Reviews

Our Happy Clients!

I host a trip to this lodge each year in mid-June. What a great time to chase BIG rainbows on the Copper, Gibraltar, and Kvichak Rivers! The heart and soul of a well-run fly-out fly fishing lodge is its staff, and Brian has put together an experienced team! Brian leads by example, and he’s surrounded by solid guides, a second-to-none chef, talented bush pilots, and support folks who provide many behind-the-scenes tasks that ensure each and every day at IBL is a pleasure for guests! You can do no better than Intricate Bay Outpost!

Rated 5 out of 5
IBO-Red
Paul V

My second home away from home!

Just got back from this place. The lodge is in a very remote location where it looks over Lake Illiamna without any obstruction to the view. The lodge was great but nothing compares to the Copper river we fished. I have now been to 3 different lodges and locations and this was the best experience I have had by far. The owner (Brian) and the guides were all great and again the fishing was ridiculous. Can’t wait to get back here someday.
Rated 5 out of 5
Clayton Howell

Fishing was ridiculous!

Heaven and earth connect at this lodge. Best fishing, wildlife and beauty of anywhere on earth. Guides are both friends and fishing mentors. Food will make you forget you are completely isolated. This place should be on everyone’s bucket list.
Rated 5 out of 5
Joe Asher

Heaven and earth connect at this lodge!

If it’s good enough for Jimmy Carter it’s good enough for me. Intricate bay lodge has a perfect location with so much to see and do around Lake Illiamna. I can’t imagine a better place to live an Alaska dream.
Rated 5 out of 5
Dean Sibley

Can’t imagine a better place to live an Alaska dream!

My son and I had an outstanding experience at Intricate Bay Outpost at the end of June 2025. The lodge is beautiful, clean and comfortable. The food was excellent. The service and guides could not have been better. Above all, though was the fishing. June was an excellent month to come with uncrowded rivers and plenty of hungry fish. I would recommend this outfit to anyone looking for an Alaskan adventure with all the comforts of home.
Rated 5 out of 5
Cody H

Excellent experience in June!

Thank you for a wonderful and adventurous week. The guides are patient, kind, and knowledgeable. Lodge staff took great care of us and Chef Brandon was on-point with all meals. We made memories that will last a lifetime. Hoping we get to come back again.
Rated 5 out of 5
Pammy Sue

Alaskan adventure at its best. Fishing, rafting, float planes, hot tubbing, and great food and service!

Wow, where to begin. As a native Montanan I grew up fly fishing and have had the privilege to fish some amazing cold water streams both in the US as well as Argentina and Chile. My stay at the Intricate Bay Outpost exceeded any thing I could have hoped for or imagined. Brian, Lodge staff, pilots and guides go out of their way to make sure that you are having a wonderful time. From T-Bird’s meeting us at Iliamna and flying us in the Beaver to the beautiful Lodge I knew I’d made a great choice. The lodge was super comfortable and oh so clean. Meals were outstanding from breakfast to dinner. Of course the bar was convenient after a day on the water!! Fishing was off the charts as every river we fished was incredibly productive. On the Kulik I managed to get a great photo of a brown bear feeding while simultanepously hooking a 22″ rainbow. It was THE trip of a lifetime. I cannot recommend highly enough the Intricate Bay Outpost.
Rated 5 out of 5
BigSkyMichael

Epic Fly fishing Trip!

We just finished a week at the Outpost at Intricate Bay Outpost. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! The food was fantastic (thanks Patrick- I’m going to make the recipe you shared!), the guides were top-notch (a shoutout to K-Mart, J-Mart, Evan and Don) and the pilots for the flyouts were highly skilled and just great folks (appreciate you Roy and Brian). Eight of us caught a lot of trout over 5 days, many of which were >20 inches and several were >24 inches. But for us it was not about the size of fish (although that was remarkable- you just can’t beat Alaska trout), it was the atmosphere and environment created by the staff that allowed us to fully enjoy our time together. It’s worth noting that our group ranged from someone who had never fly fished before, to someone with 13 yrs experience as a professional guide. The Intricate Bay guides worked well with each of us, providing skill-appropriate coaching. A particular thanks to Evan who did a tremendous job teaching the “newbie” on his first day: well done!
Rated 5 out of 5
Explorer

Great experience at the Outpost at Intricate Bay Outpost!

Absolutely the best fishing trip I’ve ever experienced. Guides were outstanding, everyone caught plenty of fish with all of us catching our personal best trout. Lots of wildlife and beautiful scenery, and at the end of the day we had excellent food prepared to a warm and friendly lodge staff. I can’t think of a single thing that could’ve been improved upon. Definitely coming back. Brian does an incredible job and all of his staff is exceptional.
Rated 5 out of 5
JR

Simply phenomenal!

We stayed at the Outpost which is a new addition to IBL. It’s a house on the same lake as the lodge, but it has its own staff so you probably won’t go to the lodge unless there’s a reason. It’s not fancy but it’s clean and the location is amazing. There’s also a sauna and a hot tub which were much appreciated at the end of a long day fishing.
Brian picked us up in the float plane in Iliamna and that was the start of an incredible adventure. The staff is top notch – Dawn and Macy run the house and handle the meals which are incredible – and Schuler, John and Ray put us on the fish. Each day we boated or flew to a new and beautiful spot where we caught trout and salmon (and even a pike on a slow day). Guides are very knowledgeable and patient and we enjoyed getting to know them. Make sure you take anything you might need, including lots of layers for the changing weather, as this is a very remote location.
Rated 5 out of 5
Florence S

Amazing experience in the Alaska wilderness

My 23 year old son and I had very little fly fishing experience and came into the trip nervous about our preparedness especially given the high experience level of the rest of our group. First and foremost, the guides put us at ease instantly and focused on getting us up to speed with the basics: safety precauthions, the water types, the tackle, the gear, the clothing, the fly types, the casting techniques, the fish, the seasons, the wildlife, waterfowl, etc. We were not only impressed with how much they put us at ease but also their vast knowledge of both trout fishing and the entire ecosystem of the region. As for the lodge, it is expansive with all modern amenities but with an alpine feel in its exterior and interior. The entire team at Intricate Bay Outpost radiated positivity; from the kitchen staff early early morning to the team of guides, pilots and rest of the staff until the evening. We also came to appreciate all the behind the scenes detailed logistical preparations that begin after our day of fishing in anticipation for the next day of fishing. We were afforded tremendous flexibility in accessing a variety of locations via the sea planes. The level of personal attention we received, whether it was the guides, or the staff at the lodge, was exemplary. This is a very remote area that presents a multitude of challenges for the ill-prepared. And at every turn we marveled at the preparedness of Brian and his team. Our room for 2 and beds were very comfortable and we had private bathroom. Both were tidied up every day while we were out. Breakfast and dinners were excellent and lunches on the river allowed us to maximize our fishing time. We went in early June and were surrounded by scenic snow-capped mountains so bring lots of merino wool 1st layer with additional fleece layers and exterior protection from wind and rain conditions. I rate it a 10 out of 10 and plan to return again.
Rated 5 out of 5
Daniel M

Review From a Fly Fishing Novice!

I have fly fished in many beautiful places and stayed at many lodges and worked with many guides, but I can easily say that Brian and his team at Intricate Bay Outpost are the best. I have never been so pleased with a trip. Everything was perfect, and it is obvious that this outfit is led by a man with vision, and a deep desire to provide clients with the best experience out there. Each member of the team functioned seamlessly and showed each other respect as they worked hard and filled the roles required to make each piece of the trip come together. Each day’s outing required a tremendous amount of logistical undertaking which was executed flawlessly.
This detailed preparation was not lost on me as a business owner, and I greatly enjoyed watching the IBL team work to take care of our group and have a great time in the process. The people are amazing, the lodge is immaculate, the meals and accommodations are superb, the guides were consummate professionals and friends, and the fishing was beyond anything I can describe. This truly was a trip of a lifetime. If you are on the fence about booking let me put your mind at ease and tell you it was worth every penny.
I am truly grateful to have shared this trip with my friends, and with the amazing IBL staff (Brian, Kevin, Deb, Chace, Hayden, Seth, Chandler, TJ, Zac, and Troy). Intricate Bay Outpost is simply the best in Alaska hands down!
Rated 5 out of 5
Jacob Johnson

Everything was perfect!

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