King Salmon for everyone

Some groups come and can not seem to unwind from their daily life. Others seem to slide right into the vacation mode very easily.
A family from Switzerland did just that. They were a lot of fun and very relaxed. Which always makes our jobs easy and not seem like work which suits us just fine. It always sets the tone for the lodge.  Appreciation for the beauty that Kodiak Island has to offer should be high on the list. This is one of the things that sets Kodiak apart from other destinations in Alaska. We like to think we have a little piece of heaven here.
They came with all of the right stuff.  Very little English was spoken but fishing and having fun translates into any language. Seeing Humpback whales and Bald Eagles while catching King Salmon and Coho is something people think is  just in brochures. The first day by 10:30 am everyone had caught a Salmon while trolling. We even missed a few as several of them were new to salmon fishing and it took a little bit of coaching and some hand signals to get all of them up to speed. They all caught on very quickly.
I have traveled to Switzerland many times and the first thing you notice is all the people. Then you look past all of that and start  to see the beauty of the country. That is why I kept going back.  Here in Kiliuda Bay you do not have to look past anything to see the beauty!!! It stares you right in the face every day. You can not ignore it. It is why we love being here. Sharing it with others is easy.
Fishing can be up or down any place you go. Any given day or week can be "off the bite"  That is just part of fishing.  But with this kind of scenery and wildlife added to the fishing, it makes Kodiak Island stand out from all the other places one can go fish.
But today the "bite " was on for everyone!!!!!

The one that did not get away

Once in a while we have a client that stands out from the rest.
Jed came from Montana with friends who had been our clients 3 years ago. He had never been on a plane of any kind. Rare for sure these days when air travel is so common for many. Also he had never been to Alaska or fishing in the ocean.  After fishing for 2 days with us  and catching some nice fish I was secretly wishing for him to catch something truly impressive on his first trip to Alaska. I had given him a lure that works very well but it was just not doing it for him up until now. On their 3rd and final day I gave him a pep talk on our way out to fish about halibut and hanging in there, as I really believed in him and the lure he had been using.
Most people want to change lures a lot and even though I give my advice they want something else as it is not working.  It is not always the lure but how you work it with halibut.  I was taught this by "Peter" a truly remarkable client who had fish every country in the world and even Antarctica . He was very humble and never talked down to people who did not "do it his way" . He fished with us and reaffirmed to me you can catch Halibut on jigs even without bait. Still one of the few that had it figured out. Most people "need" bait.
Arriving in the spot of the morning, I again went over all of the pointers he would need to catch the big one.  In less then 1/2 hour he did set the hook on the big one.!!!! After over an hour battle , several runs back to the bottom and sweating profusely he brought it to the surface from 140 ft deep. He said he had never caught anything bigger then 10lb and certainly had never sweated while reeling in a fish in 55 deg. weather.
We like to see all our clients get big fish but Jed worked hard for 3 days and  deserved a big fish  and we hope to see him again someday in Alaska.

Great July fishing on Kodiak

Well the summer is rolling along and it has been shaping up to be the greatest weather ever. Sunny and warm has been the norm. Catching some kings well into later July and nice size Halibut. This has been the calmest July we remember. Every group seems to be picking up at least one big halibut over 100lbs.


Shelly still seems to wow them at the dinner table every night. With several new meals on the menu this year our guests are getting great meals after a great day of fishing. Shelly has been busy making raspberry jam as our berry crop is a good one this year again. Also she has out done her self on the strawberry rhubarb pie. I think it is my new favorite dessert now.

Bear veiwing with Kodiak Adventures Lodge

Kodiak has a reputation as the place to come see Brown bears. With one of the highest populations of them per Sq mile it lives up to the place to be. This week was no exception!!! When we came around the corner while trolling for King Salmon we saw this bear walking casually along. He was unaware at first but soon realized that we were following him. He did not stop and did not seem to care. Only after a long walk up the beach did he decide to stop and eat some grass and then move up onto the hillside and watch us fish.
What a truly fun morning.

Kings and halibut for spring trips

King Salmon and Halibut fishing trips for the spring season are in full swing. We have been putting clients on some nice size King Salmon this spring.
The largest is 62 lb so far. With several 40s not far behind. Lots of Halibut being caught but no 100lbers yet.  We are still spending most of the time looking for the big King Salmon that we are known for. So as we start to hit it a little harder for the halibut we should be bringing in some larger sizes.
Check out this heavy weight king salmon below. It tipped the scale at 62lb. A white meat king salmon as well.

First King Salmon of the year

White King Salmon !!!!
As I was fileting the first King Salmon of the 2013 season April 27th,  we were placing bets on White or Red meat. I win again.  Always nice to see one of those beautiful fish in the net. The colors are bright and clear. Purple, green, Silver and blue. It tipped the scale at 48lbs
Josh had never caught anything that big and was pretty pumped when it was stripping line out over and over. Each time he hauled it back to the boat and each time it refused to come close to the boat. Back out with 100ft of line and around the boat twice.
A fantastic day on the water.

Sailboat from far away

We were working around the lodge when a sailboat pulled up to the shore. It was a family from France that lives on a 20 meter sailboat they built themselves 20 years ago. Spend most of their time in S. America. Do not live in France any longer.

Invited them in for dinner. They had sailed around Cape Horn then to Hawaii and we were the first bay they came to in Alaska. Loved the sailing stories and company. We shared stories from Alaska and our life also. Very neet to see how other people around the world.

New Sauna for Kodiak Adventures Lodge

Lots of things happening this spring at Kodiak Adventures Lodge. We are pleased to announce our new addition to the lodge. We turned the old hunting cabin into a sauna. Now you can bring your swimsuit and melt away the days stress of catching all those fish.

The veiw from the sauna is unbeatable, so make sure you pack your suit!!!!!

Halibut and Salmon fishing with kodiak Adventures Lodge

Stream fishing

Sept brings fall and also brings
 Flyfishing Coho Salmon.

After a good day of stream fishing everyone enjoyed a fantastic meal of Kodiak Scallops in an Alfredo sauce with Fettuchini noddles and  Steamed Broccoli with red bell peppers.

Meals from the kitchen of Kodiak adventures Lodge

We are always striving to serve as fresh a meal as possible. During the summer months that means Halibut, Salmon and Crab make the top of the menu list.
Every week Crab legs are served for dinner along with one of Shelly's special fish recipes.



Crab legs, Halibut Enchilada and  Feista rice

  One of the favorites is Halibut enchiladas. Top off your Enchilada with a  little homemade salsa and Gucamole and you have a terrific meal.

Big Halibut with Kodiak Adventures Lodge

With Fall here and Summer slowly fading the big Halibut kodiak is known for have once again shown there reputation here.

These guys found out that kodiak does live up to its reputation.

They did not come easy, but these guys were not expecting that just anyone could pull in the "big ones" .

With the day fading fast, they pulled in over 200 lbs of hard fighting bicep testing fish. If anyone says that the are like pulling up a dead weight, they have not caught fish in shallow water. These Halibut know how to take out serious line,  over and over again.

Brett and Jerry we in one the action as well with a pair of 50lb+ Halibut. The second one was caught on the drop down after a boat move of 100 ft.

Everone else was still trying to get lines in the water when the call rang out"FISH ON".

Brett was all smiles when the fish was finally on deck. 

King Salmon with Kodiak Adventures Lodge

With fall here and summer in the books.  Our guests are still catching kings and coho salmon. The Halibut fishing has been good also. Many of the kings are the treasured white meat king salmon that people in the know who fish kings look for. Many guest also come and have never heard of such a thing.

In our opinion there is a taste difference to them.  Book a trip and come salmon fishing with Kodiak Adventures Lodge at our remote lodge. Get a pole in the water and catch one!!!! You too can find out what all the fuss is about.

Halibut fishing on kodiak Island

Remote Lodging on Kodiak Island, Alaska

Kodiak Island Wilderness Lodging

Most everyone has heard of Kodiak Island, Alaska.  It is known for its bear viewing and its remoteness.  There are very few places like Kodiak and even fewer places that offer as wide a range of services that Kodiak Island has to offer. 



Wilderness lodging can conjure up images ranging from primitive wall tents and  crude cabins to 5 star lodging.   Pricing can span from very affordable to extremely expensive. 

When it comes to food,  the menu can be as wide as the pricing and as varied as the accommodations. 

Kodiak Adventures Lodge bridges the gap between primitive tent camps and 5 star lodging,  which is out of most peoples budget.  We never compromise on our menu or the ingredients that go into the food we serve. 

Our breakfasts have something for everyone.  Most of the ingredients that we use are organic and/or seasonal.  Everyone loves omelletes,  and the pancakes and french toast are served with real maple syrup or Alaskan birch syrup.  In addition to these favorites, we also serve breakfasts for the less hearty eaters.  Kiliuda cakes (pictured below) with ham are light and delicate especially with homemade raspberry, blueberry or strawberry/rhubarb jellies.  Fresh organic fruits, real fruit juices and homemade craisin scones along with organic coffee ground daily or organic tea make the perfect companion to all of our breakfasts. 

After your full day of enjoying Kiliuda Bay and fishing, Shelly will have beautiful and healthy hors de oeuvres waiting for you in the lodge.  You can relax in the lodge and sample some of Shelly's creations.  Her sushi and sashimi are made with fresh halibut, crab, king salmon and even fresh salmon eggs.  Sometimes even white meat king salmon shows up on the table.  Sushi ranges from futo maki, hoso maki, gunkan maki, temaki, along with several types of sauces that complement all of the fresh fish that goes into making sashimi and sushi.

Being 50 roadless air  miles from Kodiak City and 26 miles from the nearest neighbor , we are as remote as it can get in Alaska. We pride ourselves in putting not only wholesome , healthy ingredients into our meals,  but they are made with lots of care and love.

 Wilderness lodging in Alaska can have its perks and here at Kodiak Adventures Lodge the food is one of them. 

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King Salmon fishing on Kodiak Island Alaska

 King Salmon fishing in Alaska
Spring is coming but it seems a little late this year. The weather has been calm and cool so far.
With a few kings caught this year we are on our way to a good year of fishing.
A few days ago Al  Z. pulled in this 62 lb king Salmon while fishing with his long time friend Ralph M.
This was his second king of the week and the biggest of the year for Kodiak Adventures Lodge. 
Other than sharing time with Ralph, Al came here with one goal in mind.
To cross off something on his bucket list.

He had been trying to catch a King Salmon over 50 lbs for quite a few years with no luck. Up until now he was only in the high 30s. When this king hit he knew it was the one and we all watched for over 1/2 hour while he fought this trophy. It did what they always do. Peel out lots of line and then circle the boat. When we did get a glimpse of this power house it dove under the boat and took the rod tip into the water.
(nothing like a  quality US made Lamiglas rods) 
Al played it like a pro and soon the fish was in the net. It took two of us to lift the net into the boat and i was relieved to see this huge fish laying quietly in the net. You never truly relax until the fish hits the deck though as I have seen kings tear open new nets. With the King in his arms, Al was all smiles. It is always a great feeling when you can help someone fulfill a lifelong dream. 
By next year at this time Al will have this King mounted in his office and it will give him something to talk about other than work.
The best part was that it was a white meat king. Shelly cooked up some of it to make a cracker spread and it was great. It will be some of the best Salmon on his table for several months. And I walked away with $5 in my pocket, winning the bet on what kind of meat the king was.   
By the end of the week Al and Ralph were already talking about Kodiak Alaska 2013.
Kodiak has that effect on people.!!! It makes our job here at Kodiak Adventures Lodge fun and that is the way we like it. 
Good friends , great food and awesome fishing. It could not be any better.

Salmon fishing in Alaska

Sam's first King of 2012

After  a few days with no luck trolling we decided to concentrate on Halibut fishing. Once we put some fish in the freezer we took a few days off and got some much needed work done around the lodge.

The boys decided they had worked long enough and they were ready ot get back to looking for some fish. Samuel loves Halibut fishing but was out voted. King Salmon fishing it would be.

 Shelly, James and Samuel had agreed that I would get to reel in the first fish, and we headed to our favorite spot for these beautiful trophy fish. After a short boat ride we arrived at the spot and soon Shelly realized she had left the other 3 Lamiglas salmon rods leaning up next to the tackle shed. OOPS!!!!

Well so much for doing a boat and gear check before leaving the dock.

We put some terminal tackle on the one rod we had without much enthusiasum and started our run. In less then 5 minutes we heard the line pop and the reel was soon singing our favorite song. Line was spinning off  the reel and it was time for action. Sam quickly jumped in front of the rod and was playing the fish before anyone else could even get close. (so much for dad getting to catch fish today!)  

Sam played this King salmon with lots of advice from all aboard., Being so predictable, it circled the boat. TWICE!!!.

 Passing the rod to me and then back again so we could get around the motors it made its second go around. James killed the engines to keep the props from ruining a great day ( At 16 years old he is already better then most deck hands in their 30s) .

This 32 lb would end up being Samuel's biggest King Salmon so far.  Later I was thinking how luck my boys have it. How many kids grow up on a remote island with their nearest neighbor 26 miles away ? Most guys never see any salmon that big on the end of their pole even after fishing 20 -30 years.   Here on Kodiak Island this is not uncommon.  In fact most people who have fished here know how big the King salmon can get.  

Well after what seemed like an epic battle with this "energizer bunny" we were all pleased to see it roll over and give itself up.  We knew we would be eating good tonight. 

Everyone was so excited that we decided to make just a few more passes and then head for home. 

Once at the dock we were all playing our favorite dock game. Guessing if it was red or white meat.

With one slice of the knife it would not only be the first king of the year but a prized white meat one also.  

With the grill fired up only an hour after the fish swam its last run Shelly worked her culinary magic and we all soon eating the best dinner God ever graced a table with.    I could not dream of a better day.

Spring Sport Shows

Spring is coming fast and with great anticipation the sport shows are full of people looking for fishing and hunting trips.



We have already been to Sacramento CA. and Puyallup WA. Both shows are very busy and we talked to many people interested in coming to Alaska.


From here we go to Eugene OR., Portland OR. , Phoenix AZ., Boise ID., Redmond OR., Salt Lake UT.


Kodiak Adventures Lodge has many different fish species that can be fished dependent on the time of the year.

May, June and early July we have some of the best King salmon fishing on Kodiak Island. The biggest kings are taken during this time. Along with Halibut fishing on Kodiak this is a great time of the year. With some of our best weather, this trip is at the top of many people’s bucket list.


As mid-July approaches the Pinks and Chums start to enter Kiliuda bay and look for their home rivers to start the spawn.


August and September are very popular for do everything kind of trip. Fly fishing on Kodiak is about remote as it comes. No one for miles around and plenty of fish. If fly fishing is not the only thing you want to do then this is a perfect time. We still catch plenty of Kings and Halibut to fill the fish boxes.


Bottom fishing is also very popular for those that like to pull up those tasty rock fish and Ling Cod.


Yelloweye and Black Rock fish are always fun to hook and reel in on light weight tackle.




If you get a chance and find yourself close to any of these shows then please stop in and visit for a while.
See you soon,

The Carrolls
Kodiak Adventures Lodge




Halibut fishing in Alaska, King Salmon fishing in Alaska, Alaska lodges, King salmon fishing on Kodiak Island, Salmon fishing in Alaska,


Halibut fishing on Kodiak, Fly fishing  Alaska,

Food for the soul
Just thinking back on all the good salmon fishing we had in the streams this year. 

Even though we are in the middle of winter I am already looking forward to walking up the river banks and searching for those beautiful Dolly Varden.  

A simple yet satisfying breakfast starts our guests out for a day of casting flys and watching fins break the surface. 

Setting the hook and feeling the rod bend in hand is what we seek.
In the end, the pleasure of being in the wilderness of Kodiak Island AK. is food for the soul.
We offer both here at Kodiak Adventures Lodge.

 Our clients leave with lots of memories tucked away  and their soul replenished with the nourishment that the great outdoors provides.  

Late Season Halibut fishing in Alaska

Kodiak Adventures Lodge had a very good fishing season all the way to December.


Blacktailed deer hunting on Kodiak Island Ak.



Yes!!! I said December.

Many of our hunters decided to do some  Halibut fishing on Kodiak Island AK while they were here.

With a limit of 2 Halibut,  many took home at least 1- 50lb box of delicious seafood along with their venison. 

Blacktail deer hunting was challenging in the beginning of the season as it always is, but it just kept getting better as the season progressed. The last week was really good but many of the antlers were falling off as the deer hit the ground. Kind of early this year for that,  but every year holds its own surprises. Many windy days with snow coming and going several times through the season. This made it very interesting as to what kind of weather you would be hunting in. Many of our clients got it all!!

Sunshine, cloudy,  windy, rain, snow and just some plain awesomely great weather !!!!



Late season Halibut fishing on Kodiak Island AK.





Bear viewing on Kodiak Island, Alaska

With the fall fast approaching the Kodiak Brown bears are filling up for their long hibernation.
To be able to survive an Alaskan winter it takes a large amount of fat reserve.
Now that the Raspberries are all gone and the Pinks and Chums are just about at their end , the bears are chasing Cohos up and down the stream banks.
We have been catching good bright Cohos trolling in the bay and now is a good time to get your fly rod and make a few casts in the streams.
We offer both opportunities here at Kodiak Adventures Lodge.
A fall trip trolling for Salmon , jigging for Halibut and a little flyfishing as well on Kodiak is a great way to wrap up your fishing season. Contact us to book your trip to Kodiak.