Outposts are awesome, value-priced fly-in trips for anyone. Here’s why

#4  Outpost lakes are full of fish, just steps from your door

The whole point of going to a remote cabin in the wilderness is to enjoy the kind of fishing you can’t get elsewhere. At the French Lake outpost, like most of the others I’ve been to, we were not disappointed.

French Lake boasted plenty of interesting features, including large bays, points, flats and drop-offs, along with several inflows and outflows. In fact, using the satellite view in Google Maps, I was able to identify a pile of potential fish-holding structure and cover even before arriving. Since backcountry lakes see so little fishing pressure, most of those spots held pike and walleye. Of course, there are ups and downs based on external factors—like an appalling heat wave for our first few days—but at least you know the fish are there.

On top of that, the fish are literally right outside your door. At home, almost all of my fishing excursions begin and end with a drive of at least an hour, and often a lot more. At the cabin, the fishing was just steps away, night or day. That alone is a little piece of heaven.

#5   You don’t have to be an expert angler

On French Lake, as is typical of backcountry lakes, the pike and walleye were plentiful, hungry and not especially fussy. That happy situation means that you can fish however you like—trolling, jigging, live bait, fly casting—and there’s a good chance it will work just fine. That’s really fun.

But there’s another factor us hardcore anglers don’t always consider. In the backcountry, even novices like Pete can catch lots of fish, including pretty impressive ones. Above is Pete with the first northern pike he’d ever caught—a fine, chunky 32-incher, he pulled out of a deep hole in front of an outflowing creek on our second evening. It was a great moment. Spending so much time with other serious anglers, I’d forgotten the pure joy experienced by someone—especially someone who doesn’t really think it will happen—as they hook and land a memorable fish.

The straightforward fishing you find at outposts makes them a perfect place for novices—be they kids, spouses, new Canadians or anyone with a yen for adventure—to experience the Canadian outdoors at its best. Pete, by the way, did something very canny. About a day and a half into our trip, he discovered a lure that he liked using, and the fish liked eating—a classic Williams Bully spoon—and stuck with it for almost the entire trip. Instead of fussing around changing baits, he focussed on getting good with that one versatile spoon, and it really paid off.

An outpost’s relaxed vibe and the ability to set your own pace is also great for novices and youngsters, who might want to take a break to swim, nap or just throw sticks into the water. With a little luck, a week like this might even spark a lifetime love of wild places and outdoor fun.

In fact, understanding this potential, Cochrane Air Services offers a 50% discount for kids 14 and under, and a 25% discount for kids aged 15 and 16, as well as spouses. Very smart.

#6  Literally any cast could net you the fish of a lifetime

Anytime and anywhere you toss a line into the water you could, in theory, land a big fish. This potential for the unexpected is a big part of why we go fishing. But at the outpost, big fish are more than theoretical. On every outpost trip I’ve done, we’ve hooked at least one trophy fish—and often more than one.

If you’re serious about getting a big fish, it’s important to put in the time on the water, try to stay sharp and be aware that it could happen on literally any cast. It could happen when you’re casting into the fishiest-looking spot you’ve ever seen. But on the other hand, it could also be when you’re goofing around on the dock. Pro outpost tip: When you’re goofing around on the dock, always have pliers, landing net and camera handy, just in case.

I landed the big-headed, well-fed northern pike shown above at the same inflow where Pete landed his prize pike, almost exactly 24 hours later. And yes, you better believe that for the rest of the trip, every time we passed that creek mouth, we stopped for a few casts.