Fly-in Fishing For Trophy Pike - Dunlop's Fly-in Lodge
Secluded deep in the Northern Manitoba Wilderness you will find a hidden oasis by the name of Dunlops Fly-in Fishing Lodge, which is located on the shores of Lake Waskaiowaka on the headwaters of the Little Churchill River System. Although remote, this family-owned and operated lodge is anything but roughing it.
The Dunlop’s have owned this lodge over the last 20 years, headed by Jerry and Colette Dunlop and their family. It is located 500 miles north of Manitoba’s capital city of Winnipeg. Over the years of their ownership, this lodge has become famed for its massive northern pike, with trophies being caught daily and true 50” plus size monsters landed at least every other year. Beyond the pike, Dunlop's Fly in lodge boasts exceptional walleye fishing with a great average size. Recently, I was able to go on a trip to Dunlops with my friend Marcel and it was an experience of a lifetime which I will share below.
Headed North!
My recent trip to Dunlops Fly-In Lodge was kicked off by climbing into my truck alongside my friend Marcel Laferriere, as we prepared to traverse the diverse landscapes that lay ahead. The goal for this trip was to experience the beauty and excitement of Dunlops, but also capture it through the lens of Marcel's camera to create the film above.
Our initial leg of the journey involved a northward drive. This fully paved drive featured the transition from the expansive prairies to the boreal forest and the rugged Canadian Shield into Thompson Manitoba.
Upon reaching the Thompson Airport, the anticipation for the trip heightened as we converged at the Wing Over Kississing terminal. We were welcomed by the friendly staff, who quickly grabbed our luggage and got it weighed and loaded into the aircraft. As we awaited the boarding of the plane we began mingling with fellow guests, quickly creating a camaraderie and sharing the mutual excitement and anticipation for a week of adventure.
We boarded the Cessna Caravan, took off, and began our short, 30-minute/90-mile flight to the lodge. Upon ascending from Thompson, the sprawling wilderness became immediately apparent beyond the city limits, underscoring the vastness of the untouched landscape.
Once airborne, the captivating scenery unfolded beneath us - endless lakes connected by snaking creeks engulfed on all shorelines by the lush green boreal forest. As we approached Lake Waskaiowaka we were in awe. Its remarkable sand beaches sculpted by the glacial retreat, came into view. The excitement surged as we spotted the cabins of Dunlops Fly-In Lodge, nestled along the lakeshore. A buzz over the lodge unveiled it's impressive 3000ft airstrip, marking the commencement of our approach.
The landing was smooth, and we were soon greeted by both the lodge's attentive staff and guests catching the returning flight; Who eagerly shared tales of the abundant fishing adventures from the preceding week. Engaging in these conversations, we filled with excitement as we absorbed the stories of big catches, and did our best to remember the fine details to set ourselves up for a week of success.
After the warm reception, our focus shifted to settling into Dunlop's main camp, preparing for the fish-filled days ahead.
Arrived at our Destination
Upon our arrival, the staff quickly loaded our bags into a wagon and hauled them over to our cabin. We opted to stretch our legs and take the 200-yard walk up to the main lodge from the airstrip, despite the convenience of golf carts on standby for shuttle services.
The main lodge welcomed us with open arms, serving as the hub for introductions with the friendly staff, fellow guests, and hosts Jerry and Colette. Jerry quickly transitioned into the orientation, ensuring everyone felt at ease within the camp's layout and addressing any individual needs. His insights into fishing proved invaluable, covering recent successes with lures, hotspots on the expansive Lake Waskaiowaka, and essential tips for navigating its waters
Dunlop's unique offering allowed guests to choose between unguided excursions or the added expertise of a guide to enhance their chances of reeling in one of the famed monster pike. Lake Waskaiowaka has relatively safe waters for navigation, with hazards marked diligently by Jerry and the staff. Opting for a guide, we were paired with Hunter, a young fellow with an undeniable passion for the water and fish. Despite being in his first season at Dunlops, Hunter had quickly acclimated to the waters, benefiting from the collective wisdom of the seasoned guiding crew.
Upon the completion of the orientation, we indulged in a tasty supper prepared by Dunlops' in-house chef and kitchen staff. While eating, conversations between guests began to flow. Dunlops has a very intimate setting, they accommodate a maximum of 16 guests per week. This exclusivity not only created a tight-knit community but also ensured less fishing pressure on the expansive lake.
With the evening winding down, we retreated to our cozy cabin, equipped with all the amenities for a comfortable stay. We began rigging up our fishing rods in anticipation of the adventure ahead, as we took in the beauty of the surroundings as the sun began to set.
Fishing for a Monster Northern Pike Fishing
After our shore lunch, it was time to go pike fishing, The moment we were most highly anticipating! After striking out in the first few spots, Hunter decided it was worth a big move. We headed back towards the lodge, and down The Little Churchill River. We ended up in a good-sized bay a few miles past the lodge that had been known to hold some big pike recently.
As we arrived, the bay just looked fishy and we were bursting with excitement to get some casts off. I was throwing a big paddle tail rigged up weedless, while Marcel was throwing a big Rapala SubWalk. We instantly started catching some smaller pike which occupied our time for the first little bit.
That was until I heard Marcel set the hook on what sounded like a very heavy fish. As I looked over I could see his line screaming across the water and we all knew he had a big one on. The battle went on for some time until Marcel was finally able to get it up to the boat and Hunter was able to successfully land it. This was exactly the fish we had been hoping for on this trip! After some big cheers, we snapped a few quick pics and sent the fish on its way back into the water. At that point, we did a few more casts before heading back to the main lodge before supper.
Northern Ambiance - An Evening at Dunlop’s
We got back to the lodge a little after 5:30 and winded down after a successful day on the water. By 6:30 it was time to head back into the lodge for supper, which boasted another incredible meal by their kitchen team; and was topped off by a fantastic dessert!
On this evening we decided to build a fire, sit back and enjoy the sunset. One of the coolest parts of spending time in the north during the summer is the late-night sunsets. During this trip, the sunset was around 10:30 pm, which left a beautiful orange glow along the skyline into the wee hours of the morning.
As we sat around the fire, just enjoying the scenery, many of the guests began to join us. We collectively began to watch the sun slowly drift toward the horizon while enjoying the warm heat and a cold drink. Soon after, one of the guides, Josiah brought out his guitar and started to play and sing some songs. It didn’t take long, or much convincing for our new friend Ellen to stand up and start singing the popular old tunes alongside him.
This set up an incredible ambiance… In remote northern Manitoba, sitting on the shores of a beautiful lake, listening to the sounds of loons in the distance, watching the sun meet the horizon and listening to the soothing songs put together by a couple of folks who just met. This for me, is one of my all-time favourite moments at a fishing lodge that I have gotten to experience. As the light faded and the fire dwindled, it was time to call it a night and head back into the cabin.
The Week in Northern Manitoba
The following days of the trip were much the same. Incredible walleye fishing in the morning, classic shore lunches each afternoon, and logging in the hours casting for big pike.
One day, we headed into a spot aptly named Gator Bay, as you can imagine, it's known for its big pike! One of the coolest parts of this bay is that portions of it are shallow enough to allow for some sight fishing. We quickly learned that this bay was full of big pike from getting numerous visuals of them. However, a lot of them were not in feeding mode and most were stationary and sunning themselves; likely digesting their last meal. Hunter noted that The Little Churchill River, which was right along this bay, was full of bait like tullibee and whitefish. His theory was these pike were gorging themselves on the plentiful bait in the river and then peeling off in the bay to sit in the sun and relax for a bit
But, we knew, the pike were going to have to eat eventually, so we remained persistent. We are normally supposed to head back to the lodge at 5:30, but we wanted to wait just that little bit longer to see if we could get one to turn on, we agreed at 5:45 we would head back in. As one of the other guides packed it in, he pointed at an area in the water and gestured with his hands “Big Fish, Right Here!” telling us to spend our final minutes of the day casting that area.
Sure enough after just a few casts, at 5:40, my paddle tail got slammed, I set the hook, and my drag started peeling! The fight was on! I tightened my drag and gave that pike the best fight I could. After a short back-and-forth battle, there it was, boat side, the pike I had been hoping for! Again, some big cheers followed, and I am sure they heard us back at the lodge! Another massive northern pike landed, meaning both Marcel and I will each be heading home with a big fish under our belt!
A New Friend, an Old Fish, and Borrowed Time
Nearing the end of our trip, we wanted to maximize our time on the water, one night Hunter, Marcel, I and a few other guides and guests decided to head back out on the water after supper and try our hand at Gator Bay Once again. This time the bite was a little more consistent, but we were mostly catching small to medium-sized pike.
Just a few yards away from us, another new friend of ours, Jay, hooked into a good fish. I watched as his line went zipping across the water, nearly pulling him in for a moment, followed by a splash from the pike. From the amount of water displaced from that splash, I knew this fish was another level of big.
Jay battled and battled this pike for a few minutes, and with the help of his guide Mikey, they were able to land a true dinosaur that this legendary fishery is known for. They did their best to get a quick measurement, coming out at nearly 45”! It was the biggest pike I had ever seen in my life, and what a pleasure to get to watch Jay fight that fish, and see the true joy in his face when he caught it.
Dunlop's Fly-in Fishing Lodge
Beyond the incredible main lodge that Marcel and I got to enjoy, Dunlop’s also has 2 beautiful outpost-style camps on Pelletier Lake and Campbell Lake. These camps offer a more affordable, DIY experience on untouched bodies of water, with the same, if not larger big pike potential. The largest to come out of these camps was an unbelievable 55 inches! Not to mention the guest testimonials speaking to over 40 trophy fish in the course of a week. If an outpost experience is more your style I highly recommend giving those a peek.
Also, for additional convenience, starting in the 2024 season, Dunlops will be offering a private chartered flight right from Winnipeg. Meaning, all you have to do is get to Winnipeg and Dunlop's will take care of the rest!
I truly had one of the best trips of my life at Dunlops Fly-in Lodge. From the comfortable accommodations, the friendly staff and guests, the amazing meals each day, the fast action walleye fishing, and the world-class pike to the warm fire watching the sunset. There are not any details missed by Jerry and Colette. Over their 20 years of owning the lodge, they have truly built a legacy, and have set a precedent for an outstanding operation.
If you are looking for a fly-in fishing experience in the remote reaches of Manitoba, catching endless amounts of fish and the opportunity at a northern pike of a lifetime. Then Dunlop's fly-in Fishing Lodge is the place for you. Visit their website to book an adventure of a lifetime.
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