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Joelle Kayden is pleased with a fishing trip to Tikchik Narrows Lodge in Alaska this past June, and her enthusiasm for the trip shows in her report. She writes:
“I spent the week of June 24th at Tikchik Narrows Lodge with my daughter to celebrate her graduation from college. We had an absolutely spectacular vacation, which was a result of superb guides, excellent fishing, and great camaraderie with the staff and other guests at the lodge. Tikchik is only accessible by float plane from Dillingham, which is about an hour-and-a-half flight from Anchorage. The setting is breathtaking, as the lodge and its cabins are located on a promontory in Wood Tikchik State Park.
“I am sure many fellow subscribers have fished in Alaska, but for us it was a first. We were very impressed with the skill of the pilots and their ability to handle the logistical complexity of flying 20 guests to different locations each day. The fly-outs were simply amazing. After you leave the lodge and land on a remote river, it’s just you and your guide and fishing companion—and hopefully no bears. You are literally in the middle of nowhere. There was wildlife everywhere, including moose, cranes, and bald eagles.
“Although it’s hard to single out our best experience, I have to commend Megan on her skill as a guide. She helped my daughter land a large chum salmon on a 6-weight fly rod. The big salmon hit a secret fly called the Dalai Lama. The whole thing was amazing. I know my daughter and I will be telling our fish tale about that day for years to come. We also had a world-class day with Megan on the Grant River, where we walked and waded a breathtakingly beautiful six-mile stretch of the river. We caught so many large rainbows that we began to think of a 20-inch fish as a disappointment. Oh, did I mention that we caught graylings and Dolly Varden as well? My daughter earned the prized Tikchik pin for catching a rainbow larger than 24 inches.
“Lodge owner Bud Hodson runs a first-rate operation. There is no detail that escapes his attention. It is impressive to behold and a pleasure to be a guest there. We look forward to returning, although it is hard to imagine having a better trip.”