Visit the Print Brochures page to download a pdf photo brochure of Yantarni Salmon Camp.
The Yantarni Salmon Camp is a wilderness tent camp and is an experience and trip distinct from the fine lodging and fly out trip offered at Crystal Creek Lodge. A trip to Yantarni is for hard-core fishing enthusiasts seeking a high-volume wilderness salmon fishing experience. Days can pass without hearing the sound of an aircraft and the only fishing competition is from your fellow campmates.
While the Yantarni Salmon Camp trip is distinct from those offered at Crystal Creek Lodge, a trip to Yantarni can be booked in conjunction with a trip to Crystal Creek Lodge.
Fishing
Fishing Calendar
Fishing time while at the camp is unlimited. The stream, within walking distance from the camp, is filled with ocean-fresh chum, pink and silver salmon, as well as sea-run Dolly Varden. The best salmon holes are those at tide water, about a mile from camp, and the guides transport fishermen from the camp to the tidewater holes using Kawasaki Mule wide-body ATVs.
The streams are small enough to wade across most places at low tide and at high tide a good fly caster can reach well past the center.
As the salmon enter the stream from the ocean, they can be seen porpoising the surface as they arrive with the tides. It is often possible to see and cast to specific fish. The roar of the nearby surf before you and majesty of the mountains behind you only add to the sweetness of the experience.
The incoming fish can be followed as they travel upstream with the tides. These fish are fresh and big! Chum and Silver salmon range from 10 to 20 pounds. Many people know about the jumping and fighting qualities of Silvers, but few are aware of the fighting abilities of the underrated Chum Salmon. These fish, only a few yards out of the saltwater, are exceptional sport fish, rivaling Silvers in their tenacity. There are also plenty of Pink Salmon, which are tough and willing fighters, especially on light gear.
Being so close to the Ocean, the salmon are very aggressive; willing to hit a fly with abandon, often within moments after it hits the water and before the angler is ready. Persons who do not fly fish can use jigs with similar results. If weather and water conditions are right the fish will strike surface poppers.
We emphasize that this experience is high volume catching and low volume harvest. Fresh salmon will be served at every lunch and dinner to complement the other menu items, yet due to the extremely remote location and associated light aircraft logistics, minimal available freezer space at camp and our desire to maintain the sustainability of this extraordinary fishery, we do not allow fish to be harvested for shipment home. We do, however, provide guests with a complementary 25 lb. box of wild salmon upon departure. This salmon is commercially harvested from the Naknek River then professionally filleted, flash-frozen and packaged for shipment home as excess baggage. These boxes of fish will be waiting for you upon return to King Salmon at the finish of the trip and extra boxes are available for purchase with advance notice.
All flies, lures and terminal tackle are provided at no extra cost. You must bring your own waders and rain gear and 7 to 9 weight fly rods or spin fishing rods. A detailed pre-trip travel and packing list will be provided at time of reservation.
Camp Accommodations
As one would expect from a camp managed by Crystal Creek Lodge, it is a comfortable place featuring heated wall tents, electricty, a flush toilet, hot showers and delicious food.
The accommodations consist of heavy-duty wall tents with wood floors. There are four 12’ by 20’ guest tents, an 16’ by 36’ kitchen/dining tent, a 10’ by 12’ shower tent and a 8x8 toilet tent. All other tents are for staff and storage and the building is a workshop. Each tent has a wood burning stove and electricity. The kitchen/dining tent provides ample space for comfortable dining and evening activities. The shower tent and lavatory facilities have an inexhaustible supply of hot water, and the water, which is pumped from a well, is as clean and pure as you will ever find.
Guest tents are triple-occupancy. They feature full height ceilings, an insulation barrier, wood floors, carpeting, wood stove, electric lights, light furnishings and twin beds with firm foam mattresses, fresh linens and down comforters.
Wood stoves are lit each morning at the time of your wake up call, and again each evening before you return for dinner.
Dining & Liquor
Meals are cooked and served "home style" in the dining hall. Breakfasts can be chosen hearty as sausage and eggs or light as oatmeal or fruit. Lunches are soups, stews and sandwiches. Dinner entrees include prime rib, roasted chicken and fresh salmon with side dishes. Fresh salmon is, of course, in abundant supply and will augment lunches and dinners.
While we cannot legally provide alcoholic beverages, beer, wine and liquor can be purchased in King Salmon prior to departure for camp. We invite you to bring your favorites along with you.
Salmon Camp Location
The Camp is located 125 miles south of King Salmon and Crystal Creek Lodge on the Pacific coast of the Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge near Yantarni Bay. In a State known for remote areas, this region is one of the most rugged, remote and beautiful.
Travel Itinerary
Most guests will find it necessary to overnight in Anchorage before continuing on to King Salmon and the Camp. Air charters from King Salmon to the Camp are arranged through an air taxi service based in King Salmon. Crystal Creek Lodge will assist with reserving flights between Anchorage and King Salmon and air taxi flights between King Salmon and the Camp. All airfare costs are extra.
Upon arrival to King Salmon on the morning flight from Anchorage, guests will be met by a Crystal Creek Lodge representative and transported from the main airline terminal to the air taxi. The flight to the Camp is about an hour and fifteen minutes each direction. Charter flights are launched mid-day at the discretion of the air taxi operator after weather and related safety considerations are found to be acceptable.
The Camp site is beside an airstrip. Guest transportation to the Yantarni camp is provided by chartered aircraft from King Salmon. The route of the 125 mile flight is through a coastal mountain range that is an active volcanic zone, and offers a splendid view of a coastline like no other on Earth.
Upon arrival at the camp you will be offered a hot lunch followed by a trip to the stream with your guide. You may then fish into the evening. The trip is essentially two half-days and four full days between. After four more days of guided fishing and another morning of fishing, the air charter flight will pick you up and deliver you to King Salmon mid-afternoon.
The Camp can sleep and accommodate up to eight full time guests and four more part time guests who may opt to visit from the Lodge.
Salmon Camp Capacity 8-12 guests
5 Day/5 Night Package
(this package based exclusively at Yantarni Salmon Camp)
5 days guided activities
5 nights accommodations
$3,950.00 August 15-October 1*
Included: five nights accommodations, meals, guide services, flies, lures and unlimited fishing time between arrival and departure. 1 25 lb. box of wild Alaskan salmon fillets commercially caught from the Nakek River and professionally packaged.
Not Included: Air transportation between your home and the camp, fishing licenses, alcoholic beverages, personal fishing gear. Extra boxes of salmon (available at extra cost with advance notice).
7+ Day/7 Night Crystal Creek Lodge/Salmon Camp at Yantarni Combo Package
(this package based four days at Crystal Creek Lodge, King Salmon and three days at Yantarni Salmon Camp)
7+ days guided activities
7 nights accommodations
$8,550 August 15-October 1*
Arrive in King Salmon at 9:00 AM, full day Naknek River fishing, 3 full flyout days guided fishing, bear viewing or adventure, transfer to Salmon Camp at Yantarni from King Salmon, fish afternoon and evening, 2 full days guided fishing, fish morning and transfer back to King Salmon
Included/not included: As advertised for a stay at Crystal Creek Lodge and a stay at Crystal Creek Salmon Camp, respectively. Air transfer between King Salmon and Yantarni is included with this package
Included:
Advertised days guided fishing activities. Advertised nights double-occupancy accommodations.
Daily housekeeping, three meals per day. Flies, lures, unlimited fishing time between arrival and departure. Preparation of all harvested fish & game and an airline-approved non-insulated shipping container. All local taxes. All privileges advertised within the Crystal Creek Lodge Salmon Camp brochure or web page. All transportation within King Salmon.
Not Included:
Airfare between your home and King Salmon, staff gratuities, beer/wine/liquor, fishing licenses (available for sale at the lodge) and transportation between King Salmon and Salmon Camp where applicable.
Reservation, Deposit and Payment Policies:
Space is available on a first deposit, first reserved basis. We recommend making reservations more than 1 year in advance. Prior to October 1, a $500.00 per person deposit is required to secure space. The balance of 50% deposit is due by October 31. After October 1, a 50% deposit per person is required to confirm a reservation. Balance of payment is due 60 days prior to the reservation date.
Cancellations:
$500.00 of the deposit is non refundable after October 1 of the year preceding trip dates. A deposit may be transferred to another person who is not booked at the lodge for the current season. If it is necessary to cancel a reservation, written notice must be received at the Crystal Creek Lodge office by January 1st of the current season year in order to receive a refund of deposits less the $500.00 per person non refundable fee. All cancellations after January 1st will result in the forfeiture of the full deposit and/or payment of the trip unless a substitute is provided.
There will be no exceptions.
* Prices shown reflect 3% discount for payment by check