I got the full fly-in fishing experience in Canada’s backcountry—without actually flying. Here’s how

BOAT-IN ADVANTAGES

Always on the hunt for new experiences, my fishing friends and I landed on a fresh spin three years ago: a boat-in outpost trip with Kanipahow Wilderness Resort & Outposts. We chose this particular outpost for a few reasons. Its location near Chapleau made for a manageable 10-hour drive from southern Ontario. We’d have the only cabin on the entire lake. And the owners, Jamie Thibault and Josée Robitaille, were patient with my many questions.

More importantly, however, Jamie and Josée are clearly invested in conserving their fishery.  That part matters more than some anglers realize. Not every operator is particularly concerned with stewardship, and it doesn’t take long to notice. (A bit of side advice: If the outfitter’s website prominently features stringer shots or guests holding obviously dead trophy fish, don’t go.)

On the appointed first morning of our early-June trip, my crew and I met Jamie and another staff member outside Chapleau, then followed them down a series of ever-narrowing industrial roads to a rough-and-ready launch. From there, we loaded our gear, ran the length of Vezina, completed a short portage using an ATV and trailer, then continued on to Northwind Lake. No plane, but still plenty of separation from the rest of the world.

One of the first differences between fly-in and boat-in trips shows up before you even leave home. Floatplanes have strict weight limits. Go over the limit, and you must either leave gear behind or pay extra (sometimes a lot extra), to fly it in. I’ve been known to weigh all my gear at home—and insist everyone else in my group does the same—then enter weights into a spreadsheet to see how we’re doing.

Boats do, of course, also have weight limits. But if you show up with a large stack of tackle, food and accessories—especially heavy items such as, say, liquid refreshments—you simply make more trips. And removing the scale from the equation takes a lot of the stress out of packing.

On the Northwind adventure, the four of us were all dedicated kayak anglers. We planned to fish from our own boats—highly customized rigs with sonar, rod holders and comfortable seats—as much as possible. I’ve flown kayaks into outposts before. It’s doable, but it’s also a headache for everyone involved, especially the aircrew. This time, we just towed them in. That freedom, of course, does have a few consequences.