Destination Alaska Rainbow Point Lodge
By Captain Troy A. Creasy
Alaska! Just saying the word brings back memories to those of us who have been there and intrigue to those who have not. Photos and videos of past adventures do little to satisfy the yearning to return to one of God's greatest achievements. It is home to some of the best salmon and rainbow trout fishing in the world.
If you are contemplating an Alaskan vacation, choosing the place to spend your hard earned dollars can be mind boggling. There are thousands of choices and many will have just what you are looking for, but how do you know? The owner or marketing person can promise you the world, but until you talk to someone that has been there you are taking a chance. I went to Alaska last June and here is a summary of what I had the tremendous fortune of experiencing.
I spent ten seasons guiding the remote rivers and streams in Southwest Alaska and have slept on the tundra, in boats, tents, camps and million dollar lodges. So when a great client and dear friend Dr. Stephen Shapiro who after guiding him here at home for over twenty years and in Southwest Alaska three times in the 90's said to me you are going back to Alaska as a guest, not our guide and we want you to set it all up. How could I say no?
There would be four of us, Steve, Gary, Chuck and myself. I began to call numerous lodges and camps to get prices and find a place that only took small groups of 8 or less. We wanted something quiet and personable with good fishing that we didn't have to fly out to each day. (Remember fly out lodges are wonderful but if that is there only program and the weather is too bad to fly, you don't fish).
We decided against a tent camp mainly because we are getting older and wanted to be pampered. We wanted daily showers, without traveling outside to the shower house. We wanted clean warm beds and good food. We needed a nice porch or deck to enjoy our wine, scotch and cigars in the evening and of course we were looking for good numbers of wild leopard spotted rainbows. We also picked the Iliamna area as it was only an hour from Anchorage yet very remote.
It only took about five calls and a voice answered the phone that knew who I was. Mark Higgins, now co-owner of Rainbow Point Lodge is originally from Hamden Connecticut and he had done some guiding on the Salmon River. We had previously met at the Portly Angler many, many years ago. Mark was also guiding in Alaska where he met Brad Hughes from Casper Wyoming, who was the chef at the lodge he worked out of. They hooked up, decided to do their own thing and the rest is history.
After a few minutes on the phone with Mark, his enthusiasm and description of their lodge and fishing program won me over and it was a done deal. We were heading to Rainbow Point Lodge on Lake Iliamna for a week of catching rainbows on dry flies.
So not to bore you with travel details I will tell you it is simple to get there. Fly to Anchorage, spend the night, fly 50 minutes to Iliamna the next morning and you are immediately picked up, you take a short hop over the lake to the lodge and you are there!
The lodge has all the amenities you'd expect in a fine hotel. We had spacious bedrooms with wall-to-wall carpet, daily maid service and private baths with plenty of hot water.
Dining takes on a whole new meaning as Chef "Slam" created appetizers, entrees and desserts that rival any 5 star restaurants!
I have to tell you a little about Slam. Michael "Slam" Benavidez is from Sant Fe New Mexico and is a renowned Saucier chef. His creations and passion for food will boggle your mind! The taste, presentation and variety, including desserts to die for, will be enough alone to make you want to come back.
The fishing program was just want we wanted, No O dark thirty starts, no crowded rivers, no long plane rides to get to the water and plenty of fish willing to suck in our flies!
Our guides Mike Goeser and Michael Reynolds were young enthusiastic guides willing to help us as needed. Their true love for the bush and respect for the fishery was evident throughout the week. We had the best weather of the summer with temperatures in the 60's and we only had a few showers the entire week. The small jet boats they use to access the shallow runs were perfect for keeping us in the best water with little wading between spots.
I could go on forever about the fishing, scenery, wildlife, food and more but you can see that when you get there. The fishery on the Copper and Gibraltar rivers, (their home waters) are thriving. The fish are there just waiting for you and your fly. If you are considering an Alaskan Adventure you owe it to yourself to contact Mark Higgins, Brad Hughes or myself.
Although I am blessed to fish for a living everyday, this was the only true fishing vacation I have ever taken. I am not sure how it could have been any better. Perhaps a box full of fresh sockeye to bring home, but that is next year! I want to thank all of the staff at Rainbow Point Lodge for making my trip a dream come true.
For more information go to www.akrpl.com or call 1-877-850-5858
To anyone that may be interested in booking at Rainbow Point, I am currently working on putting a trip together for 2011, the dates will be June 27 July 2. We still have 4 openings. If you want to talk about it you can reach me at Troy@lakeontariooutdoors.com or call me 315-298-2410.