Aylmer Lake Lodge
McLennan, Northwest Territories
A fly-in lake trout and Arctic grayling lodge on Aylmer Lake in the Northwest Territories, south of the Arctic Circle near the end of the tree line.
Overview
Aylmer Lake Lodge is a remote fly-in fishing lodge on Aylmer Lake in the Northwest Territories. The lodge sits on Rocknest Bay, south of the Arctic Circle, where the tree line ends. It operates under the name Canadian Wildlife Adventures and is run by Patti and Kevin McNeil.
The operation is a single lodge. Guests fly by float plane from Yellowknife, and the lodge sells all-inclusive fishing packages built around lake trout and Arctic grayling.
Besides fishing, the lodge offers Aurora Borealis tours, wildlife viewing, hunting and canoeing trips.
Highlights
The Fishing
Lake trout are the main species at Aylmer Lake Lodge, with Arctic grayling the second target. The lodge lists a lake trout record of 58 pounds and an average of 15 to 25 pounds. Guests can also fish for grayling in rapids with dry flies, or with light and ultralight spinning gear.
The lodge uses two main methods for lake trout, trolling and jigging, and recommends trolling as the most productive. Fly fishing is also an option. The water stays cold through the summer, which keeps the fish near the top of the water column. Guides fish shoals and reefs, and use their graphs to find pinch points where bait gathers.
Baits named by the lodge include Eppinger Husky spoons, Little Cleos, T-60s, Mepps in-line spinners, Williams Wobbler spoons and J-Plugs. Jigging lures include tubes, swimbaits, blade baits and Swedish Pimple spoons. Guest rates are based on two guests per guide.
Accommodations
Guests stay in furnished cabins, and each cabin sleeps four. Each cabin has comfortable beds, thermostatically controlled heating and a sitting area. Wi-Fi is available in the cabins and in the main lodge. The lodge limits occupancy to 20 guests per week.
Breakfast and dinner are served at the lodge, and lunch is a shore lunch packed for the day on the water. The lodge describes the breakfasts and dinners as hearty and home cooked. Breakfast is at 7:00 am and supper at 6:30 pm in the Tundra Room. The packages are all-inclusive.
Fish Species
What They Offer
Amenities available at one or more of this outfitter's properties.
Getting There
Guests travel to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and fly from there to the lodge by float plane. Scheduled airline service reaches Yellowknife daily, and the lodge names Air Canada Jazz, First Air, WestJet and Canadian North. It advises guests to arrive in Yellowknife a day before the fly-out date.
On fly-in day, guests leave their Yellowknife hotel for the float plane base between 2:00 and 3:00 pm and reach the lodge between 4:00 and 5:00 pm. The normal flight time is 1 3/4 hours. The plane lands on Rocknest Bay and taxis to the dock below the lodge. The return flight leaves the lodge later in the afternoon, so guests stay a night in Yellowknife and fly home the next day.
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