Tikchik Narrows Lodge
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#2 of 4 lodges in Dillingham
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5.0
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5.0
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5.0
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5.0
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Dillingham, AK
Tikchik Narrows Lodge
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New Koliganek Airport
45.4 mi•
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Our party of 11 friends and family went to Tikchik Narrows Lodge as a reunion, an adventure and an opportunity for great fly fishing. All of our hopes were fulfilled!! The isolated location of the lodge and stunning views from the window of our Beaver bush plane provided an exciting start. On arrival we were greeted by the owner Andy, all of the guides and uniformed support staff. “White glove” service from the beginning. Our accommodations were clean and comfortable and met all of our needs. The main lodge is beautiful and highlighted by the 270 degree view of the lake and mountains. The bar and lounge provided a great area for socializing. The fishing was spectacular. Hot fighting coho on streamers and enormous “pumpkin” char were the highlights! Wow!! We all highly recommend Tikchik Narrow Lodge for you “Trip of a Lifetime”.…
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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This is the finest fishing lodge in all of Alaska. Excellent guides, skilled pilots, dedicated and friendly staff and superb dining after a wonderful day fishing. Owner Andy Angstman and his team, thank you for an unbelievable week of trophy sized fishing in one of the most beautiful settings in the world. Keith L
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends
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Room Tip: Don't overpack.....they have laundry service!
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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My friends and I recently traveled to Tikchik Lodge from the east coast The experience was utterly amazing From the very first encounter with the trip planner to the last flight back to civilization everything was top notch From the moment you are greeted in Dillingham and picked up buy the staff you feel at home and treated like family That must come from the owner Bud and his deap appreciation for his guests and why they chose his lodge The staff could be more friendly and accommodating. The first day Bud introduces his staff, which incidentally outnumber the guests, from the hospitality team to the Executive chefs, bartenders, pilots and of course the guides. You will want for nothing during your stay everything is well planned and the attention to detail is unbelievable. The accommodations are unmatched in Alaska fishing lodges The location is spectacular As a facilities person I was amazed at the logistics it took to not only keep the place running but running like a fine tuned machine each and everyday Each day you are greeted by the staff served an made to order or selected prepare breakfast then it’s off to your cabin put in your waiters jump in the plane that departs right on time to a selected planned destination made the night before Each destination offers its own unique experience with seasoned guilds that know where the fish are and how to find them from Kings to Sockeye lake trout to rainbows everyday everyone caught fish Each return trip from your day of fishing included a really nice touch. The pilot would radio in you drink order and when you landed at the lodge and arrived at your cabin it was waiting inside A guck shower and up to the lodge for a cocktail hour before dinner Dinner each night was an event. The entire group of anglers and some guides are treated to a superb meal where Bud encourages each team to speak about their experiences from the day. Bud also would speak of his extensive knowledge about his years owning and operating the lodge Later each group would be told what the next days destination would be and departure time at the dock We were fortunate to have great weather all week which was over all too soon I hope to return to Tikchik one day with my family to let them experience this outstanding outpost for fishing No doubt the finest in all of North America if not the world Please go to the website for a small taste of what you will find at Top Notch Tikchik Paul…
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Date of stay: July 2018Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Tikchik was recommended to us by friends and it definitely did not disappoint. For Alaskan inland fishing, you could not ask for a better outfitter. Every morning you take a float plane and fish a different area, the pilots are very friendly and accommodating and the food impeccable . The cabins are very clean and modern. Even though it is pricey, it is worth every penny and am hopeful to bring my son there one day.
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Date of stay: July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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+1
It is a family... I have never experienced such a dedicated and we'll run group of hospitality and fishing professionals anywhere in the world... Just understanding the logistics of this operation is mind boggling, you are treated to 5 star service truly in the middle of nowhere. The trip was amazing and I will be returning next season to do it again!!
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Date of stay: July 2015Trip type: Traveled with friends
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+1
Staying at the TikChick Narrows Lodge beat all our expectations! Not only was the fishing experience amazing (Salmon, Trout, Dolly Vardon, and Pike galore) the staff and guides provided service above and beyond! From the minute they pick you up at the airport to the minute they drop you off you are in excellent hands. The cooks were amazing and providing delicious meals everyday. It was worth every penny and we will definitely be back!
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Date of stay: September 2015Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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Room Tip: The Grayling Cabin was amazing and we had beautiful views of the surrounding lake
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Tikchik Narrows Lodge is a testimony to how it should be done. I don't know if there's a Harvard Business School case study for how to run an Alaska fishing lodge out in the bush -- but if there is, this would be be the one. And that really speaks to the commitment and work ethic of the owner/manager, Bud Hodson, a veteran fishing guide, bush pilot, hotelier and conservationist. He does what all great managers do: He finds smart, committed people; delegates; and then holds them accountable for performance. Start with the fishing program, which is over seen by head guide Chip King, who if memory serves has been working there 20 years or so. Chip oversees a staff of about a dozen guides, each of whom is assigned each day to no more than two anglers to work with. At night, Chip made assignments for who would fish with whom, taking into account what species people wanted to target and where fish were present or running. Our first request was for an overnight at the remote Sunset Camp on the upper reaches of the famed Nushagak River to target trout. The camp, about 60 or 75 miles from the main lodge, while out there, isn't exactly roughing it -- there's running water (not hot; it's frikkin freezing), electricity for a few hours to charge phones, batteries, etc. and wonderful cooking thanks to Karen Moore. We were joined by another couple and had a blast fishing with ace guides Breon King (Chip's older brother) and Ben Streitz (Chip's uncle). My wife, who had never fly fished before caught her first rainbows, dolly varden and grayling as well as a shocking fire-engine red king on a light trout rod. What a tussle! We were only supposed to spend Sunday night at the camp, with a pickup by float plane Monday afternoon. But weather moved in, the planes couldn't fly and we were stranded. The only problem was lack of food. So out we went in the boats to fish for dinner. After catching a half-dozen fish, we were set. It was a wonderful, unscripted moment where we stopped being clients and workers and were just people having a wonderful time. Thank you Karen, Ben and Breon. Tuesday morning the weather cleared and the float plane retrieved us. By the time we got back to the main lodge it was really too late to head out to fish, so we loaded up one of the planes, flown by pilot Steve Larsen, to head to Katmai Natl Park to see the brown bears catching salmon at Brooks Falls. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO MISS. And if you happen to fly with Steve, you're with the best. I think he's been flying for something like 36 years in Alaska. Not only does he inspire confidence, he's a super guy and a talented photographer as well. The first time I flew with him my knuckles were clenched so tight that I think I cut off the circulation to my fingers. By the end of the week I was dozing off with him at the controls. On Wednesday, we flew to another very remote location to fish a river called the Kulukak to target king salmon. Our guide that day was Adam Franceshini, a big bear of a bearded guy who looks the part of an Alaska guide but is a really sweet, patient fellow who was great with my wife. Working with him, she hooked probably 10 kings and landed about 8. The next day, we hit the middle part of the Nushagak, again for kings, with guide Joe Leonardelli. Friendly, upbeat ex-Marine who worked his tail off to get us kings. Among our catch was a 40+ inch raging red king that my wife landed. Last day was back to the Kulukak with Breon King, who praised it as "the little river with big fish." Ain't that the truth. My wife hooked one of the two hardest-fighting fish we tied into on the trip -- a broad-shouldered female hen that took her about 15 minutes to get to shore for a quick pic and release. Just as an aside, this is big-time bear country and on one of the sand banks we stopped to fish we saw monster fresh footprints twice the size of my size 11 wading boots. These are giants! And indeed, as we were leaving in the motor boat to rendezvous with the float plane I spotted a huge, blond bear running along the river bank startled by the sound of our motor. Other than an elephant, I've never seen a larger land animal. Ok, you kind of expect great fishing in Alaska, and we got it. But then you return to the lodge. Drink requests have already been radioed in ahead of time, and are waiting for you in your room. Dinners ranged from quite good to outstanding (and I'm writing this from Greenwich Village in NYC where we're a picky bunch about restaurants). The service was excellent: prompt, courteous to a fault and uniformly friendly. Again, I attribute this to the person Bud Hodson has running hospitality, Carol Smith, and the crew she had working for her -- Shelley Gress, Emilee Johnson, Mariah Ore, Heidi Bergt along with Daria Mikrut. But here's what made evenings at the lodge so enjoyable: After dinner and KP was done, the guides and servers would join the guests for sundowners in the lounge or on the deck overlooking the turquoise waters of Tikchik Lake, dense forest and snow covered mountains for mingling and story-telling. Again, as much as the fishing and Alaska was wonderful, so was the gang at Tikchik. Think about that if you decide to go.…
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Date of stay: July 2015Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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This place is first class all the way. It is on its owns island in a lake in the mountains of Alaska. The food is absolutely crazy good. The scenery is stunning, and the company is even better. The fishing was outstanding. We caught rainbows, browns, Dolly's, kings, pinks, and even a few sockeyes. We even caught some big lake trout waiting for other guests to arrive. Rooms are basically nice duplexes, with the food served in the main house.
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Date of stay: July 2014Trip type: Traveled with friends
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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+1
This lodge is owned by Bud Hodson. This is the ultimate in Alaskan Fishing and if you can experience it, I would suggest taking part in this once in a lifetime trip. We have fished Alaska for over 20 years coming up here in salmon season to chase salmon on the Kenai but I have never spent any time in a lodge. This was incredible. This area is served by the incredible Bristol Bay. First and foremost, if you stay here, it’s all about the fishing. You have the opportunity to fish all the freshwater species of Alaskan fish, (depending on the season and run) all five pacific salmon species: Chinook (king), Sockeye (red), Coho (silver), Humpys (pink) and chum (dog), as well as arctic char, grayling, lake trout, rainbow trout, Dolly Varden and northern pike. Over a seven day stay (Saturday to Saturday), you fish every day, either by boat in the lakes and rivers near the lodge or you are flown out to a predetermined location by float plane. The lodge is located in the Tikchik State Park, the largest state park in the United States. It is located in what is called the Tikchik Narrows. You will access this by float plane, which the lodge provides and which the lodge will transport you from the airport in Dillingham to the lodge. The areas you access are pristine and absolutely beautiful. Bud Hodson has access to absolutely beautiful native lands to fish. When we were there in June, the Travel Channel was filming a new show about the behind the scenes of “Guiding Alaska”. The Guide business is big bucks up here and this show will feature just what it takes to run a remote fishing lodge. The lodge is basically a mini city and has everything it needs to survive. The provisions, the gear and everything needed are hauled up to the lodge from Dillingham usually by float plane. It is amazing. Their website is thorough in everything you might think of if you are going to the lodge. It is very helpful. www.tikchiklodge.com. They explain how the day of fishing works. Basically, at dinner every night, we all talk about the days fishing and the lead guide will talk about the next day’s trips and who is going where. After that, you sit with your guides to get the food and drink order for lunches. It is very efficient and this is the way they have worked it all out and are successful. If someone doesn’t want to fish, they just need to say so. They will accommodate. In the morning, you meet at the dock for the float plane or the boat depending on what you were scheduled for. They have WI-FI in the main lodge for use, as well as a phone for use. Normal cellphones didn’t work out there at all. The lodge uses satellite phones for emergencies. The float planes are DeHaviland Beavers, old work horses and the flights were excellent. We didn’t have too many weather issues but that is always expected in Alaska. I would say that if you are any bit claustrophobic, be aware it is a tight fit in the planes, especially if they are loaded with 6 fishermen or women. It can get bumpy in there and you can get motion sickness. The landings were all very smooth on the water. After a day of fishing, the pilot will take your drink (non and alcoholic drinks) order on the way back and the staff will have it ready for you in your room to enjoy. The pilots were all great and obviously had years of experience. The scenery is stunning, so look for bears, caribou, and sheep as you fly. We saw it all on our flights. Take lots of photos. There is a staff of 36 including fishing guides, hospitality girls, chefs, mechanics and grounds keepers. The food was outstanding, but way too much. There is a chance to order half orders for dinner, I didn’t but looking back, I should have. Every night, there was a gourmet three course dinner. food for first night, salmon and London broil, sunday, was alaskan king crab, filet mignon or both, grilled kalbi ribs or catch of the day, which was lake trout. New york steak or ahi, pork loin or seafood cioppino, mixed grilled of reindeer sausage, halibut and lamb or roasted duck, prime rib or shrimp provencal, salad, or soup (seafood chowder), entree with veggies and starch (potatoes or rice or pasta) then desserts. Different breads every day. Wine, red or white, complimentary with dinner. Desserts were excellent also. Lunches provided were a shore lunch, which is made by the fishing guides with the catch of the day (salmon, lake trout, char), and veggies. I would suggest doing one or two of them, as each guide has a different recipe for salmon or char. You may also have sandwiches, which are huge, chips, cookie and whatever you want to drink, water, coke, beer, wine. Very filling whatever you want. You can always ask for a pbj or pbhoney. The staff will accommodate any food requests or any allergy restricted issue. There’s is no wanting for food.... there is full service bar which you will settle your bar tab at the end of the week. Domestic beer 6$, microbrews 7.50$, wine by the glass, 7.50$, bottles, 25-35$. As for the fishing: the guides are excellent. they know their fish, how to fish and where to fish. They fish for all species of fresh water Alaskan fish, depending on the season for salmon, they fish for that. We fished for the early run of the king salmon (chinook). The season runs into late July, then to red (sockeye), then to coho (silver), which runs in august and into September. On the lakes and rivers, you spool fish or fly fish for Arctic char, greylings, lake trout, Dolly Varden, rainbow trout, all are catch and release. Salmon is kept depending on the limit for harvesting (we were 4 kings a season over 28 "). An average size king was 25 pounds (dressed weight about 16 pounds of fillets). After the limit, its catch and release with no bait. The room is very nice. A hot water shower (and its HOT water, produced by propane)…. The beds were very comfortable. We didn’t have too much of a problem with mosquitos when we were there but later in the season that probably is an issue. We brought insect repellent just in case. We went with our waders, our rain gear and clothes. There is a tackle shop for shirts, hats, gloves, bug nets or repellent, sun screen. At the end of your stay, you will settle your bill. They take cash or check, THEY DO NOT TAKE CREDIT CARDS. ALASKA: absolutely stunning. You will see some of the most pristine Alaskan wilderness. A word about vanity: really no place for that when you're out fishing. I would say about 95% of the guests are men. So, to the lady anglers, you have to be good with finding a secluded spot, dropping your waders and peeing in the woods, if needed. Here is how our week went. Sunday, fished the Agulapak, fished for Arctic char, we were the first lures in this area all season so it was "Char-mainia". every cast a fish, sometimes both of us had "fish on" at the same time (we call that Doubles), then Triples and even Quadruples... it was amazing!!!! We then fished for northern pike, which was a blast too. they are mean fish, they strike hard, like a shark. We had char for lunch on shore, which was excellent. Our Guides were Alex and Adam. Adam made grilled onions with coke, awesome and the shore lunch was blackened Cajun seasoned char, Green beans, baked beans. Monday, fished the Lower Nushagak river for king salmon. Guide was Kyle. Great day. Caught huge king, 28 pounder... Had a shore lunch again. This time, Tim made salmon with onions and corn and pinto beans, great. Tuesday. Went back for kings again and fished the lower Nush. Caught my limit, one over 28 and one under. My Husband caught his over 28” salmon. Has three to go. Guide was Kyle... Cold, wet and rainy.... We had sandwiches but guide Buzz made the shore lunch salmon with lite soy sauce and seasoning. Tasted great. Wednesday. Rainy in the afternoon but nice in the morning. We fished in a boat from the lodge to Tikchik Lake and Nuyakuk lake. Guide was Barrett. We caught lake trout, char and I caught a big ole pike. We had sandwiches at a sandbar where we stopped. We saw lots of moose tracks. We came in early around 1PM because a front was coming in and it was getting cold. Thursday, Fogged in during the morning, we didn’t leave until 1120. A great flight with Scott, the pilot from San Francisco. We got down to the lower Nush River at 1220, ate lunch and then got on the river with KYLE, the guide. I caught a 30 pounder right off the bat. Boom. My Husband caught his 25 plus pounder, then we moved to another place and kept catching big honking king salmon, it was a blast. The weather was great, sunny and nice. Friday Fished the Allen River gorge, we took an hour boat ride with alex and went thru Tikchik river, thru the narrows, thru the northwest passage, thru the lake Chukatuili into the Allen river. It was amazingly beautiful. The weather was absolutely gorgeous....sunny and bright and cloudy.... we caught greylings at the gorge and learned how to fly fish.... our motor broke after our lunch. We ate lunch at a small rock jetty. Then our motor broke again and we spent an hour trying to fix it. i had to hang onto the trees so we didn't float away. We were in very shallow water on the down river. We had to paddle a bit, well, we didn't but our guide did. We got fixed and went into the lake and fished for lake trout and char. We caught a bunch, got 5 sets of doubles, when we both were fish on together....way fun.... fish total: over the week, we must have caught at least 100 fish. Most were catch and release. We did end up catching our limit of King Salmon with 8 kings for the two of us (over 28 inches, average weight, 25 pounds). One Arctic char. It was almost 72 pounds of dressed weight but we only could bring home 25 pounds, each. It was an absolutely awesome Alaskan adventure (AAAA)!!!!…
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Date of stay: June 2014Trip type: Traveled with family
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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