Checklists
Clothing Checklist
- You must have your PASSPORT
- Warm Layered Clothing
- Wool Socks
- Hat (baseball type & stocking cap)
- Lightweight Gloves
- Two-Piece Rain Gear
- Polaroid Sunglasses, Prescription Glasses, Contacts
- Warm Coat (Thinsulate or insulated)
- Casual Clothing for around the lodge/dinner
- Insulated Underwear (Capalene)
- Sun Screen (SPF 30)
- Insect Repellent
- Thermos for coffee drinkers
- Toiletries
- Medications
- Camera & Film
- Weight Limit: 50 pounds per person
Photo Tips - Try these hints to improve your big fish memories.
TIP... Bring a good camera with auto-focus and exposure. Always use "fill-in" flash even on bright, sunny days. This will help eliminate shadows on your face and will make your fish come to life with the extra light.
TIP... Close-up shots of people holding fish are better than more distant photos. Don't cut off the tail or fins... always make sure the entire fish is in the photo. Have your camera handy and ready to use while fishing.
TIP... We recommend a ISO 200 speed film.
(Photograph and release the fish in 60 seconds or less.)
North Country Weather Tips - Temperatures at the lodge will vary depending on the month.
Early June can be like Fall weather in the Midwest (40 degrees F in the morning and 60 degrees by mid afternoon), or it can be very warm (65 degrees +). During cold front conditions, you'll have to be prepared to dress in layers, putting clothes on and taking them off as the day progresses. July and August offer the warmest weather during the summer months (70 + degrees).
TIP... bring a high quality rain suit as it will be used daily during all months of the summer. If it isn't being used to keep you dry on a rainy day, it will keep you warm as a wind breaker. I usually wear my rain pants even on sunny windy days as the boat seats are usually damp from the night air. Wave and wind action can get you wet also. Buy the best rain suit you can afford and you'll be dry, comfortable and have a good "friend" for future trips north.
Fishing Equipment Tips
Northern Pike & Lake Trout Angling Equipment
Rods
6'-7' Medium-heavy action spinning or bait casting rods.
Reels
Medium to med/heavy spinning reels (10-12 lb. test line) and casting reels (17-20 lb. test). The type of reels used for bass fishing will work fine.
Lures
Selection: Northern Pike will hit a variety of lures such as Rapalas, Doctor Spoons, Dare Devils, Five-O-Diamonds, bass spinner baits, Johnson Silver Minnow, #3-#5 Mepps Spinners, Suick "jerk baits", top-water plugs, Sluggo type worms, etc.
Walleye Fishing Equipment
Rods/Reels
6' medium action rods with spinning reels spooled with 6-8 pound test mono will work real well.
Lures
Walleye will hit the traditional 1/8-3/8 oz. jigs with Berkley Powerbaits or Mr. Twister type tails, as well as spoons and crankbaits.
Arctic Grayling Fly-fishing Equipment
Rods/Reels
Ultra-light spinning reels spooled with 4-6 pound test mono. Your 4-5 weight fly rod and single action fly reel are also a favorite choice.
Lures
Casting small Mepps or Blue Fox spinners (size "0") is very effective. A plastic "bubble" float and dry fly combination also works well when spinners are not producing.
Fly line: weight forward or double taper flylines; 7'-10' tapered leaders with 3X-6X tippets.
For your convenience, our tackle center has a complete selection of grayling flys such as Gnat, Adams, Cahill, G.R. Hares Ear Nymph, etc. in hook sizes 10-16 as well as northern pike flys.
Use Barbless Hooks While Fishing in Canada!
When fishing Hatchet Lake and surrounding fly-out lakes, your fishing lures must be "barb-less". That means you may use pliers and pinch the barbs flat against the shank of the hook. It is not necessary to file the barb completely off or to replace your hooks with specially made hooks which do not have barbs in place.