Great Bear Lake: August in the Arctic Circle 6/30/15,
Re-edited 12/27/23
Jack London wrote – "The proper function of man is to
live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I
shall use my time." As a man of the modern age who lives and works in one
of the world's largest metropolitan areas, Los Angeles, I have come to truly
understand and appreciate this notion. The ability to escape modern life and
commune with nature is therapeutic; it balances me and makes me feel so alive!
I have fished in many places,
and the trek that represents a great escape, remote angling, is a self-guided
Great Bear Lake Arctic Circle Lodge trip with Plummers' Lodges in the Northwest
Territories, Canada.
Embark on a self-guided
adventure with us as we explore this remote region and fish the pristine waters
of Great Bear Lake. Depending on your chosen location, you could find yourself
in a spot where no one has ever cast a fishing line!
Having just left Los Angeles,
we found ourselves boarding our third plane in two days, this time bound for
Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories of Canada.
On approach to land at the
Plummer’s Main Lodge.
The plane lands on a dirt
runway on a peninsula near the main lodge. Quintessential adventure!
Welcome to Plummers on Great Bear Lake
The thrill of our outback
adventure travel will wrap up with an exhilarating floatplane ride for the last stretch of
our journey.
"Let's get going! Our
adventure awaits."
Our float plane pilot appears
to be very experienced.
Here is the 'Gang.' Terry,
AKA The Closer, Donny, and Captain Booker are left to the rear. On the right is
Mr. BBZ, and sitting in front of Bill Siemantel is our charter captain, Tim
Tuttle.
A shot of the area on this 45-minute
float plane ride from Plummers' Main Lodge to the Arctic Circle Outpost Lodge.
Passing over the Arctic
Circle Lodge just before a water landing.
Touching down and unloading,
let's get this show started.
The 'Gang' converges at a
narrow channel just before entering the main lake adjacent to Hogarth Island.
A long tapering point is
descending into the depths of Great Bear's deep, clear blue water.
Bill is doing what he does
best: getting things started.
The structural elements of
the lake are as diverse as they are stunning.
Hooked Up!
Eppinger Husky Delve Spoons,
both casting and trolling, are prime players. Pinky with the teeth marks is extremely special.
We hit the lighting just
right for this Laker photo.
Great Bear will gift you with
astonishing sunsets.
A room with a view.
The light and how the sun
works here is incredible. This shot was taken around 11:30 pm. Each night
around midnight, the sun drops just below the horizon. It stays very close to
the horizon for about four hours and then begins to rise in the sky again. Twenty
hours of daylight and four hours of dusk provide an exciting opportunity for
extended time on the water when you take the self-guided package at the Arctic
Circle Outpost Lodge. More time on the water is an excellent thing!
Entering a shallow water bay
pursuing some Pike action.
Bill with a nice Pike caught
from a warmer inlet with a shallow pond off the Mac Alpine Channel.
More Pike Hunting.
Another nice Pike.
A mother moose and her calf
swim across a creek channel.
Rugged fish-holding structure
elements on the MacAlpine Channel.
We are trolling the rugged
shoreline on Hogarth Island. Behind us are miles and miles of open water on
this ocean-sized lake. Great Bear Lake is the largest lake entirely in Canada
and the eighth largest in the world.
A vertical garden is growing
on a bluff wall point near Broadway Island.
Rouge Seagulls
A cool photo of Bill with
another stout Laker.
The landscape at the Arctic
Circle Outpost Lodge is spectacular.
A Fish of a Lifetime on a
Trip of a Lifetime
Meet the 'Beast'—a 52-pound
Great Bear Lake Trout. While casting a spoon, this magnificent creature
followed the lure to the boat. I swiftly transitioned into a figure-eight
maneuver. She took the bait, leaping onto the Husky Delve and slamming into the
boat's side. I set the hook, and the awe-inspiring battle began!
As you can see, this is a truly exceptional place. Plummer's offers an impressive range of packages at several different camps. Kudos to our charter captain for arranging this self-guided program at the Arctic Circle Outpost Lodge. The combination of breathtaking scenery and exceptional angling in a remote location is an adventure like no other. Who wouldn't be thrilled to fish here? For more information about these unique destinations with Plummers' Lodges, visithttp://www.plummerslodges.com
