The original fly out lodge, Kulik Lodge allows you to choose the best locations in the region. Join Dave, host of the Wet Fly Swing Podcast along with special expert guidees on this once in a lifetime trip to one of the famous Alaska fly out lodges.
Kulik offers a comfortable and welcoming lodge with all of the amenities for a great trip. Centered in the middle of Katmai National Park and arguably the best Rainbow Trout fishing in the State. Target huge rainbow trout along with char species, chinook fishing and more.
I interviewed the lead for Kulik Lodge, Kyle Shea on the podcast to cover Kulik lodge, his past experience with Deneki and some tips and tricks for Alaska.
Click here to listen to the full episode with Kyle.
Established in 1950 as part of the original Angler’s Paradise family of lodges, Kulik Lodge was founded by Alaska aviation pioneer, Ray Petersen, as the first fly out fishing lodge in Alaska.
From its humble beginnings as a rustic tent camp, Kulik Lodge has since developed into a full-service sport fishing lodge with all modern amenities. Incredible fishing for native rainbow trout exists right outside our front door on the world-renowned Kulik River, and our centralized location allows us to fish some of the finest rivers and streams in Bristol Bay (and beyond) within a 100 mile radius.
The historic main lodge building, built of native spruce, boasts a large stone fireplace and bar where our guests enjoy complimentary cocktails, reflect on the day’s adventures, and/or tie flies in preparation for the days to come.
Also located in the main lodge building is the dining area where guests and staff alike gather to dine ‘family style’ on hearty meals prepared by our professional chef and kitchen staff.
The lodge environment is casual. What should you wear to dinner? How about whatever you’d wear at home. After all, we consider you part of the family while at Kulik, and when we tell you to make yourself at home, we mean it.
Guests are housed in comfortable cabins during their stay, each of which include modern amenities such as electricity, shower, and private toilet facilities.
We’re able to accommodate up to twenty seven guests at a time across our eleven guest cabins with varying layouts of 1-2 bedrooms and 2-4 beds (depending on the cabin).
Despite our location in the midst of the Katmai wilderness, some of the creature comforts available (almost) make our guests forget how remote they really are. One of those such comforts is our sauna and outdoor hot tub where guests routinely rejoice about their day on the water while taking in the spectacular view across Nonvianuk Lake.
For those looking to get away, but still stay connected during their trip, WiFi is also available for guest use at the lodge.
Although our proximity to many of Southwest Alaska’s most prolific rivers and streams draw most of our guests to Kulik, it’s our staff of professional guides, experienced pilots, and personable lodge staff that brings them back year to year.
We’re extremely fortunate to have a high rate of return guests at Kulik Lodge, many of of which are made up of multiple generations of family and friends. We think that says a lot about our Kulik family, and we want you to be a part of it.
Imagine there are no other fishing lodges in Alaska. Now, picture yourself flying over the heart of Katmai National Park and the greater Bristol Bay watershed looking for just the right place to start a fishing lodge, the only fishing lodge in Alaska.
What would you look for? A spot with epic fishing on-site? Of course. What about a central location with easy access to all the other incredible fisheries in the area? Definitely. As the first fly out fishing lodge in Alaska, that’s exactly how the site for Kulik Lodge was chosen many years ago.
Nestled between the eastern shore of Nonvianuk Lake and the mouth of the Kulik River, Kulik lodge is centrally located between numerous legendary rivers, streams, and lakes across Bristol Bay (and beyond), the majority of which are within a short twenty minute float plane flight from our lodge.
Our fleet of float planes operated by our own Katmai Air flight service allows us to fish many of the most fabled waters of the region (along with a few close-kept secrets) within a 100 mile radius of our lodge, including the following:
Within walking distance of our lodge, the Kulik River is considered by many to be one of the most productive rainbow trout streams in Bristol Bay. This not only gives our guests access to world-class trout fishing with virtually no travel time or weather restrictions (no fly out needed here), it also makes for excellent home water for those looking to take advantage of the midnight sun by fishing on their own (unguided) in the evenings.
This roughly two-mile stretch of river connecting Nonvianuk and Kulik Lake receives a massive run of salmon smolt each year that provide an immense amount of forage to our resident rainbow trout population. This allows us to fish for trout using a bunch of unique methods such as tossing semi-floating streamers to “boils” made by smolt-corralling rainbows, skating mouse patterns, swinging flies with small spey/switch rods, stripping streamers, dead drifting traditional dry flies, dredging egg or flesh imitations, you name it! It’s all in play at some point during our season on the Kulik.
Our surrounding lakes, Nonvianuk and Kulik Lake, along with numerous feeder creeks that flow into them also provide excellent fishing opportunities for rainbows and lake trout within a jet boat ride away from our lodge.
This makes for some unique fishing experiences, rarely frequented by other operations, available to our guests at times when fly outs are not preferred.
Known for supporting one of the largest king salmon runs in Alaska (receiving upwards of 100,000 fish per year), the “Nush” is our go-to for those interested in targeting the baddest fish in freshwater.
Stretching over 240 miles long from its headwaters to its entrance into Bristol Bay, the Nushagak is accessed by our guides and guests via a forty five minute float plane flight to our boats stashed on-site.
Recognized as one of the world’s most productive sockeye salmon systems, the Kvichak River system is a staple of our fishing program at Kulik.
Although occasionally frequented by those interested in harvesting sockeye salmon during their trip (for obvious reasons), it is its high concentrations of trophy-sized, steelhead-like, resident rainbow trout available each fall that draw the most attention from our guests. We call them “silver bullets” for good reason at Kulik, and they make for exciting fishing for trophy trout chasers with single or double handed rods.
From its headwaters of Kukaklek Lake to its confluence with the Kvichak River, the Alagnak reaps the benefits of the Kvichak’s productive salmon run, supporting all five species of Pacific salmon.
The Alagnak is a salmon factory to say the least, with opportunities to catch rainbow trout and Arctic char as well.
Our main destination for those interested in fishing for silver salmon, the Kamishak is also home to impressive numbers of char.
Only a short twenty minute float plane flight from our lodge, this fourteen mile coastal river from its headwaters to its entrance into Kamishak Bay is a fan favorite of guests visiting us during the back half of our season.
Most commonly known for its brown bear viewing opportunities at the legendary “Brooks Falls,” during certain times of year the Brooks River is also known for exceptional fly fishing for rainbow trout, char, and grayling.
We regularly fish the Brooks River with our guests at Kulik as well as partner with our sister lodge, Brooks Lodge, for those interested in bear viewing opportunities.
One of the most fabled creeks for rainbow trout and char in Southwest Alaska, the American has become nearly synonymous with Bristol Bay trout fishing. Two popular programs exist on the American: flying into the upper reaches for an intimate hike-in experience, along with accessing the lower six miles via jet boat.
At Kulik we incorporate both experiences into our fishing program depending on our angler’s interests. Our own Katmai Air service allows us to access the headwaters via float plane and we’re one of only five operations with permitted boat use on the lower.
Aside from the rivers and lakes mentioned above, we also fish a number of legendary creeks known for their unparalleled backcountry trout fishing opportunities such as the Moraine, Funnel Creek, Battle Creek, and the Little Ku just to name a few.
