and after arriving at the lodge for a cold beer and a great lunch we were shown to our cozy little cabin that had all the comforts of home. We found our waders and boots awaiting us there. Soon after, our guide arrived with our poles and tackle and we were out fishing in no time. We landed our first king of the trip that afternoon. That one was followed by many more in the subsequent days. Fly fishing for kings is crazy fun! Hooking up was the easy part because landing a fresh, chrome king in a small, fast moving river is a chaotic challenge. After my wife watched my first hook up with a fly rod she decided to switch to a spinning rod and in terms of numbers she definitely landed far more fish. I didn't accomplish my goal of landing a king over 40 lbs, but I did get a respectable guy in the low 30s. We also caught dozens of rainbows on mouse patterns, which was incredibly entertaining. In addition, we fished the pike lakes one day and caught more than we cared to count. Nothing big, but they were everywhere and tons of fun on a 6 wt. We landed 10 pike in the first 45 minutes and then quit counting. Our guide Wes was simply awesome! He made sure we caught all the species of fish that we came to catch and plenty of them, including the big kings on our anniversary. However, we observed many of the other fishing guides at Wilderness Place Lodge and all of them were friendly, knowledgeable, professional, hard-working, and extremely patient.
The food at the lodge was out of this world. The chefs (Derrick and Elizabeth) are truly talented and extremely friendly. The meals at the lodge were every bit as good those we were served at highly acclaimed Anchorage restaurants the day before. In fact, every meal we had at Wilderness Place Lodge was wonderful in every aspect, from the taste and presentation of the food, to the excellent company. At first we were a little apprehensive about dinning with strangers every night, but in the relaxed atmosphere of the lodge, new friendships grow quickly. After the first night the other guests seemed like a group of old friends and after four nights they were like family! I'm not a very emotional guy, so I'm assuming the float plane must have blown sand in my eyes as it approached the river bank to take us back to Anchorage because they were a little misty when I realized the inevitable had come and our trip was over.
Overall, this is the best fishing trip my wife and I have ever had. We are definitely going back to Wilderness Place Lodge as the fishing is great, the service is awesome and the prices are extremely reasonable when you consider everything that's provided in the all-inclusive packages. We have never been more enthusiastic about providing a positive recommendation for a business than we are now in recommending Wilderness Place Lodge. If you looking for a great Alaska fishing trip give them a try, you won't be disappointed!
Sincerely,
Mike and Shannon Gilbert
Dillon, MT read more