Our Guides

Heath has been fishing here in Bristol Bay since 1991 and has learned every twist and turn, rock, stream, and cut of the bank. Not only is he an extraordinary fisherman, he is also a coach father and the lodge owner and operator of Bear Trail Lodge. When it comes to anything fish and fishing, he is the man to ask.

Nanci, wife of Heath Lyon and co-owner and operator of Bear Trail Lodge, was brought up north because of her love of fish and the small town feel of King Salmon and the Naknek river. She has been a fishing guide in Alaska since her early 20s, has raised her daughter Rylie here and has the answers for everything. After spending years learning from the Bristol Bay environment and its people, Nanci saw a need for the local lodges and an opportunity for the local youth and passes her knowledge on to future generations as the lead instructor and one of the original founders of the Bristol Bay Fly Fishing and Guide academy.

Heidi was born in Williams Lake, Canada and moved to the United states as a child. She currently lives in Wasilla, Alaska during the winter months with her family and here in Bristol Bay with her extended family during fishing season. At the age of 18 Heidi joined the United States Air Force, which ultimately brought her to Alaska after serving in the Middle East. When not guiding fishing trips, she works building functional, hand crafted, custom fly rods for avid anglers at “Wild on the Fly”. If that wasn’t enough, Heidi is also on the board of many philanthropic and socially responsible endeavors striving to enrich her community, working with her local Trout Unlimited chapter on legislation for environment projects to keep the waters clean for generations to come.

Kvichak (Kwi-jack) is a lifelong resident of Naknek, Alaska. His childhood was spent along the rivers and streams of Bristol Bay. He spent countless hours exploring and learning what the crystal clear waters could provide. Growing up with a subsistence life style allowed him to learn more about his surroundings than most will ever know. The Aspelund family is renown throughout Alaska for their leadership, cultural background and continued support of the responsible growth of the Last Frontier. They are active members of the Bristol Bay Native Corporation and strive to bring a balance of educational opportunity and preservation for our lands to those who live in and visit Alaska. In 2013, Kvichak graduated from the Bristol Bay Flying Fishing and Guide Academy, taking his natural aptitude and turning it into a skill which he can share with others. The academy is hosted by the industry’s top leading professionals to provide the skill set necessary to become a world-class guide.

When Bryan joined our team, he brought with him a bachelor's degree in English and writing with a minor in Health and Photography, I guess when you are in the field with him, you know you will have a fantastic photo of your catch . . . followed by an English lesson! He calls Palmer Alaska home and has spent several years in the construction and heavy equipment line of work as well as working at the local 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle Shop in the winter. He knows he is working in the best fishery in the world, and nothing makes him happier than putting on his waders and sharing it with you!

If you want to hear more in-depth information on some of Alaska’s northern fisheries, Woody is the man to ask. He has spent his last 17 years fishing the rivers and streams in the Kotzebue area, enjoying the Noatak, Kobuk, and other streams along the Parks Hwy. He really enjoys working with people and helping them to have a great time. He joined us in Bristol Bay because he recognized it as a place like no other with a one-of-a-kind ecosystem.He calls Wasilla home and looks forward to meeting some great people and helping them catch some great fish when they come to visit!

Johnson City, Tennessee is where Christian currently calls home, but he has roots in Bristol Bay, where he attended the Bristol Bay Guide academy for two years and was one of Nanci’s outstanding graduates. He has always found Bristol Bay to be a special place and what is a bit unusual for a young man, one of the reasons he really enjoys being here is because he can disconnect from social media and reconnect to everything Bristol Bay offers. He has mastered his fishing skills and now joins our team to share some time on the water with you!