Driftwood Wilderness Lodge

Mark Williams

2024-01

Me and four buddies spent eight days and eight nights with Nick fishing and hunting, what an amazing time!!!I am already booked to go back and I'm bringing my wife with me!We slammed the fish every single day and got a buck, you can't ask for more than that!!We got to drop crab pots, caught some great snow crab and had an amazing meal out of it!The home is rustic but cozy, and we felt right at home!Bear is awesome, a great guy and cook, don't let his looks fool ya :)The food is great and there is always plenty of it!Nick, Beau, Bear, Sister Sarah, and the rest of the crew are great and I can't wait to be back there!

Stephen Christie

2023-07

I recently took my son-in-law on a three-day trip in June to Nick’s lodge. It was three days of non-stop, productive fishing. Nick has been guiding trips in Larsen Bay for years and clearly knows where the fish are and how to catch them. We were especially successful in catching halibut each morning as most folks on board caught their limit within the first hour or two before we moved on to other fish in other locations. Nick is a personable and easy-going guy who is at equally at ease with with experienced outdoorsmen or newcomers like me. Everyone had a good time and was able to bring home coolers of fish. The days were well-organized, the lodge food was delicious and plentiful (crabs fresh from the bay!), and the fishing was memorable. Nick’s affordable rates are the best in the area and worth every dollar. We had an amazing time in a beautiful spot with a great guide.

Rachel Nevill

2023-11

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Douglas Nagle

2023-07

I took my 13 year old son to Larson bay for a three day fishing trip with Captain Nick. It was a great time start to finish. Nick is a pro when it comes to finding fish! He had us on the fish within minutes of dropping lines in the water. It was non-stop action all day. He had productive spots for Halibut, Cod, Rockfish, and Salmon.In addition to the great fishing Nick provides a very enjoyable atmosphere and overall experience. He was patient and accommodating with my son while fishing. He went out of his way to point out wildlife and other points of interest and would pause so we could take pictures of the beautiful Alaskan backdrop. We set a couple crab pots and found them full of tanner crabs, which were a great addition to the fresh caught fish and from scratch meals that chef Bear cooked up for dinner each night.I have been on many charter fishing trips. Fishing in Larson bay with Nick stands out as one of the best that I have been on. I would definitely recommend making the trip to fish with Nick and plan on making a return trip!

Dakota Porzondek

2023-05

Nick and his crew did absolutely everything in their legal power to ensure we had great time. I feel unlike the rest of the lodges in the area Nick isn’t just after your money and genuinely cares about showing you a good time. The the camp cook “Bear” is next to none, he makes great home style meals and is all around a very interesting guy! We will be back soon, and trust me if your interested in hunting, fishing or exploring the Larson Bay Area of Kodiak Island please give Nick a call. He’s a straight shooter and won’t makeup a bunch of garbage just to make a sale.

Garrison Harris

2023-05

I have fished with others in Larsen Bay but this was absolutley the best experience ever. Do you want a guide that will push himself to get you on big fish? Do you want to fish for a variety of fish, places, and fill your freezer? Do you want to get to places other guides save for themselves? Do you want amazing food while there? Then Nick Blanco, Bear, and the Driftwood Wilderness Lodge is for you. I can’t say enough about how much better this trip was than others and have to go back. Better book your trip before everyone else finds out how much better the fishing and experience is with them. I feel really fortunate to have found him and wonder if i should not leave a review so others will not know how good he really is, but at the end of the day, Nick and Bear deserve to be known for being the best. I just hope he will have openings next season. My boys and i have memories that will never fade and we raise a toast to Nick for being the reason.

Allan Bonner

2024-01

Nick was phenomenal with putting us on fish, even when the days we couldn’t fish halibut. I think most days we averaged about 200 lbs of live fish. Loved helping on the boat. We caught salmon, halibut, ling, pacific cod and rock fish. Nick also introduced us to Tanner crab, some of the best eating we had! Bear is a great addition, the man can cook and create awesome meals. Kudos to Nick and family, great people, treat you as one of the family.Thank you sir, appreciate your time and patience! We are working on that other project for you!😁Rooms: Comfortable, plenty of room, does need rooms to accommodate couples if possible.Nearby activities: Beach combing, sight seeing and nice walks!Safety: Very respectful of people’s safety concerns, conscientious of needs and abilities!Food & drinks: Crab, fresh halibut, oysters, fresh cod and rockfish, unbelievable!Noteworthy details: The food was awesome, I cooked oysters one night, Rockerfeller style. People enjoyed them. Family atmosphere and peaceful

Gary Merritt

2023-05

Nick at Driftwood Wilderness Lodge was amazing. Extremely knowledgeable in locating Halibut, Ling Cod, Cod, Rock Fish, Silver and King salmon, and Crab. We were very busy every day and brought home several 100 lbs of filets. Felt like home at the lodge. Great food. We got what we come for, fish! We will be back!Nick is the BEST!!!

Robynn Kirkham

2022-05

Amazing doesn't begin to describe the time we spent in Larsen Bay with Nick at the Driftwood Wilderness Lodge. One week of ocean and river fishing with Nick as our guide was just what we needed to recharge and refresh. A breathtaking remote location with limitless opportunities to see wildlife; fishing that was so much fun on both the ocean and in the rivers; food that has you begging for recipes; hospitality and customer service unmatched! This is a must do for any fishing enthusiast. Stocked our freezer with fresh halibut, cod, and salmon. Lodge was homey and comfortable too! We will be back! Thanks Nick for an amazing experience! If I could give 10 stars I absolutely would.

Greg Sowden

2023-05

Nick at Driftwood is incredible at what he does. He will make sure you get what you came for. Our group wanted to do it all; halibut, troll for kings, river fishing, lingcod. Nick found all of it and despite being late in the season, we hit phenomenal fish everywhere we went. When we weren’t fishing we were eating absolute feasts but together by Nicks chef, Bear. There aren’t enough good things to say about Driftwood. If you are looking for amazing fishing, comfortable accommodations and great company, look no further than the DWL! We will be back!

Brian Adams

2022-05

It's difficult to put into words how incredibly amazing my experience was going to Larson Bay in Kodiak Alaska and staying with Nick Blanco at his Wilderness Lodge. Nick is the greatest guy you'd ever want to meet and he is an outstanding captain. He'll ask you what you want to catch - and he knows just where to go to catch each type of fish. He will give you as much help as you need or let you do your own thing, if you prefer. If you want to hunt, he will give you great directions on how to find the game you seek. He can drop you off from his boat or show you trails from his lodge. And if you prefer to fish another day he is great at getting you into the type of fish you prefer to catch. And BTW the fishing was non-stop action!My stay at Nick's wilderness Lodge was most enjoyable because of Nick's laid back personality, and the atmosphere was very relaxed. At the end of a great day of fishing or hunting, you can relax in his living room watching big screen TV or better yet, go for a walk and enjoy the beautiful area, do some stream fishing, or just hang out at his lodge.Nick also has a great cook who produces outstanding meals, with a greenhouse he takes care of, providing fresh vegetables. Every meal was delicious and amazing!After you visit Nick your first time - you will want to visit again and again. But, if you only make one trip of a lifetime - you absolutely must make arrangements to go stay with Nick Blanco, at his Wilderness Lodge, for the most amazing vacation of hunting and/or fishing you've ever had see. Nick gives you the true Alaskan experience.

Greg Sweigart

2023-05

This was my first trip to Kodiak with Nick, it will not be my last. Nick is ment to be doing what he choose to do. You arrive as a client and leave as friends. The fishing was incredible to say the least. "Bear" did a heck of a job in the kitchen and was 5 stars as " Hospitality Mgr.". Thanks for the memories guys, that my son and I now have forever. Nick, you exceeded my expectations of what i exspected this 1st time trip would be. Can't wait to see ya again some day.

Samuel Neuschwander

2023-05

Staying at Driftwood Wilderness Lodge with Capitan Nick, and Chef Bear was the trip of a lifetime. Truly one-of-a-kind fishing experience. Nick put us on fish every time we went out, and Bear cooked us meals fit for kings. Fishing for halibut, king salmon, lingcod, and crab, we caught all we wanted and more. I've never had more fun fishing; both deep sea, and hiking into the mountains to fish the rivers. The scenery and wildlife were breathtaking. We could see whales, seals, and sea otters swim by the boat, and can spot fox and bear on the shores. Can't wait to plan our next trip up to Driftwood!

Jason Petkevich

2022-05

Came to Larsen Bay to hunt deer and duck. I was fortunate enough to harvest a beautiful buck plus Nick and I were able to put together a fantastic duck hunt. Many of his other guests were fishing and caught beautiful cod. I’m very pleased with my stay at Driftwood Wilderness Lodge. Nick’s helping hand, Max, provided fantastic locally sourced food. Driftwood Wilderness Lodge was actively helping their local community and gave off a very homey feeling. Can’t wait to see what Nick has in store as time goes on. I’ll be back, hopefully sooner rather than later!!

randy josephson

2022-05

The Driftwood Lodge experience was a fantastic trip. The weather was challenging but Nick takes great effort in making sure his guest are able to catch fish and enjoy the experience. If you are thinking about taking an Alaska trip reach out to Nick.

Mason Nemitz

2022-05

The overall experience was truly incredible! The halibut fishing was top notch as well. The lodge we got to stay at was well kept, had WiFi, hot water, and comfortable beds. Max did an amazing job cooking and it was great to see how much fresh local food was used and incorporated into the meals. Captain Nick is very knowledgeable about the area and is a very easy guy to get along with!

eric lindstrom

2020-05

Nick provided a true Alaskan fishing experience for our group. Larsen Bay is a quaint fishing village so you feel like you are away from the world. The lodge accommodations (sleeping, shower and food) and fishing were excellent. Nick is a very likable guy and tries hard to make your experience positively memorable. Looking forward to a return trip. Eric

Kaitlin Freienmuth

2022-05

My husband and I traveled to Larsen Bay for a bear draw hunt. We chose to stay with Nick at DWL so that we could camp a few nights at a time and then have a retreat at the lodge for a night at a time, and have transportation included. While the lodge is certainly a rustic, rural lodge, it has everything you need - and more! Working with Nick to figure out where to hunt, when and how to get there and back and then coming back to the lodge to delicious food prepared by Max and snuggles with Sarah, the lodge dog, was exactly what we needed. The environment is friendly and welcoming and it was nice to chat with other guests in the common areas. Additionally, the wifi was reliable for reassuring our families we were still doing well. We also appreciated that Nick and Max were well connected in the community to help us problem solve our way through getting snowed out of transportation plan or a flight. I would absolutely return for more hunting and fishing adventures.

Carlyle Kramer

2021-05

Spent a week with Nick on Kodiak, Caught a ton of Coho trolling in his new boat. We also had Nick guide us on Mountain hikes to Lakes where we caught trout, and then of course we got a lot of halibut and cod off the bottom. Nick it's a great host and always asked us what we wanted to do and then helped us do it. Loved spending time on Kodiak in Larson Bay.

Paul Blanco

2020-05

Nick has got years of experience as a captain and guests like him, but he also puts people on fish Everybody seems to leave with their limit.The highlight of my trips has been the whales-Orcas and Fins. A huge Fin was about 100 feet from our boat as we fished for King Salmon. I left with an equal amount of Salmon and Halibut (the best fish I've ever had).Nick is also a good hunting guide. I haven't hunted there but I've heard positive reports.Since he milled all his lumber from driftwood and led the build himself, he's able to offer the pristine Alaska experience at an attractive price.If you can, check out reruns of Building Alaska on the DIY network. It featured Nick and two other builders.

heidi shepard

2022-05

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Greta Comeaux

2021-05

My adventure of a lifetime was at Driftwood Wilderness Adventures. The sighting of Orca whales was so unbelievably grand and the wildlife was plentiful. Berries were picked daily to be served with your breakfast and the scenery was spectacular. Fishing was just great, caught king salmon, silver salmon and halibut. Fish were prepared and packed for me to take home. Nick arranged the flight from Kodak to the lodge, everything went as planned. I plan to visit Driftwood Wilderness Adventures again because it was truly an Alaskan adventure of a lifetime. Ron Comeaux

Max Lyons

2022-05

Had a memorable time in Alaska and on Kodiak Island of all places! Captain Nick runs a comfortable lodge, that is transparent and allows you to engage with the process of catching, cleaning eating, and packing your own fish! I will definitely be bringing my kids back here some day to teach them about self sufficiency and show them an incredibly special place.

Wes Shive

2022-05

Nick was a great guide and put us on the fish every day. It was non-stop action, and we caught more than we even wanted to take home! The food was excellent (thanks Max!) with some of the veggies and eggs being grown on site (or in the communal garden). Incidental wildlife viewing (bears, orcas, porpoises) while we were cruising between spots was an unexpected bonus.

Marty Grealish

2022-05

Driftwood Lodge has it all! There is always something to do! We arrived around noon and Nick said ‘I’m ready when you are, so my son and I were catching halibut and rockfish by one. That night Max put together a great fresh fish dinner. The next day Nick dropped us off by boat for deer hunting, we jumped one 30 minutes! Of course we had fresh deer for dinner..excellent! Next the Karluk river for silver and steelhead fishing, great day and beautiful scenery. Picked up crab pots on the way back, fresh crab and deer ribs for dinner. Then went across the bay for duck hunting, beautiful day, got plenty of ducks, missed plenty more. Max served a great duck dinner that night. The weather came in the last day, tried deer hunting, came back to a deer-Italian sausage lasagna. You can’t go wrong here, deer, ducks, saltwater and freshwater fishing! Great people, great lodge, great food…what’s not to like? Marty and Kevin Grealish

kendall evans

2023-05

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Lynne Gederos

2022-05

Nick had us catching halibut within 2 hours of arrival. The 4 of us fished 4 days and left with combined totals of 330 pounds of Kings, halibut, cod and rockfish, vacuum sealed and frozen. The accommodations were comfortable, not fancy, which helps keep the costs down. Max served some incredible meals...one with our fresh caught ling cod. The wifi worked well. Larsen Bay was exactly what we hoped for and away from the fishing pressure of other more populated areas. Hope to go back aggain some day. Ocean conditions were better than I'm used to where we live in Oregon.You have to go by air taxi from Kodiak which was was a new and fun experience.Next time I would pack my "bags" in Coleman coolers so that we could use to ship fish home and pack clothes in boxes to go home. All the air connections are hard on shipping boxes even the waxed ones required by airlines.Nick helped us plan trip pre-covid which prevented 2020 summer travel and was gracious in letting us rebook a year later using our original deposit. Thanks for the memorable experience! Had a great time fishing with you.

Kory k

2021-05

Nick was an awesome guide and had us on fish early and often all 4 days we stayed there. The food was excellent as was the hospitality. We ended up coming home with a lot of amazing fish and memories to accompany our catch and our time there. We had a group of 6 and were accommodated perfectly, although smaller groups would certainly share a similar experience. Will most certainly be coming back.

Chad Kirkham

2022-05

The best week of my life in either a long time or ever! Can’t decide…maybe I’ll decide after the next trip up!Un believable views, hikes, fishing, food, and overall experience.We will be back Nick, thank you for showing us the area. Particularly the Zachar River! Incredible!The Driftwood Wilderness Lodge is the real deal!

Dan Neirinckx

2021-05

My Driftwood Wilderness Lodge experience was outstanding. The owner Nick Blanco was always working to make my stay the best it could be and treats guest as family. Don't pass up a chance to experience both a restful and exciting adventure.