This year 2023 will be my family’s 7th year spending a week at elfin cove and it will not be our last, I want to say Thank you Kelly and Mary for doing such and excellent job at making our stay so enjoyable and fun. You have grade A lodges in elfin cove. you always go above and beyond to make sure everything is good The dock hands are always waiting for you with a smile when you come in after a long day of fishing, they take care of your catch, and cleanup your boat, and get it ready for the next day. The food? well let’s just say we can’t wait for dinner. Fishing is second to none and the scenery and the wildlife is amazing it’s my favorite week of the year. Thank you so much for everything. Aaron 3/23/23
Last summer (2015) I asked Claire to get some video Testimonials. She did great for an 11 year old. Click here to view some of the Testimonials she was able to video.
Marty & I were reviewing are most treasured experiences of 2018…far and away, it was fishing at Water’s Edge Lodge! It started with talking to Kern and Kelly’s Mom at the Spokane, Big Horn Shows and continued every step of the way. (You cannot help but love and trust a LDS, Idaho farmer, a true salt of the earth gentleman. I was easy to connect on so many levels.) Marty & I wanted to say “THANK YOU” to you, Kelly, (and to an amazingly hard worker…your daughter) and the entire WEL’s staff….and, we absolutely loved Camry! In short, fishing at Water’s Edge far exceeded our wildest expectations. Please feel free to use us for references to any potential clients.
Marty and I are considering retuning for 2020 or 2021 seasons and beyond. I have a new updated personal email. Could you please add us to your long list of clients that would like to be returned guests!
Thanks again for unbelievable lifetime of memories,
(Kern was right,… the entire adventure was truly amazing.)
Respectfully,
Mike Mullin & Marty McMahon - 2018
Having been to Southeast Alaska on multiple self-guided fishing trips, I have to say Waters Edge Lodge is the best by far. The fishing is excellent, each trip is always different from the rest. Being right at the entrance to the northern channel of the Icy Straits, Waters Edge Lodge is perfectly positioned for all of those fish that are passing by in that narrow corridor. The word is out on this great lodge, just look at how far in advance the bookings are! Kelly, Mary and staff have done a tremendous job of making this fishing Lodge a once in a lifetime experience (or multiple in my case).
Roderick - 2015
This is our second trip to Waters Edge Lodge. It is the best place to fish Alaska and experience the beauty and adventure of Alaska, while catching fish. The adventure was different this time and by going more than once we have realized each trip is like going for the first time. The Lodge facility is great, food wonderful and dock staff great as well. Once you have gone with Waters Edge you will be back. Planning our next trip already! Thanks Kelly and Mary for another week of memories.
Lisa - 2015
Just wanted to thank Kelly and team for the great trip we had. Any one considering an Alaska fishing trip should go to Waters Edge. I spoke with others on the plane ride home that had been to other lodges and after hearing our experience wished they had known about Waters Edge. Having the opportunity to catch trophy halibut and silvers on the same day makes for a fantastic fishing trip. Eric - 2015
My brother Kent, his wife Tammie, and I had an absolutely wondrous trip to Elfin Cove and Waters Edge Lodge. We came away with the consensus that it very well could be the best fishing in the world! And that's not an exaggeration! Fantastic boats, top quality fishing equipment,the best dock staff I've ever worked with, great accommodations, beautiful scenery, good food, and a diversity of fishing opportunity unlike anywhere we have ever been. We met some wonderful new friends that we hope to synch up another future trip together. Even with very high expectations, this trip far exceeded them. We came back with 8 boxes of filets and a camera full of lifelong memories, including 4 halibut over 100 lbs with one whopper topping the scales at 173lbs! Like hooking a whitetail deer under water! Wonderful experience that I would recommend to anyone. Probably the best "value" in Alaska to book with Kelly and his team.
Brett - 2014
Hello Kelly/Mary, Tom and myself would like to book for 2016. It was the best fishing trip in Alaska for me. I have been coming since the late 80's. Please let me know, Thank you.
Kelly & Mary,
How do you put a Thank You to the most incredible trip of your life? I had been asking Norris to take me to Alaska fishing for quite a few years, and he surprised me this time and booked a trip with you. Your place is set up perfect and the staff was wonderful. The meals were home cooked and excellent. Laundry was always done and ready for the next day. The fishing was a wonderful adventure. "Fish anywhere, just fish," as Kelly would say. So we did just that and caught a 140 lb. halibut on a salmon rod with 20 lb. test line right out of the cove. The abundance of fish and the scenery were more than we could have imagined. Bringing in fish everyday was a real treat. Thank you for the hospitality of making us feel at home and part of your family. Tell Claire hi for us and we look forward to coming back. Thank you for fulfilling a lifetime dream of ours.
Have a Great day!
Lisa & Norris Phelan
Hi Kelly and Mary,
Just a note to thank you again for a wonderful week with our family. The girls had a great time - more so than they ever anticipated. I think they would go back every year if they could.
We were all really impressed with your new lodge. I think it is perfect for you; just the right numbers. The food was very good and the "boys" were wonderful. Thanks for all your efforts to make it a memorable trip for us. Sorry about the poles and reels.
What week do I have in 2014?
Dick
Have been to Alaska for self-guided fishing on several occasions, first time to Waters Edge. The people and experience of this Elfin Cove make for a magical week. Plus the fishing isn't too shabby either. :) Great hospitality and food. Nice sized boats, everything we needed for a successful fishing trip. Kelly and staff are very accomodating. We'll be back!
Amie - 2015
Kelly, Mary, Family and Crew,
We just wanted to thank you all for such a wonderful fishing experience. As you know we have been fishing Alaska 9 years and this trip to Elfin Cove has topped them all. Your new accommodations are just the best. As always the food is great and the fellowship can’t be beat.
We are already excited for our next trip. We’ll definitely keep in touch throughout the year. Give a hug to the kids and a big hello to the folks.
Thanks Much,
Dan & Kathy – Happy Jack, Arizona
I have been fishing Alaska for the last sixteen years and have tried some different lodges but Water's Edge Lodge is by far the best lodge I have ever had the pleasure to visit. Elfin Cove offers an almost perfect place to fish for all types of salmon as well as huge Halibut, Lingcod, Golden Eyes, Rock Bass and assorted rockfish. Its unique location affords you the ability to fish the open ocean as well as inside passages to allow you to catch your daily limit every day. The scenery is fantastic with The Fair Weather Mountains, glaciers and rugged terrain. Wild life is plentiful with sea lions, dolphins, humpback whales, killer whales, sea otters and even an occasional black or brown bear. The village of Elfin Cove with its local people and shops make your stay there very enjoyable.
Water's Edge Lodge has a wonderful facility with clean, spacious rooms and a beautiful dining and living area. It is located right on the "Board Walk" of Elfin Cove and is very convenient to get to everything the village has to offer. The boats and fishing equipment is "Top Of The Line". The food is absolutely wonderful and if you don't gain weight there, then you didn't eat the entire portions they gave you!
The absolute best part of Water's Edge Lodge, though, is Kelly and Mary Crump, their family and staff. These people love what they do and they do it well. They are genuinely nice people that work hard at showing you the best time you ever had. Thanks to them, Water's Edge Lodge is my favorite place World!
Denny Stephens
Frisco, Texas
This past week of fishing in Elfin Cove Alaska was truly a high point in my life. The staff at the Water's Edge was exceptional! Kelly, Mary, and their kids made me feel like I was at home. Each meal was like going to Grandma's house for Sunday Dinner. The scenery was breathtaking. The fishing was beyond my expectations. All in all, I had one of the greatest times of my life. I definitely plan on returning next summer.
Doug Garner - 2013
Bountiful, UT
Certified Sales
Waters Edge at Elfin Cove
Waters Edge is the ultimate fishing experience in Alaska! I am an amateur fisherman at best and was a little nervous at first but after a thorough walk through on the boat, bait, gear etc. we were off in the incredible surrounding areas catching more fish than we knew what to do with having the time of our lives. The room was excellent, the food beyond anything I was expecting, the views and wildlife unreal, and the service/hospitality more personal than anything I've experienced at other hotels/resorts. The folks at Waters Edge treat you like family from the minute you arrive to the final moments that you are boarding the float plane to say your goodbyes. I could spend a lifetime in Alaska if it was only as easy as Waters Edge! Thanks a million guys! (Now I've got to figure out what to do with all this fish)
Tom Garner - 2013
SLC Utah
Professional Photographer
I spent the first week in July fishing at the Waters Edge Lodge with my son and parents. It was the vacation i have dreamed of all my life and much more. The team at this lodge treats you like family. Everything was perfect!!!!!!!....... from the food, accommodations, fishing gear, boats, fishing dock and lodge crew, wild life, other guests, float plane and darling cove (did I mention the big fish!) All my dreams were fulfilled the week we spent with Mary and Kelly. I was a little nervous about the self-guided aspect but it was amazing!!!!! Whales, eagles, dolphins, sea lions, sea otters....it seemed there was always some kind of show to watch not far from the boat. My 16 yr. old son was our driver and loved every minute of it. If you want an incredible adventure.....This Is The Place!!!!!!!
Janeen - 2012
I meant to tell you, how impressed I was when we were with you in how hard you both work to make this dream a reality. I watched it for a week and it was inspiring.
Dick - 2012
Blaine and I decided we wanted to do something extra special to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary and since Blaine had always wanted to go to Alaska and go fishing we decided that is what we would do. Neither one of us had ever been to Alaska or had been fishing for anything other than trout in the Rocky Mountains. Blaine spent a lot of time looking for the right place to go and boy did he find it. Waters Edge Lodge was everything we had hoped for. There was definitely a big learning curve for us such as learning to deal with the tide changes, the occasional larger swells on the edge of the ocean as well as dealing with landing and handling the horse power that a 100 lbs. plus halibut can put out. Wow, what a rush!!! Kelly and his crew were extremely helpful in helping us get familiar with the boat we would be using as well the fishing equipment which was all top notch. The food and lodging were first class. As much as we enjoyed the fishing, we couldn't wait to pull into the dock at suppertime to see what yummy hot meal would be waiting for us. Elfin Cove is very pretty not to mention how gorgeous the surrounding area is with wildlife galore. Kelly, Mary and crew took great care of us and made us feel right at home. We couldn't handle the rougher water that the salmon were hanging out in during the time that we were there, however there were plenty of places to go to get out of the rougher water. The halibut fishing appealed to us and we spent a lot of time doing just that. That is was is so nice about self-guided fishing. We highly recommend Waters Edge Lodge to anyone looking for a self guided adventure with a great support crew anytime you may need their assistance.
Blain & Kathy - 2012
What an incredible experience. I have had opportunities to fish in Alaska over the years and none of those trips compare to fishing at the Waters Edge Lodge. Kelly and Mary really know what they are doing. Elfin Cove is a great location. Brent - Utah July 24th 2011
We have been fishing in Alaska for several years and this year was the best!! Kelly and Mary are awesome. Fishing was superb, caught many different species of fish in all sizes. Great boats, lodging and food . We can't wait to go back next year! Randy - Utah, June 19th 2011
I have had the privilege of fishing in Alaska under the care and guidance of Kelly. He will treat you like a member of the family and he knows how and where to fish for "THE BIG ONES". Being self guided is the best way to fish Alaska because you determine where, when, and how long you fish. I would recommend his Lodge to anyone interested in a 5 Star Alaska Fishing Adventure. Todd - Utah
Waters Edge Lodge is a fantastic opportunity for fishermen to experience the best of Alaska outdoors--at the doorstep of Glacier Bay National Park, the scenery is unbelievable. Wildlife abounds. Unparalleled opportunities for whale watching. Oh, and the fishing; in my 20+ years fishing Alaska, I've never seen anything like it. In one day our boat caught 10 different types of fish, and put 14 halibut back in the water! Silvers, Chum, Pinks, the salmon fishing was non-stop!! Kelly and Mary Crump are rare gems. With an intense focus on their guests, Kelly and Mary ensure that your stay is a true delight. Kelly really understands the area and the fishing, ensuring that even a novice will be on fish in a hurry! The equipment is first-rate, with big, comfortable boats and sturdy rods (a must!). Nestled in Elfin Cove, the Lodge is comfortable, the food is abundant and delicious, and the porch is a wonderful place to relax at the end of another fantastic day fishing in Alaska!
Scott - Colorado, July 17th - 22nd 2011
I just came back from from my self guided trip at Elfin Cove with Waters Edge Lodge. What a trip! I want to once again thank you all for providing valuable info. I will try to add pictures later. Elfin Cove and the surrounding areas were truly spectacular with amazing fishing and scenery. We lucked out with very calm ocean which allowed us to go to Yakobi rock twice in our 19ft center console.
Day1: Fished outside 3 Hills Island and generally getting used to the area,boat and fishing setup. Picked up 3 silvers and then moved to a pinnacle outside of Soapstone point trying for halibut but instead ended up with 2 yelloweyes and 3 lingcods including a 55incher for my son and I.
Day2: Fished same ares for 9 silvers and a 40 lbs halibut.
Day3: I became more courageous/stupid and decided to follow charter boats out to Yakobi rock. Pretty good size swells on the way out but settled down nicely. Silver fishing was insane. I never could get the second bait down without hooking up on the first bait. Easily caught limit of silvers. We also had a blast deep jigging for various rockfish and lingcod in this area. My son caught 6 ling cods using the Shimano butterfly jig. This jig which was brand new as I never caught anything wit it before, by the end of the day had no paint left. On the way in picked up a 72 lbs haibut. This was the most fun fishing day we ever had. We lost so many silvers but with fish so plentiful, it really made for an enjoyable day.
Day4: Another boat wanted to go out to the Yakobi rock so we buddy boated out there. Once again super flat ocean. While they were trying to catch limit, we messed around using only hoochies and Brad's super cut plug bait. We also were trying to shoot videos. By the time the other boat limited out we had 9 silvers. Bottom fished without as much success as the current was ripping and could not get down as easily. Picked up another 60 lbs halibut.
Day5: Since we were completely full of fish even after giving our silvers and halibut from yesterday to another group, we try to shoot more videos and released all fish caught. Tried to go to Yakobi rock again as 2 other boats wanted to go but it was much rougher and we bailed. Silver fishing outside of 3 Hills was amazing. We did lot of sight seeing with the middle Inian pass proving too numerous to count whale sightings and sealion rock loaded with sealions. We finished off our trip catching and releasing black bass. We must have caught and released over 100 fish each. In the process lost remaining jigs and all our plastic tails were shredded but we still caught them on empty leadhead jigs.
Overall this was by far the best Alaska fishing trip ever. After visiting 7 different Alaska locations/lodges, I think I finally found the one. I will definitely go back.
Jae & Jordan - California, August 7th - 13th 2011
I have been fishing in Alaska since 1986 and I finally found THE fishing lodge. The only rule at Waters Edge Lodge, is catch fish. Kelly furnishes everything you need. Fantastic 22 foot boats with 150 horse Hondas. Silver fishing is 15 minutes from the lodge and you can catch halibut 5 minutes from the lodge. The last lodge I was at, I had to travel 10 miles to catch salmon and even further for halibut. The food was served family style and it was a 5 star menu. No cost is spared when Kelly is taking care of his guests. I just got back to Montana with 150 pounds of fish all nicely filleted and frozen. And get this...You fly in a float plane 90 miles from Juneau and that is included in the cost. You really get to see and experience SE Alaska. I was so impressed that I already booked for 2012. I hope to see you all there next year. I will be there the week of August 26th if you want to fish with me. I not only recommend this fishing lodge, I will guarantee it!!!
Ron - Montana, August 26th - Sep 3rd 2011
Most incredible time....You have your own boat to fish for salmon, halibut, rock fish or just about anything you can think of.
The staff is great, the food is great, I give it a ten plus. Jim - California, Sep 4th - 10th 2011
We just returned from a flawless week at Waters Edge. The Lodge, the fishing equipment, the boats, the staff, the area, the scenery, and the fishing were excellent. This was my eighth time fishing in Alaska and the best time I've had and I'm fairly certain that goes for the entire group I went with. The fishing area is diverse so you can get into any fish you seek. Further in towards Juneau, if the fish aren't there, you are just out of luck and can troll for 10 hours straight without a bite (wish I could forget the rainy fish-less day). With Waters Edge location you can get into the fish and the boats allow you to access what's not "out your back door." We also saw more whales, orcas, and sea lions than we've ever seen before. We've researched and experienced a lot of Alaska and if your wondering whether Northern Star is your answer to fishing in Alaska, it is. I'll be back and with my friends and kids in toe. We just had a tremendous time. Excellent job Waters Edge!!!!!
Mike - Utah, Aug 14th - 20th 2011
I have been going fishing up in Alaska for the last 20+ years and this was the best trips I have ever had. The fishing was fantastic and so were the people that we were fishing with. I appreciate the kindness and care that you and Mary and your staff showed to us. We had a great time, the boats were great the food was great and so was the fishing, can't ask for more than that. Thank you so much for a fabulous fishing trip. I will definitely see you next year. All of you take care.
Wayne - Utah, July 31st - August 6th 2011
Been fishing with Kelly and Mary for 10 plus years when he ran Doc Warners about 40 miles east of Elfin Cove, the Waters Edge Lodge by far is 1st. class compared to the other fishing camp in food, boats, equipment and hospitality never mind the fishing thats a plus. I hope to be fishing there for 10 + years more (God Willing).
John - Utah July 31st - August 6th 2011
This is our first time at Waters Edge Lodge and everything was top notch. The boats were big and comfortable, the food was great and plentiful, the staff was friendly and took the time to meet everyone, and the fishing was fast and furious. I would highly recommend Northern Star Lodge and will be coming back soon!
Brett - Colorado - July 28th - July 31st 2011
Awesome!! We loved it here! Took our family up...the kids and adults LOVED it! Fantastic. Boats, fishing, lodging, staff, FOOD... etc. All amazing! :) Thanks so much! Great memories and lots of fish to enjoy here at home!
Michelle - Utah June 26th - July 1st 2011