Mid summers for some years now have included a gracious invitation from my long time, close friend, Bob Gillam to be his guest for about a week in late July or early August at his magnificent lodge on his point of land in Lake Clark National Park. Bob is one of the most generous guys in the world when it comes to his long time friends. I can not describe the beauty, fun, fishing, food and friends during the wonderful summer weeks out at Bobs at Lake Clark. It is a vast, little known National Park and is undoubtedly one of our most beautiful and remote.
The lodge of Bobs is said to be the largest private lodge in North America and it is amazing, with Bobs collection of hunting and fishing trophies decorating it. He also has his "air force" of Cessna 206 and Beaver float planes tied up at the lakeside dock very near the lodge. The dock also hosts his "navy" of 3 large, fast, big aluminum fishing boats. The arrival is usually in the afternoon, after his fleet of 3 twin Beechcraft ferry out the guests or "FOB's" Friends of Bob. We are escorted to our rooms and then given time to relax before joining in the bar/lounge area for "Happy Hour" Bob treats his guests ( usually a party of about a dozen) to hor'dourves and drinks, which means an amazing array of food that is in essence actually the equivalent of a full meal. Then the dinner bell sounds and we adjourn to the dining room for another feast . The evenings are spent relaxing in the main living room or more likely out on the big deck overlooking the lake with its warming fire pit and no shortage of fine wine and after dinner drinks. The breakfasts are followed by a plan for the day by the pilots and Bob. They include fishing trips across Lake Clark, or one down the lake to fish the river for salmon using his smaller river boats, or fishing the main Newhalen River below Nondalton village, or flying to almost unlimited rivers or lakes to fish for salmon, trout or Northern Pike. Another highlight is a photo trip for the amazing big bears above Katmai on the Alaska peninsula. Last year in July, I was lucky and we were able to land on Crosswind Lake and hike to the river to observe up close the many bears that were busy fishing the river. It was an experience of a life time and hard to even describe. At times the huge brown bears were very close and one walked by us only yards away, yet they seemed to totally ignore us. Another bear caught a salmon just below us as we watched from the bank slightly above, and then it was chased across the tundra by another even bigger bear.
A highlight in 2014 was my chance to fly in to visit the former Govenor, Jay Hammond's homestead and his wife, Bela Hammond. It was a very memorable visit, with the legendary home site and his well known and well liked wife still living there. This year , we also got to fly out to the native village of Ekwok near Bristol Bay to fish for silver salmon. I landed 8 silvers during a wonderful fishing outing. Flying out and back to Lake Clark each year takes one through some of the worlds most beautiful scenery , mountains, lakes, and by the steaming volcano, Mt. Redoubt. These week trips each summer are a rare treat and many experiences are hard to describe. We are all blessed to be Friends of Bob.
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| Two of our party relaxing in one of the twin Beechcraft as we flew out to Lake Clark |
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| our close up view of the summit and caldera of Mt Redoubt Volcano near Lake Clark |
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| One of the many glaciers seen flying through the pass near Lake Clark |
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| another view of the wild mountains and many huge glaciers |
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| The upper end of magnificent Lake Clark on a sunny, calm day |
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| Lake Clark about midway, as we near the landing strip |
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| Our host, Bob, "Lord Gillam" at the bar for "Happy Hour" |
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| The view as we approach the front of the lodge |
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| The view of the lodge and one wing from the back side |
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| Bob's pair of lions , greeting all guests at the top of the stairs at the main living room entrance |
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| A view into the main lodge lounge, with many of Bob's hunting trophies |
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| Yours truly stroking one of Bob's lion greeters |
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| part of our party out on the deck after dinner enjoying the evening sunshine |
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| The main dock and Bobs "air force" |
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| View from one of Bobs big, fast lake boats taking us for a days fishing on Lake Clark |
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| My biggest catch of the day, a trophy sized grayling |
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| Bob's float planes on a nearby, favorite lake where we fish for red salmon and grayling |
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| The camp on a river sandbar during an outing for salmon and trout across from Nondalton |
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| Yours truly on a mid day lunch break "guarding" our camp :-)) |
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| My biggest red salmon landed that day, a huge male starting to turn color |
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| another day, another lake and and my biggest Northern Pike I have ever caught. |
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| The beautiful and well known "Hammond Homestead" with Bob greeting Bela Hammond |
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| I was very honored to have a chance to greet and visit with Bela Hammond, Alaska's former 1st Lady |
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| one of our 2 Beaver float planes after we landed on Crosswind Lake to view the huge brown bears |
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| part of our party starting the hike across the tundra to the river banks and the bears |
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| I was thrilled to arrive on the river bank and see all the big brown Bears fishing |
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| the view downstream showing several bears fishing near us |
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| Looking directly across the river towards about a dozen big bears fishing |
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| Two of the nearest bears just below us. I called the one on the gravel bar "Sleepy" as it snoozed for nearly an hour |
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| Our party out at Ekwok this year about to depart to fish for silver salmon in the river |
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| My biggest silver salmon of the 8 that I landed that day, a bright, big beauty |
