Tikchik Narrows Lodge
Lodge Overview
The Main Lodge has a full service bar and a large deck overlooking the Narrows. The Lodge is only 310 feet above sea level and Nuyukuk Lake is 24 miles long and over 900 feet in depth.
Tikchik Narrows Lodge is located in Southwest Alaska in the 1.5 million acre Wood-Tikchik State Park. Bordering the State Park to the west is the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, which encompasses 4.7 million acres of land. The Wood-Tikchik system contains 13 major lakes, which stack one above the other. The western edge of the lakes, extend in beautiful fjords into the rugged Kilbuck Mountains. Togiak Wildlife Refuge contains three major river systems draining the Kilbuck Mountains to the southwest.
This area is only accessible by float plane and is over 300 miles from the nearest connecting roads system. Unlike most other Alaskan Lodges, Tikchik Narrows Lodge is totally isolated. We are not located in a town or village. Our only neighbors are the fish and wildlife.
It's All About the Fishing
We fish the entire western half of Bristol Bay, which includes the Nushagak River drainage, Wood River Lakes system, Togiak River drainage, Kulukak River, Tikchik Lakes and some Iliamna water. We only fish in fresh water rivers and lakes. We do not fish salt water.
The rivers we fish in produce about 75% of all the King Salmon, Silver Salmon and Chum Salmon caught in all of Bristol Bay. The waters we fish vary in size from large rivers to very tiny streams and everything in between. With the use of our planes and boats, our fishing program is very extensive and dynamic.
Fishing at the Lodge
Tikchik founder, Bob Curtis, selected this location because of the good fishing. Prior to building Tikchik, Bob Curtis owned Wood River Lodge and he would fly his anglers to the Narrows to fish. In the spring and summer, Lake Trout, Char and Rainbow Trout feed on the baby Salmon migrating through the Narrows. It is quite a sight to see a ball of seagulls and Arctic Terns diving into the water where the fish have pushed a school of baby salmon to the surface.
Tikchik also has excellent fishing available from the Lodge by boat. Nuyukuk, Tikchik and Chauekuktuli Lakes offer terrific fishing along with the nearby rivers and streams. Usually, the largest Rainbow Trout, Arctic Grayling, Northern Pike and Arctic Char are taken in the local waters around Tikchik.
Optional Activities
- Bear Viewing
- Hiking
- Kayaking
Sample 4N/5D Itinerary
Day 1 – Morning - depart the Lodge and fly (35 minutes to the NE) to the Upper Nushagak River where you are met by your guides who live in a camp on the river. Your guide takes you by jet boat up a small tributary where you will fish for Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden and Grayling. Fishing is a mix of wading, site fishing and drift fishing using Spinning rod or a fly rod. After a high volume day, your plane picks you up at 5:00 PM for your flight back to the Lodge.
Day 2 – Depart the Lodge and fly to the Kulukak River (50 minutes South) - a small Salmon river where we fish the bottom two miles where the river goes into the sea. Your guides meet the plane. The guides live on the river. Because Tikchik provides all of the tackle, the salmon rods are already set up and ready to go. Using our boats, the guides will take you Salmon fishing for King Salmon and Chum Salmon. Kulukak River is a prolific Salmon river - small enough to be perfect for fly fishing, yet large enough to get a lot of Salmon. After a terrific shore lunch of fresh caught King Salmon and an afternoon of catching more fish, your plane departs for the Lodge.
Day 3 – Depart the Lodge and fly to a nearby lake where you and your guide walk across a meadow to get to a small stream with spawning Sockeye Salmon and Rainbow Trout and mix in with them feeding on the eggs. With a spinning rod or fly rod you and your guide work your way downstream sight fishing for Rainbow Trout. Watching the Trout eat your egg pattern or lure is a ton of fun. After a day of fishing and traveling three miles downstream, you are flown back to the Lodge for a hot sauna, cocktails and dinner.
Day 4 – Fly to the Togiak River to fish for King Salmon. Your guides live on the river and are already there with the salmon rods ready to go. Throughout the day your guide uses different techniques to keep the day productive catching King Salmon. Your guides fillet your Kings to come home with you. Your plane departs Togiak River to return to the lodge for the night.
Accommodations & Amenities
Our guest accommodations are duplex cabins. Each large room has a separate entrance, private bathroom, independent heat and hot water and is fully carpeted. Most of our guest rooms have a queen bed and a single bed. We have 3 cabins (6 rooms) that have a queen bed and two single beds. We have a limited number of single occupancy rooms.
Each cabin shares a common porch and is located on the lake shore overlooking the dock and planes with a spectacular view of the Kilbuck mountains.
In room amenities include:
- Coffee maker, featuring Seattle’s Best coffee
- Large sauna towels
- Complimentary laundry service
- Daily maid service
- Hair Dryer
- Alarm clocks
- Flashlight
- Ice delivery prior to returning from fishing
- Cocktails delivered to room upon arrival after a day’s fishing
- 24 hour electricity
- Complimentary snack basket with chips, candy bars, nutrition bars, crackers etc.
- Complimentary non-alcoholic drinks, sodas, juices etc.
Our Philosophy
We are committed to providing a level of service not ordinarily found at a fishing lodge especially one located in the wilderness. At Tikchik we add that special touch to your stay. Whether it means flying extra miles to show you a grizzly bear, flying an extra trip to accommodate a special fishing request or having our chef cook your fish just the way you like it, we are here to make your trip memorable.
Your smallest needs are important to us. Our staff is trained to anticipate your needs and desires. Tikchik has the highest staff to guest ratio of any lodge in Alaska. Our goal is for every guest to leave Tikchik totally satisfied with the desire to return to our very special angling and wilderness paradise.