Battle Creek in the Katmai National Park is a favorite destination of Rapids Camp Lodge.
Just a 20 minute float-plane ride through some of the most stunning back country the park has to offer, and nestled in a long steep-rimmed valley lies Battle Creek. Flowing from east to west, from Battle Lake into Narrow Cove on Kukaklek Lake, it’s roughly 2.5 river miles in length, allowing it to be covered entirely in one day. It loses only about 100 feet in elevation overall, keeping it a relatively tame river by Alaska standards.
The clarity of the water is unsurpassed, making it a sight-fisherman’s dream come true. Battle provides braided channels, rock gardens, long flats and runs, with deep pockets, as well as undercut banks. It’s as diverse a piece of water for trout as you could possibly come up with – held high by those who know it, coveted by guides and gurus, and mind blowing to any one who is experiencing it for the first time.
Some of the larger rainbows in Battle Creek will range from 27 to 30 inches +, while numbers of 20 – 26 inch trout can be caught throughout the day. Mice, streamers, and egg patterns are some of the more productive flies for coercing the trout, while large Arctic grayling, char, and lake trout can also be caught with regularity fishing the Battle.
The setting is pristine and tranquil with very few other anglers, as it can be quite a challenging piece of water for those who do not know its secrets. At Rapids Camp we’re able the access it with several different approaches. By floating it in one of our 14’ NRS inflatable rafts from inlet to outlet, we can hit all the prime water throughout the day, and spend as much time as needed in areas that are home to numbers of large Alaska Peninsula rainbows. This also allows us to effectively take some of our less confident waders or guest who prefer less hiking.
We can also hike into different access points along the river from either of the lakes. This allows pinpoint access to runs that we know are holding the big boys that particular time of the season. The average walk in is about 400 yards over moderate terrain to our first fishing spot, and easily done in a short time with waders, with out getting sweated up. From there we navigate to other points. Our plane will always be waiting for us at the bottom to take us back to the lodge!
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