LucG Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 (edited) I've just returned from my first ever trip to a fly-in fishing lodge and I am left speechless as this had been the best fishing experience I have ever had! The destination was Brabant Lodge, on the great Mackenzie River in the Northwest Territories. On my arrival in Yellowknife, I was greeted by a province that was lit up a the time by over 100 forest fires. Simply getting to my float base in Hay River proved difficult as the only highway out of town was closed. After several attempts, we finally made it trough, and as we drove through the charred remains of what use to be a forest, I had no clue what was waiting for me once we got there. The Lodge Brabant lodge was perfectly set on the waters edge of this enormous river system and I was very excited upon getting my first look. The main lodge was very roomy and comfortable, their boats were 18' Alaskan Lunds powered by 50 HP Hondas, and their cabins were handcrafted log cabins that were kept just as clean as your standard 5 start hotel room. The meals were amazing and their complimentary bar didn't go unused. The guide we were assigned had been working with the lodge for over 30 years, and had even more experience with the waters we were on. I couldn't wait to wet a line! The fishing The quality of fishing and the shear numbers of fish blew me out of the water the very first night out. Some places you could catch pike on one side of the boat and walleye on the other side. At some points it was literally a fish every cast. During our stay we continuously switched back and forth from walleye to pike and went out occasionally for arctic graying in the evenings. But by far, the most exciting was the pike fishing. The average fish we were catching was in the 36-39" range with several dozen fish over 40". This experience has probably ruined my pike fishing here in Ontario haha There are way to many pics to post so I will choose my favorite.Arctic Grayling We caught these drifting a #2 mepps spinner in fairly fast current, maybe 4-5 fow with a rock/cobble bottom. It wasn't difficult to catch 10-12 fish per pass. They have amazing colors, especially when they are still in the water, and put up a decent little fight. And of course, look at the dorsal fin!!! Walleye were abundant with the average size being 4-5 lbs and schooled up by the hundreds. I don't think we caught anything smaller then 3 lbs. The pike was the highlight of the trip. Never in my life have I been able to pull up to one small weed bed and continuously pull out giant pike after giant pike. I'll let the pics do the talking. As my week concluded, and as we attempted to get back to Yellowknife, fires again prevented us. After spending the night in a truck at a gas station, the rd opened and this is what it looked like for over 20 km. I'll never forget this trip. Thanks to Max from Maximum Limit Fishing for bringing me along! If you would like to see exactly how this trip went, tune in to Maximum Limit Fishing on WILD TV sometime in December or January or visit him at www.maximumlimitfishing.com or on Facebook! Edited July 22, 2014 by LucG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushart Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 OK Luc Colour me N V S Those grayling are so cool nice willys and a very fat gator---yes everyone should experience northern Canada as often as possible Beauty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mills Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Excellent report. How heavy was that last pike? I'll bet those grayling we're fun to catch in the current. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucG Posted July 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 OK Luc Colour me N V S Those grayling are so cool nice willys and a very fat gator---yes everyone should experience northern Canada as often as possible Beauty I agree, I would rather this type of trip over any tropical beach! Excellent report. How heavy was that last pike? I'll bet those grayling we're fun to catch in the current. No weight. It measured 44" and was very girthy haha Those graying were super fun in the current and on light tackle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattyk Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Great trip thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillM Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Ugh, grayling bucket list fish! Any pike over 50in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Jr Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Great report they are some nice fish. Thanks for sharing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucG Posted July 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Ugh, grayling bucket list fish! Any pike over 50in? I hear ya! Love crossing off a new species off the list! Did not land any pike over 50 unfortunately. Might of have one or two hooked, lost a couple real good fish. Lost count of how many fish were in the 41-44" range. Real fat pike too! Biggest was 45" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Caster Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Holy crap Luc! Nice trip and report.grayling have always been on my list. I tried for them in northern alberta but never got lucky. Nipigon ruined local pike fishing for me as well haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musky_hunter Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 amazing!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillM Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 I hear ya! Love crossing off a new species off the list! Did not land any pike over 50 unfortunately. Might of have one or two hooked, lost a couple real good fish. Lost count of how many fish were in the 41-44" range. Real fat pike too! Biggest was 45" Simply awesome man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leaf4 Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Wicked trip, one more added to the bucket list haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucG Posted July 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Holy crap Luc! Nice trip and report.grayling have always been on my list. I tried for them in northern alberta but never got lucky. Nipigon ruined local pike fishing for me as well haha They are definitely different! I noticed you hammered some nice pike up there! Makes me feel stupid for traveling so far! haha Nah, it was an amazing trip and experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solopaddler Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Unbelievable! Thanks for the post, looks like a pretty incredible destination. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRIFTER_016 Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Hangin' with Blodev were ya? I knew he was @ Brabant last week. There is some pretty insane fishing down in that area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucG Posted July 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Hangin' with Blodev were ya? I knew he was @ Brabant last week. There is some pretty insane fishing down in that area. Yes I was! Insane doesn't even begin to explain it. Can't wait to make my way back to the NWT in the future, you's have great fishing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRIFTER_016 Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Can't wait to make my way back to the NWT in the future, you's have great fishing! And really big fires!!!! Last week that one you drove through moved 1.5 kms in 10 minutes one day. It melted the road and torched a bunch of signs over a 10km stretch. It's currently about 1500 sq kms in size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky or Specks Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Fantastic report. Grayling are on my bucket as well and that last gator is very plump! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucG Posted July 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 And really big fires!!!! Last week that one you drove through moved 1.5 kms in 10 minutes one day. It melted the road and torched a bunch of signs over a 10km stretch. It's currently about 1500 sq kms in size. You got that right! We were lucky to have made it by when we did. As we made our way through, the highway patrol was pulled over at a roadside blaze about the size of a house. As we got on the Mackenzie, we look back and saw this and we knew he had shut down the road right behind us. In about 5 min the same cloud looked like this. As you can also see there are two new fires on either side of it. Driving back I was amazed at the size and destruction. It looked as if a bomb went off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRIFTER_016 Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 This is a shot from Ft. Providence last week. Pretty apocalyptic looking cloud of smoke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucG Posted July 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 WOW! Amazing. We were stuck in Fort Providence overnight on the 18th. Made it back in Yellowknife just in time to catch my flight! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adempsey Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Looks like an amazing lodge and trip! Thanks for posting it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushart Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 I won't hijack this great thread...just to say------I'll always remember my 1st introduction with grayling Couple guys took me out where the Fondulac River dumps into Black Lake Sask.......It was like dying and going to heaven Gin clear water....base of the rapids....water literally black (or blue) with grayling And man---they were really good to eat (tin foil..butter..onion--toss in fire) A memory I'll always have thanks again Luc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKRISONER Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 this makes me want to go back to my hometown in Northern Manitoba...ughhhh My most vivid fishing memory now is 10 years old and involves my first cast off of a dock and 3 30"+ pikes following my line in. Looks like an unbelievable time, for now I will remain envious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Clemens Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Oh man ... What a heck of a trip. something I wish I could do some day. Awesome report and thanks for taking the time to put this up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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