LAKEVIEW OUTFITTERS
COMMITTED TO CONSERVATION
Phil Hilbruner, and Travis (TJ) Dawson founded Lakeview Outfitters in 2015 with a simple goal. To promote a more positive catch and release angling ethic, focused on conservation and reducing angler impact. Having seen the damage done by catch and release angling with barbed hooks, and other practices, we were of the opinion that something needed to be done. We believe it is every angler's responsibility to take every measure possible to limit their impact on the ecosystem while enjoying our fisheries. We hope to educate and set an example for other anglers and guides through our guiding practices, storefront, and volunteerism. From building our shop with as much local material as possible, to selling only barbless flies, or sourcing environmentally friendly alternatives to lead weights and raw lead anchors, we have been true to this idea, considering conservation first in every decision we make. TJ has since married and moved to New Zealand, but our commitment to conservation remains. We hope you will join us in our mission.
VOLUNTEERISM IN ACTION
At Lakeview Outfitters, we believe it is our duty to give back to the resources that give us so much. One of the best ways to have a positive impact on our fisheries is by volunteering through Streamwatch, a local organization comitted to preserving Kenai Peninsula aquatic habitats. Streamwatch is a collaborative effort between the US Forest Service, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the Kenai Watershed Forum and local volunteers. Through Streamwatch, we have the opportunity to protect high-impact areas of the Kenai River, Russian River, Kasilof River, and other Kenai Peninsula streams.
A day of volunteering with Streamwatch involves visiting the most highly impacted areas of rivers on the Kenai Peninsula to pick up trash, repair boardwalks and fences that protect our habitat, and interact with visitors, helping to keep them informed. While doing this, we have the opportunity to educate anglers about the importance of protecting the streamside riparian vegetation, bear and human interaction, fishing regulations and more. To maintain status as a Streamwatch Ambassador, volunteers are required to commit a minimum of 24 hours of service each season.
There are more than 300 licensed guides on the Kenai River alone, more still on the rest of the peninsula. Of all these guides, we are the only ones to actively participate and volunteer through the Streamwatch Ambassador program. This is not a brag, it is a challenge. We would love to see our colleagues on the river join us in Streamwatch, doing so would be a benefit to the rivers, fish, anglers and our businesses.
Phil and TJ after a day of volunteering on the Russian River.
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Some of our Steelhead Sirens out on the water learning new skills!
COMMITTED TO GETTING WOMEN ON THE WATER
Fishing is for everyone, but the reality is that many women still face barriers to getting started in fly fishing. Lack of access to mentors, fishing partners, gear, or simply a welcoming place to learn can make the sport feel difficult to enter.
Over the past several years, we’ve been working to change that.
Led by guide and fisheries biologist Carolyn Knapper, Lakeview Outfitters has been growing initiatives to create welcoming opportunities for women to learn, connect, and grow as anglers. Our Ladies Trout Nights brings women together at the shop to learn fly tying, and then head out on the water to learn fishing skills in a relaxed, supportive environment. The Steelhead Sirens community connects women anglers through retreats, fishing gatherings, and an ongoing newsletter that shares local fishing knowledge, seasonal updates, and opportunities to get involved.
These programs are about more than learning how to fish. They’re about building community, sharing knowledge, and creating a space where women feel confident stepping onto the river.
PARTNERING WITH TROUT UNLIMITED
We’re proud to continue this work in partnership with Trout Unlimited, an organization dedicated to protecting rivers and fisheries while strengthening the communities that care for them.
Recently, Lakeview Outfitters and Trout Unlimited were awarded a grant from the FishAmerica Foundation to support a new initiative focused on expanding opportunities for women anglers in Southcentral Alaska.
This project, Keeping Alaskan Women Anglers on the Water, will fund a series of free educational and on-the-water opportunities designed to help more women gain experience, skills, and confidence as anglers.
These opportunities will include:
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Guided scenic float trips on the Upper Kenai River
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Walk-in fishing trips on local creeks
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Women’s fly-tying nights and instructional gatherings
Participants will be selected through an application process, and applications are expected to open in May.
This program builds on the momentum we’ve already seen through Ladies Trout Nights, Steelhead Sirens gatherings, and other women’s events in our community. Every time we’ve hosted these events, the response has been overwhelming. The demand for women-focused fishing opportunities continues to grow, and we’re excited to expand what’s possible.
We’re grateful to partner with Trout Unlimited on this initiative and excited to continue building a strong, connected community of women anglers here in Alaska.
Top: WOWI (Women on the water intiative)
Bottom: Two women bringing in their first catches on our Steelhead Sirens Retreat
ARE YOU A WOMEN READY TO GET ON THE WATER?
Subscribe to the Steelhead Sirens newsletter to be the first to hear when applications open for Keeping Alaskan Women Anglers on the Water—a series of free educational and on-the-water experiences designed to help more women gain confidence and independence as anglers.
Subscribers also receive:
• Updates on upcoming women’s fishing events
• Local fishing knowledge and seasonal tips
• Community gatherings and retreats
• New opportunities to get involved on the water
Join the community and stay connected.
MEET THE TEAM
Phil Hilbruner (& Kai)
As the Owner of Lakeview Outfitters, and an ambassador of the sport of fly fishing, Phil is invested in seeing to it that you have the best possible trip. With over 13 years of experience guiding the Kenai, he has created a unique program, providing guests with unforgettable memories.
Phil grew up in Oregon, where he developed a love for fly tying and fly fishing at a young age. As a kid, you might have found him pursuing trout and steelhead on rivers and lakes around Mt. Hood. In 2005, Phil moved to Alaska and quickly fell in love with the Kenai river, Cooper Landing and the surrounding area.
Phil is passionate about the fishery, believing that it should be enjoyed in a sustainable manner that conserves and protects it for future generations. Along with guiding, Phil spends time volunteering for Streamwatch, helping to clean up, restore and protect high-impact sites on the Kenai and Russian rivers.
Phil enjoys introducing new anglers to fly fishing, helping them build skills while catching fish and having fun! He loves to row the river and experienced anglers will appreciate his command of the drift boat, while they make casts into places most anglers don't get to. He is usually accompanied by his "deckhand" Kai, a well-mannered Husky/lab who is certain to steal your heart.
Carolyn Knapper (& Jax)
Carolyn wears a lot of hats around Lakeview Outfitters—shop manager, retreat host, yoga guide, and resident salmon nerd (her words, not ours). With a background in salmon biology and over a decade of experience working in fisheries across Canada and Alaska, she brings a scientific curiosity and deep care to every part of the business.
Carolyn first came to Alaska in 2023 for a fisheries job on the Copper River and quickly fell in love with the state—and with time on the Kenai. In 2024, she joined Lakeview full-time, bringing along her pup Jax, who’s now learning the ropes from Kai (with plenty of puppy enthusiasm). Carolyn also runs a business teaching Indigenous youth biology and outdoor skills, and she’s currently finishing her master’s research on sockeye salmon in British Columbia.
When she’s not helping guests find the perfect fly, she’s probably foraging in the forest, rolling out her yoga mat, or scheming up the next adventure. Carolyn is the creative force behind Steelhead Sirens, our upcoming women’s-only fishing retreat, where she’ll lead yoga sessions and help anglers of all levels connect more deeply with the river, the fish, and themselves.
Jax is our junior deckhand in training—he’s wild about fish, loyal to the bone, and always ready for the next float.
