Kodiak Adventures Lodge - Kodiak, Alaska

Arnie J. McFly

Truly memorable experience! What an awesome adventure. Ive worked in and amongst a lot of lodges in my life and Larry and Shelly have it absolutely dialed in. Hospitality was above and beyond. They both do everything they can to make your trip as comfortable and enjoyable as they can. This trip is by far one of the best experiences I have ever had. If I could come back every year I certainly would. For anyone looking for a scenic, peaceful, successful Alaskan experience, this is the place for you!

Dennis Hudec

Went through Kodiak adventures for a Blacktail hunt, and duck hunt.
My dad and I ended up getting our harlequin and our barrows golden eye, no deer, but the weather wasn’t cooperating with us.
Still had an amazing time. Great place, great food, and Larry and Shelly are amazing people. I HIGHLY suggest their lodge.

Mark W

I've been a regular at Kodiak Adventures Lodge for over a decade, but this last trip was the greatest of them all. Led by Captain Larry Carroll's expert guiding, we caught trophy halibut, yelloweye and King Salmon. The hospitality given by Larry and Shelly at the lodge is top notch. We had excellent meals, wonderful sleep, and great conversation. Kudos to new deck hand Luke, who was quick to assist and always smiling. We also saw an Orca up close and a Kodiak bear and her two cubs. What a great trip!

Jeremy Castro

I will keep my review short and sweet. The lodge is an amazing place. The scenery and tranquility of it all is unmatched. However, I leave this review because of Larry, who was supposed to be our fishing guide and put us on the fish, actively worked against me and my group from being on the fish.

1. The fishing grounds surrounding the lodge are commercially fished for salmon. We saw commercial boats there on the water on a daily basis. When we signed up with this lodge, Lay said, "There is no one around for 28 miles." This was one of the selling points for us.

2. Larry is one of the most controlling people I have ever met. On an honest level, Larry must suffer from debilitating anxiety because he cannot help but control everything at the lodge, including your fun. Larry must also suffer from debilitating insecurity because he cannot handle being wrong about anything. Larry's way is the only way, period. Your way is wrong.

3. Larry actively worked against my group and I from catching fish (especially after you question him or suggest something other than what he "know" is right). We were fishing outside of the Bay slaying salmon on the watermelon pattern salmon trolling lures. I suggested that we add a second watermelon lure onto the second of three rods, and Larry absolutely lost his mind. A few minutes later, Larry changed the lure and moved approximately 300 ft further from shore where we were so that we wouldn't catch fish and completely turned off the fish finder. I was in shock. This was a very obvious move from the fishing grounds, but no one in my group wanted to say anything because we felt captive at this lodge and did not want to make things worse for us for the remainder of the trip.

I have Larry's temper tantrum on video and will be posting it. On the same day, my buddy had to do something and asked the deckhand to hold the rod for him for a couple of minutes. My buddy and I both heard Larry tell his deckhand NOT to jig the rod.

My buddy and I were using fish scents to attract fish to our bait. The next day, Larry put them in his bait chest so that we wouldn't touch them. Essentially, he hid them from us so that we couldn't use them.

One day, we fished for seven hours, with one or two fish in the bucket. We finally find the honey hole, and pulled up fish for 20 minutes one after the other. Larry, at the time scheduled (3:00 p.m.), made us pull up our gear and stopped us from dropping our baits, so that we could leave the honey hole we had just spent all day searching for.

I truly believe that Larry does not believe in his clients catching their limits of fish, not sure he want his clients to catch fish.

Larry has such an obsession with you following his rules, that it completely removes all fun out of the trip. At least it did for us.

After we left the lodge, my son told me that when he was whistling on the boat, as he usually does, Larry put his hand over his mouth to stop him from whistling. I did not witness this, but my son told me about it and was very upset by it. I could put up with all of Larry's temper tantrums, controlling behavior, and major insecurities for the entire time, but if I had seen Larry put his hands on my son's face like this, I think I would have immediately ended the trip, demanded he take us back to the lodge, demanded he issue a refund and demanded he call the plane to pick us up to take us back to the City of Kodiak. This is too far.

No one in my group will be returning to this lodge.

You are better off going into the city of Kodiak, and getting on one of the charters in town. The day we flew back from the lodge, we met a cool group of guys who went out and all caught their trophy fish for less than 1/2 the price we paid for this experience.

Dave Eldridge

At the end of July, I spent 5 days at Kodiak Adventures Lodge with Larry and Shelly Carroll, two very special people and fantastic hosts. Their #1 objective is that you the guest have the time of your life. When I planned this trip, I was sure it was going to be a fantastic experience. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect it to be the experience of a life time. Larry will work his fanny off to get you fish. He will set you up with all the equipment needed to keep you comfortable. He is is also quite the cook. Shelly will make sure that your accommodations are comfy and that your meals are prepared and very tasty. She is also quite a baker. Homemade bread and deserts every night that are to die for. That is if you like 5 star deserts. If one likes natural beauty as I do, you will be in heaven the whole time you are there. I was looking for a remote lodge in Alaska where I would be well taken care of. I found it and I'm going back as soon as I can.

Mr. Howard

Absolutely fantastic operation! It’s dialed in!
Mr Larry was extremely hospitable, kind, professional and helpful. He knows his stuff! Miss Shelly is a wonderful cook and very very kind. Both have a wealth of knowledge. They made me feel welcome from the start and took excellent care of me. I can’t say enough positive things about them. Had a wonderful experience. I’m grateful! The lodge and rooms are so nice, clean and comfortable. Everything it top notch! Prepare to eat like a king!
Scenery is awe inspiring.
They are they best kind of people with the best kind of place. Book with complete confidence I’m tellin you. Again it’s dialed in. I’ll definitely be back.

Jeff Edwards

My neighbor and I spent a week fishing at Kodiak Adventure Lodge this June. We met a delightful husband and wife couple in Kodiak City who were also going (this was their 9th! trip to Kodiak Adventure Lodge, and that fact alone tells you everything about my own desire to return)! We flew together in a float plane to the very remote area of Kiliuda Bay were the lodge is located. And so started the great exciting adventure of travel, friendship, camaraderie, story telling, great food and of course fishing, that didn't stop until we had to leave a week later. The very gracious owners and hosts, Larry and Shelly, met us when we pulled up in the float plane, and are extremely personable. Larry gave us the tour of the lodge and facilities while our gear was being offloaded and taken to our room, and we felt right at home immediately. I was and remain amazed at the complex logistics, and they myriad skill set that have, that goes into running a lodge so successfully in such a remote area. Power is solar and hydroelectric derived from a stream of melting snow on the mountain above, that runs directly under their lodge. In fact, i told Larry and Shelly in some ways they reminded me of the show "Life Below Zero" due to their self reliance, confidence and independence that comes from living off the grid and entertaining guests at such a remote location. The view from the lodge is their very own "Wild Kingdom". Completely unspoiled beauty, no other people within 26 miles, and you never know what combination of land/sea animals, birds, fish you will see as you have breakfast and dinner. There are not many people that get to experience nature this way anymore in the world. Speaking of food, the long time married couple, Shelly and Larry, are incredible cooks, and I assure that you will be highly impressed with the quality, timeliness and variety of meals you will be served both their appetizers and main meals (did i mention Shelly's homemade desserts each night!). Again, i kept asking myself how they put all this together in such a remote place; they have done it for years and have it down pat. The meals and the experience are intimate. Only 4 of us were allowed to be at the lodge to fish during that week, and along with Larry and Shelly, and the boat deck hand, it is a tight group that feels like family. Larry and Shelly come and sit down and eat meals with you, and share stories of their lives, from fishing to hunting to trapping, dog sledding, how they procure supplies, to harrowing tales of them taking their boats back in the ocean to Kodiak City with massive waves; sounded like The Perfect Storm. We had a blast with our two new fishing friends, catching halibut, black rock fish (soooo fun), and King Salmon in the bay. Larry's boat is very comfortable, totally sea worthy, decked out with all the prime fishing gear you will need, very safe and sure, and Larry is a highly experienced Captain that will make sure you are as safe and comfortable as possible. When he says we leave the dock at 7 am, you don't want to be that guy that shows up at 7:05 am with Shelly asking you "did you have to put on your lipstick to be so late" and the rest of the guests, Larry and the deck hand ribbing you about "there is always one guy that has to be late"! All in good fun. It is a long day on the water , at least a full 8 hours, so you definitely get your monies worth. The majority of Larry and Shelly's guests are return clients, and it is easy to know why after you have been .I look very forward to coming back during winter months for a duck hunt, with a day of fishing thrown in, and coming back in August, if i can get an open slot (book way early, ie, a year in advance) to bring my wife and I in August for fishing both in the bay, and in the streams during the salmon runs, and to have Larry covering us with a side by side shotgun with the excitement of sharing the same vicinity with giant Kodiak bears Jeff

Mary Wolfenden

If you are looking for an all around great Kodiak Alaska fishing / vacation experience, in an off the grid peaceful, breathtakingly beautiful place, and without the notorious Alaskan rough seas? You can feel confident exploring this lodge further. I can speak from experience that the value is secondary to the expertise that this husband and wife team provide for you while you stay at their lodge. You can't help but feel like you are being invited into their beautiful abode as part of the extended family, regardless of the length of the stay. From the incredible stories they share, to the garden fresh food they both prepare for you daily, truly exceeds expectations. THE GREAT FISHING IS A BONUS! It's obvious they have been practicing perfection for years, and continue to "Nail It". This was my "Once In A Lifetime Bucket Trip!" As I write this review 8/6/22, I share with you, its my second time....