Below the fire-red sky, on a glassy lake lined with leaning pine, a fishing boat bobs in the bay. A few hundred yards away, tucked in the trees, the lights of the timber-framed lodge sparkle on the shore. There’s a curl of smoke from the chimney and a couple sitting at the end of the dock in the warm evening glow. You smile at the sight and cast your lure into the lake for one final fling before the night bite subsides. An instant hit! A two-minute battle ensues. Laughter, commotion, and hoots and hollers echo in the wilderness.
Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo is the Gateway to the Best Fishing Around
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Surround yourself in nature and experience unbeatable hospitality at these three lodges known for epic fishing and hospitality.
- Hop on a floatplane from Fort McMurray and head into the wilderness.
- Customize your trip for the best combination of fishing and relaxing.
- Bonus: At night, you're guaranteed to see the northern lights.
Fly in for an epic wilderness adventure
As far as fishing junkets go, a fly-in trip to a northern Alberta fishing lodge is about as sweet as it gets. Typically, these lodges can only be reached by floatplane, and McMurray Aviation can get you there.
From Fort McMurray, your starting point, the flights are short but stunning. And then, surrounded by wilderness, the majestic aurora borealis sweeping across the night sky, your adventure – about as far from civilization as you might ever get – will yield non-stop, unforgettable moments.
Gypsy Lake Lodge
So, you’ve never felt the tenacity, the sheer arm-ripping, teeth-clenching power of a 30-pound trophy pike before? At the beautiful Gypsy Lake Lodge, it might well be your lucky day. Your friendly hosts, Nick (jack of all trades) and Chandie (chef extraordinaire) will, in their words, “show you a piece of heaven.” Located 50 air miles east of Fort McMurray, Gypsy Lake Lodge is, indeed, in another realm altogether. With four detached cabins and a cozy main lodge, don’t expect much action during rush hour. But on the lake, yes, it’s a different story.
“It’s non-stop action on the water,” says Nick, who grew up on a farm in southern Alberta but has been guiding and flying planes in northern Alberta for more than 20 years.
“Our lake is approximately 10 miles long and five miles across. And it’s teeming with hungry fish. And the best part? You’ll have it to yourself!”
Andrew Lake Lodge
Roads? Where you’re going, you don’t need roads – but a floatplane comes in handy. When you fly into Andrew Lake Lodge, which is located on the Alberta, Saskatchewan and Northwest Territories border, you’ll find yourself in one of the most rugged and isolated areas of Alberta. Situated on the ancient rocky outcroppings of the Canadian Shield, this is the most northerly adventure lodge in the province.
“No two trips are alike,” says owner, Dan Wettlaufer. “While we have exclusive rights to the lake and the fishing is phenomenal, we also offer hunting packages, canoe expeditions, drop-in camping at many other remote lakes in the region, retreats, events and spectacular aurora viewing. The northern lights here are off the charts.”
Lloyd Lake Lodge
It’s 11:00 p.m. and, after catching 100 fish on the line and enjoying one of the best culinary experiences you’ve ever had, you’re sitting around the crackling fire with close friends and family, laughing and swapping stories. A swarm of stars sparkle over the lake. That bottled-up stress of the “real” world? It’s vaporized in the purest, most pine-scented air on the planet. You sleep like a baby. Wake up to piping-hot coffee and gourmet omelettes. And do it all over again. Welcome to Lloyd Lake Lodge.
And know this: owners Derrick and Desi Uniat are about as hands-on as it gets. They will ensure every guest has the time of their life.
“From the moment we greet our guests on the dock to the sad goodbyes at the end, we do our very best to tailor a once-in-a-lifetime experience for every guest,” Derrick says. “And that’s a big reason why we have so many people return year after year.”
