Incredible Fly-in Fishing for Northern Pike - Shining Falls Lodge

Shining Falls Lodge, located in the pure wilderness of Manitoba’s Eastern Region, is a beautiful fly-in fishing lodge on the shores of the stunning Family Lake. Owned and operated by Tobias and Ellen Becker, this family-run lodge makes you feel like a part of the family the second you step off the float plane.

On this adventure, we headed to Shining Falls Lodge in search of trophy spring pike at Shining Falls Lodge.
Check out the video below and continue reading to learn all about this incredible lodge and fishery!

Making you Feel Like Family

Shining Falls Lodge

If there is one thing Shining Falls Lodge is known for, it is the family-like environment that the Beckers and their friendly crew of staff provide for every one of their guests. They genuinely care about each guest, how their day was, how their family is doing and getting to know what they can do to ensure their needs are met and exceeded. That's not to mention the incredible trophy pike and non-stop walleye fishing.

The Journey to Shining Falls Lodge

To begin the journey to Shining Falls Lodge, you must first arrive at the beautiful mining town of Bisset. It is just over 2.5 hours from Manitoba’s capital city, Winnipeg. This drive allows guests the luxury of traversing through a diverse array of stunning scenery, from the vast open prairies through the transition into the Canadian Shield and crossing the mighty Winnipeg River. As you get closer to Bisset, you get outstanding looks at the incredible rock outcroppings from the Canadian Shield. Once you arrive in this quiet little town, you will be greeted by the beautiful Rice Lake as you pull into the Blue Water Aviation Float Plane Base and prepare for your departure.

The flight to the lodge is a short 60-mile hop over some of the most incredible scenery you will ever see. As you lift off and head over the trees, you will quickly realize how remote this country is. Throughout the flight, you will constantly be in awe of the stunning mosaic of infinite lakes and rivers brought together by an endless sea of green created by the region's boreal forest.

As the float plane approaches Family Lake, you will start to see the incredible intricacies of the water body, which will further heighten your excitement to get out on the water and explore. It is now when you start to get a glimpse of the lodge. The lodge resides on an island with a beautiful sand beach connecting the cabins to the main lodge; it is truly a sight to behold.

Arriving at the Lodge

As the floats touch the water and you begin to taxi toward the lodge, you will be greeted by their famed inukshuk, which watches over the home bay. Soon after, you will see nothing but smiles as Toby and his team secure the plane to the dock and prepare for introductions.

The second you step off that plane, you are immediately made to feel like family. After a round of hugs and handshakes, guests head to the main lodge and indulge in a tasty breakfast. After the meal, Toby will walk you through all the lodge's ins and outs, setting you up for a comfortable and successful trip.

DIY Fly-in Fishing Experience

A unique aspect of Shining Falls Lodge is that guests can explore the lake on their own. This unguided, DIY experience sets them apart from many other locations. But of course, you are only partially on your own out there; Toby will work closely with you on a lake map and will mark out all the walleye and pike hotspots, shore lunch spots and any potential dangers like rocks for you to avoid. Also on the boat is a depth finder with map and GPS to help you navigate as you venture across the lake.

Once you get unpacked, settled into your comfortable cabin, and have all your rods rigged up, it is time to head out on the water. On this particular trip, we headed to Shining Falls Lodge in late May at the beginning of their season to capitalize on their out-of-this-world early-season pike fishing.

Incredible Northern Pike Fishing at Shining Falls Lodge

We had a great crew of guys in camp, all with the same goal: casting the warming bays in search of these prehistoric-looking pike. As we began navigating the lake, it didn’t take long to realize that the main lake water temperature was still very cold. We knew heading into shallow bays and bays with tributaries would yield much warmer water temperatures and likely hold some monstrous fish.

We began exploring several bays, and it didn’t take long to realize that our assumptions were correct as we started catching pike after pike. Many of them were smaller, but finding fish was all the confidence we needed to continue casting these spots in anticipation of that big bite.

When that big bite finally came to fruition, there was complete pandemonium: drag-peeling runs, jumps out of the water, and a whole bunch of hooting and hollering. The excitement was uncontainable, and the anticipation of laying eyes on this fish increased by the second. After an intense fight, this trophy pike was finally boatside and in the net. A whole round of high fives was in order as we snapped a few pictures and sent this big girl on her way and back into the warm waters of this shallow bay.

The rest of the trip went much the same: catching a monster pike doesn't come every cast, making each bite incredibly exciting. When you put in the work, scour through the bays, and launch cast after cast, locked in and ready to set the hook on the next fish of a lifetime, it makes reaching those goals so rewarding.

After all was said and done, we landed several impressive pike. When we were looking for a break in the casting, we pulled up to one of the many walleye spots and caught fish after fish until we were ready to go back chasing big pike again.

Incredible Meals, Incredible Views

Apart from the incredible fishing we encounter daily, every detail off the water far exceeded our expectations. From excellent breakfasts each morning and 5-star suppers every evening at the main lodge to their legendary shore lunches at any of their many stunning shore lunch spots. Although all the places are beautiful, none can compare to the legendary shorelunch setting along the mighty Shining Falls. This waterfall is nothing short of impressive. Its massive volume and thundering roar really make you feel small, but it will be one of the best memories of your entire trip.

While Toby and his team are whipping up shore lunch for you, you can head down a hiking trail to the bottom of the falls and try your hand at casting for walleyes in the most beautiful setting.

Memories for a Lifetime

When you leave this special place, you will have only incredible memories. Memories like all the smiles from the trophy catches and non-stop walleyes, like the delicious meals and comfortable accommodations with the most scenic views, to the memories of the most genuinely friendly staff you will find anywhere. You will not only walk away with all of these fantastic memories but also leave knowing you have now extended your family to Tobias, Ellen, and the entire Shining Falls Lodge crew. As you board the plane, you know it isn't a goodbye but a see you later.

To book your trip to Shining Falls Lodge, Visit their Website today!

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Keevin Erickson
Author
Keevin Erickson | Hunt Fish Consultant
Keevin Is a passionate hunter and angler with a love for filming, photography, and writing. Keevin now manages the HuntFishMB team and continues to explore the province and share his tips, techniques and stories.
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