Vacations come in all shapes and sizes; some people enjoy going from a museum to an exhibit to a gallery; others like to soak up the heat on a beach in the Caribbeans; while others prefer to avoid the scores of people entirely and go after some game. For those Canadian Fly in Fishing and Hunting is the best choice. I will share with you what you can expect, what you should bring, what you should avoid, and which companies you should plan your trip with. You can think of this as a Canadian Fly in Fishing and Hunting Guide.
My name is Jeremy Wadford, I’ve been fishing all over North America and over the past few years I have been on a couple of those fly in fishing trips to Canada. I enjoyed it; caught some walleye, lots of pike and a 28lb trout!
I’m telling you, this was a great trip and you should go! Leave your wife, your kids at home, take your buddies and fly in to Canada for a week to have the best fishing and hunting time ever. Seriously, ever! This is unlike any weekend trip out of town. The feel is completely different when you cross the border to hunt and fish in Canada.
What To Expect On Your Canadian Fly-In Fishing Trip
It’s a good idea to do your research first. There are 2 main companies that you can plan your trip with (see “Who To Plan Your Canadian Fly-In Fishing Trip With” below), and the staff at each one is well prepared to make your fishing trip an amazing one; so expect to be well taken care of.
Expect a boat and motor, solar-powered lighting, hot and cold running water, showers, fully equipped kitchens and comfortable furniture. The Clean Cabin Deposit (typically $100) guarantees you well maintained cabins with ample room for up to 8 adults. As a rule satellite telephones for emergency use are provided, but it’s still a good idea to make sure that they do have them at all their cabins, or at least at the cabin you’ll be staying in.
When we planned our first Canadian fly in fishing and hunting trip we found that a lot of the following things were provided to us:
Wide, heavy duty 14″ Alumarine boats with swivel seats
6 – 15HP motors and unlimited gas
Marine safety equipment (emergency kits)
Paddles
Anchors
Landing nets
Minnow buckets
Life vests/life jackets (they are mandatory, and whenever they are not included, they are available for rent)
Kitchens with cooking and eating utensils (pots, pans, plates, knives, forks, etc.)
Large propane refrigerators, stoves and freezers
Solar powered lights
Backup propane lights
High pressure solar water system with hot and cold water
Shower and urinal
Wood burning stove for heating
Firewood
Screened-in porches, 200 square foot decks /w benches
Covered area with propane and Charcoal BBQ
Fish cleaning areas with running water
Satellite phones accessible to each camp
Flight checks of our camp (should we need it, assistance would be quick)
Wooden walkways from dock to cabin
*When you plan your trip, read carefully what is provided, and where, because while the above is pretty much standard, we misread the provided features and learned only after-the-fact that some items are provided in select cabins. While I expected the items I listed below, they were unavailable to the cabin we booked. So for our next Canadian fly in fishing trip we will book the cabin with the following provided:
Canned pork & beans
Canned corn
Canned green beans
Canned fruit cocktail
Ketchup, mustard, relish
Flour & sugar
Salt & pepper
Dish soap & bleach
Mr. Clean, S.O.S. & garbage bags
Paper towels & toilet paper
Any problems with equipment you can expect to be taken care of quickly. The guys running the place really want to leave you with a Canadian fly in fishing experience you will brag to your pals about, so they are quick to fix your motor, provide you with gas and help you out in every possible way. When I went, they marked our map and spend some time with us to help us along, before we headed into the lake.
What To Bring On Your Canadian Fly In Fishing Trip
First remember that whichever company you chose, you are almost guaranteed plane transportation in and out of camp from Red Lake. This means that there will be certain limitations on how much you can bring. The limit is most likely to be 100 lbs per person. The weight restrictions are very strict, so plan your fishing trip well!
The bare minimums include duffel bag or backpack for personal gear including clothing, 1 sleeping bag (or blanket), 1 tackle box and 1 small cooler for the boat. A total of 4 items per person and that should be it for a total weight of 60 pounds per person.
General/Personal
Warm clothing and rain
Mosquito coils
Insect repellent and sunscreen
Sleeping bag or blankets (pillows are often provided)
read more
Read the Complete Canadian Fly In Fishing and Hunting Guide HERE
Amateur angler with over two decades of experience