4.8
Based on 11 reviews
from across the web
Review Highlights
Guests rate Brabant Lodge very highly. Seven of the nine reviews give 5 stars, one gives 4, and none are negative. Brabant is a wilderness, fly-in lodge near the Mackenzie River's origin, reached by float plane from Hay River. Several reviewers are experienced anglers, including one group with thirty years of lodge trips and a couple with 45 years of fishing, and they call it the best they have visited. Repeat guests are common: one reviewer has been going 14 years, and another met a guest on his 17th season. One reviewer who had worried about a change in ownership said the new owners ran a high-class operation.
The fishing gets the most praise, especially northern pike. Reviewers report 25 to 30 pike a day, a 275-pike day for one pair, and estimates of 100 or more fish in a day. They report many fish over 20 pounds, a 25 lb 2 oz largest fish for one group, and two rods broken by big fish. Reviewers also cite walleye, Arctic grayling, whitefish and Arctic char. Guides get repeated praise for patience with beginners and for handling the rigging, landing and releasing of fish. One reviewer, though, said some guides were great and some were poor. The food is plentiful and homemade, with examples like roasted duck, ribs, desserts and shore lunch. Reviewers also praise the staff as friendly and the family-run feel. Cabins are clean and wooden, with heat (wood stove or propane), electricity, private baths with hot water, and queen beds. One reviewer reports daily housekeeping.
The complaints are few and minor. One reviewer found the lodging a bit "campy," said sound carries between the two units in each divided cabin, and compared it to about a 2-star city hotel while still rating the trip 5 stars. Another called the Canadian fish limits sparse (the reviewer's wording) and said some guides were poor, but added that the lodge made up for the shortcomings. One reviewer advises bringing DEET, permethrin-treated clothing and a head net for insects. Fishing is guided only, and access is by float plane. The lodge suits pike anglers chasing numbers and trophy size, groups of experienced anglers, and couples or families that include beginners or non-anglers, since guides coach newcomers and handle the fish. Guests who want upscale or very quiet lodging may find the cabins more basic than they hope for.
Read all 11 reviews
pamandivor
Aug 1, 2026
TripAdvisor
Brabant Lodge - fantastic for women too!
Brabant Lodge was an absolutely incredible experience for me and my husband. I am not a fisherman generally and the team there welcomed me with open arms and ensured I had the guiding, coaching and assistance to make my stay fantastic alongside my husband who is a passionate angler. First, we were greeted at the float plane dock by the entire team, followed by a briefing and a hearty shore lunch prepared by chef Brian. The family ownership is really evident in the care and service provided by the team. The accommodations were terrific - clean wood cabins with either wood stoves or propane heat, electricity, private baths with hot and cold running water and flushing toilets. They invested in all new queen-sized beds. Breakfasts and dinners were delicious and food was plentiful. Brabant is known for the quantity and size of the fishery, particularly monster pike. Our guide Ben was a terrific guide and very patient with my ignorance of the gear and technique and soon had me pulling monsters out of the lake and the MacKenzie River. We fished for pike, grayling and walleye. Overall, it was a fantastic experience that exceeded all expectations. I will be recommending it to all the fisher-people I know and we are considering a repeat. Outstanding.
This lodge
Brian H
Aug 16, 2023
TripAdvisor
Fantastic trip. The best Northern Pike fishing. Amazing food. Exceptional service.
Our group has visited many quality fishing lodges over the past thirty years. This was by far and away the best of them all. I had some reservations going into this trip because I learned the lodge had changed ownership since making my initial deposit. However, I could not have been more pleased. The new owners, Peter and his wife, have a very good handle on running a high class operation. The guides were professional and courteous. The fishing was insane. On one particular day, my youngest son and I caught 275 northern pike - with two of those being over twenty pounds and several in the 10 - 15 pound range. Of our six-man group, the largest caught for the week was 25 lbs., 2 oz. We also dabbled in catching Arctic Grayling and Walleye. The food was amazing - roasted duck, BBQ baby back ribs, homemade desserts, and out-of-this-world breakfasts. The cabins each include two queen sized beds, a shower, plumbed toilet and as much running hot water as you may want. Each day our beds were made for us and the rooms cleaned. One guest we encountered was returning for his 17th season. There is no need to look anywhere else if you are wanting world class Northern Pike fishing and want great accommodations while doing so. Our next trip will be back to Brabant Lodge.
This lodge
Edward L
Oct 17, 2018
TripAdvisor
Fishing
Always the best service, great food and better fishing. We caught 25 to 30 pike per day 6 to 20 pounds. Our arms were tired and back sore. Wonderful family trip. We never touched the fish, the guides did it all from rigging lines to landing and releasing fish. Truly terrific. (Date of stay: August 2018; traveled with family)
This lodge
Edward L (Oklawheels)
Oct 17, 2018
TripAdvisor
Fishing
Always the best service, great food and better fishing. We caught 25 to 30 pike per day 6 to 20 pounds. Our arms were tired and back sore. Wonderful family trip. We never touched the fish, the guides did it all from rigging lines to landing and releasing fish. Truly terrific.
This lodge
Kurt H
Jul 16, 2016
TripAdvisor
Great 'Northern' Fishing, Truly Memorable!
This is a wilderness fishing lodge and experience, and wow, Fantasmic Northern Pike fishing in the "delta," aka origin of the Mackenzie River! Only access by float plane in from Hay River, and only guided fishing, which was worthwhile. The guide patiently and gladly taught my wife to fish with an open-bale reel. We have no idea how many fish we caught in the 3 days we fished. Rough estimate is 150, and median size about 8-9 pounds. We repeatedly 'double dated,' with 2 fish on at the same time. The lodging is a few log cabins divided into 2 separate units. Sound does travel across a bit. 2 broken rods due to lunkers. We've fished for 45 years, but nothing like this! Another group said it was the best & most consistent fishing for northerns in the Western Hemisphere. Walleye, Arctic Char, Whitefish also readily available. Bring DEET, Permethrin sprayed on clothing, and a headnet. Food is homemade by the very kind staff each day, and was excellent. My wife described it as a wonderful experience even tho a bit "campy." Comparable rating just for lodging is probably 2 star for major cities, but the magnitude of memories is beyond our expectations.
This lodge
Chem C
Oct 1, 2014
TripAdvisor
Very friendly staff
We arrived at Brabant Lodge by boat from the Great Slave lake. This was part of our Mackenzie river trip. We were struck by the beautiful setting of the lodge. The staff was very friendly and invited us to a great breakfast. Fishing in the area is amazing. Lots of Pike and other fish.
This lodge
W Kurt B
Sep 12, 2014
TripAdvisor
Great fishing.
Fishing at Brabant for Northern Pike and Walleyes was as good as it gets. The rooms, food, and service were as good as expected. Canadian fish limits were sparse. Some guides were great and some horrible. However, the lodge made good on unavoidable shortcomings. I would gladly go back. (Date of stay: August 2014)
This lodge
W Kurt B (wkurtb)
Sep 12, 2014
TripAdvisor
Great fishing.
Fishing at Brabant for Northern Pike and Walleyes was as good as it gets. The rooms, food, and service were as good as expected. Canadian fish limits were sparce. Some guides were great and some horrible. However, the lodge made good on unavoidable shortcomings. I would gladly go back.
This lodge
Pete Bowman - Host of Fish'n Canada Show
Outfitter
These pike are musky size pike, they are so big!
This lodge
Charlie Levine - Editor & Writer for Anglers Journal Magazine
Outfitter
The nonstop action is addictive! I can confidently say I easily caught more than 100 fish today, and the quality of the fish is unrivaled.
This lodge
Wayne Kitchen - Longtime Guest
Outfitter
We caught dozens of fish over 20-pounds, I've been to Brabant 14 years and this year is as good as any.
This lodge
Boats included
