Esnagami escape: Lodge fishing in the season of social distancing

#7  You will almost forget about the pandemic

Though Esnagami has e-mail and internet connections, I don’t recall having any significant discussions with guests or staff about current events. If it weren’t for the masks and social distancing, we could just about pretend, at least for a while, that things were normal back in the outside world.

That said, Cameron and I never forgot, even for a moment, how fortunate and privileged we were to be fishing in such a place, during these troubled times.

And believe it or not, these photos barely scratch the surface of what happened. I have a lot more to tell in my print story, coming sometime in 2021.

But for now, in a year that, for many of us, has sort of gone off the rails, I already know that the fish, food, fellowship and adventures Cameron and I enjoyed at Esnagami will be among the highlights of 2020.

Finally, a huge thank-you to Eric and Sue Lund (above) for inviting Cameron and I to visit. Many thanks also to guide Ethan Tupala for his heroic on-the-water efforts, and to all the dock and shore staff for their hard work, knowledge, enthusiasm and good cheer. You guys were (almost) as great as the fishing.

If you’re also looking for a wilderness respite this summer, Esnagami Wilderness Lodge is open now, and taking bookings. The jumping off point is Nakina, Ontario, which is about 3½ hours drive from the Thunder Bay airport, 11 hours from Winnipeg and 13 hours from Toronto and Ottawa. In addition, Ontario has no self-quarantine requirements for inter-provincial visitors, so Esnagami can welcome guests from anywhere in Canada.

Find out more at www.esnagami.com, or by contacting the Lunds via fish@esnagami.com, (807) 329-5209 or the Esnagami Facebook page.