By William Perkins
If you want to learn how to plan and organize the most exciting fishing trip imaginable, and you want to do it without reading boring books or taking expensive fishing courses, then this might be the most important article you read all year.
In this article I will show you how to put together your dream fishing trip and answer critical questions you might have about how to choose the right fishing lodge; what to expect on a fly-in trip; and what questions to ask the lodge operator
when you have him on the phone. I'll also say a few words about hiring a guide, and how to get your catch back home!
For this article I got the help of remote fishing expert, Dave Cushion, to find out everything he knows about fly-in fishing and Canada fishing lodges. And I spent an entire afternoon listening to one of the most successful remote fishing camp owners in Canada talk about the ins and outs of wilderness fishing lodges.
Here's what I learned:
There's no fishing trip quite as special or as memorable as a trip to a remote fishing lodge where the scenery is pristine and the fishing is incredible. Pulling great lake trout, walleye, or salmon out of a lake or river all day is a thrill you'll remember for the rest of your life. The fishing really is everything you imagined it to be, --as long as you choose the right wilderness lodge or cabin.
Planning your trip and asking the right questions is the most important part of your fishing adventure. Some guys might spend thousands of dollars on a fishing lodge in Canada and still come back empty handed. You've gotta do your homework! Remember, lodge owners are trying to sell you something, so they often will tell you what you want to hear. It's important to find out how big the lake is you'll be fishing, for example, AND how many fishermen or lodges will be located on that lake. It's all about pressure. The less fishermen, the better the fishing.
Choosing a fishing lodge will depend on your budget and the kind of accommodations you're looking for. Most of the information in this article is about Alaska and Canada fishing lodges, but they can be found all over the world. There are 5 star resorts and there are tent-frame cabins with out houses and portable camping stoves, and there's everything in between. But there are basically three types to choose from: drive-to lodges, fly-in lodges, and outpost camps.
The majority of fishing camps are drive-to lodges which means you can bring your own boat and pack as much stuff as you please. Some of these lodges will cook your meals for you, make your beds, and even wash your boat for you every morning. While others require you to bring your own food which you cook yourself. All else being equal, a drive-to lodge is going to be cheaper than a fly-in lodge because you'll save yourself a ton of money on airfare.
Fly-in lodges are more expensive for sure, but their remote locations practically guarantee you'll catch more and bigger fish. There's also something to be said for the thrill of flying into a remote area in a float plane and landing on the water of a crystal blue lake. But there are some inconveniences you'll have to put up with which may seem like a small price to pay for the monster rainbow trout you'll likely catch.
The rules are very strict about how much weight you can fly-in to a fishing camp. If planes are too heavy, they might not clear the trees on take off! You may have to pack in a week's supplies, so you'll be limited to what you can bring. Leave behind most of the canned foods because they're mostly water anyway. Pack dried milk and dehydrated foods. Or, just pay the extra and expensive fee for being overweight.
Once you get dropped off at the outpost, be sure to check that you have enough matches and propane for your stove and enough gas for your boat --and that your boat starts-- before the pilot leaves. After he's gone, you're on your own! Ah wilderness, the thrill of it all.
Do your homework diligently.
When you have the lodge owner on the phone, ask lots of questions. Doug Cushion, in his book, The Ultimate Fishing Trip Guidebook, says to be sure and find out: "How far is the lodge from where you'll be fishing? How often does the lake get rough? Will you face any long treks through rugged terrain? How much experience do the camp fishing guides have? Is tackle available at the lodge? At what cost?" And many more questions which he goes into in great detail in his book.
Fishing guides are well worth the $100 to $200 a day you'll have to pay for one. They can tell you where to fish a lake or river which you have never seen before. You probably won't have the time to figure out by yourself which are the best spots to fish and what kind of bait you should be using. A guide can tell you all this as well as where to fish when it's windy and which spots are a waste of time.
Your time is limited. You'll do better if you get the advice of a guide who spends just about every day on the water. And be sure to tip your guide, especially if you've had the best fishing day of your life!
When it comes to getting your catch home, policies vary widely. Not all lodges allow you to bring your catch home. Some lodges offer freezer and packing services for a fee. Most of the time the lodge or outfitter will require you to pack your own fish in your own cooler. Check with the outfitter before you choose a remote or fly-in fishing lodge or package deal.
There's so much more to say about this subject, but an article like this is limited. If you liked the article, most of the information was gleaned from The Ultimate Fishing Trip Guidebook by Doug Cushion. I would recommend this ebook to anyone who is planning a fishing trip or who would like to know more about remote fishing lodges. I'm sure it would ensure a better trip if you had this knowledge before you booked your fishing adventure. It might also save you several thousand dollars! The book is 122 pages and also includes excellent information on how to fish several different varieties of fish located in remote areas like Canada, British Columbia, and Alaska.
I'll be writing more articles on this subject in the future, so please check back later. Good Luck! And I hope you catch a big one on your next fishing adventure.
