Trip advice?
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Trip advice?
I am planning a float trip from Southern Ontario to Yellowknife next summer and I am looking for advice on routing, fuel stops and accommodations enroute as well as recommendations regarding accommodations in Yellowknife. I hope to do some fishing trips out of Yellowknife while I'm there and would appreciate recommendations for good locations in the area. I will be there from 11 July till 15 July if the weather permits.
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LousyFisherman
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Re: Trip advice?
Well I'm not the best informed but since no-one else has helped.
Once you're at La Ronge or Prince Albert, I would head Meadow Lake, Buffalo Narrows, Fort Smith.
In YK itself, all the nice, ie southern hotels are expensive. The Imperial is a little rundown, but when there's a good cleaning person is reasonably priced and comfortable and has freezers to store your fish. The Narwal B&B is at the south end of Old Town (more like Yuppieville these days, put running water in and all the riff-raff arrive) reasonably close to the waterdrome, and would be my choice. I'm sure there are other B&B style places but I don't personally know them.
For fishing, pretty well anywhere
If your looking for a boat and guide, Gary Jaeb of True North Safaris (867-873-8533) guides out of Yellowknife while Shawn Buckley of Great Slave Lake Tours operates out of Hay River, 867-874-3617.
HTH
LF
Once you're at La Ronge or Prince Albert, I would head Meadow Lake, Buffalo Narrows, Fort Smith.
In YK itself, all the nice, ie southern hotels are expensive. The Imperial is a little rundown, but when there's a good cleaning person is reasonably priced and comfortable and has freezers to store your fish. The Narwal B&B is at the south end of Old Town (more like Yuppieville these days, put running water in and all the riff-raff arrive) reasonably close to the waterdrome, and would be my choice. I'm sure there are other B&B style places but I don't personally know them.
For fishing, pretty well anywhere
If your looking for a boat and guide, Gary Jaeb of True North Safaris (867-873-8533) guides out of Yellowknife while Shawn Buckley of Great Slave Lake Tours operates out of Hay River, 867-874-3617.HTH
LF
Re: Trip advice?
Thanks LF,
Yes, I was hoping for a bit more of a response but it's early yet so maybe everyone is still drafting their informative missives. I may get a lot more responses if I ask if I should operate LOP on the trip!
I'll be coming from Ontario so I doubt I'll get to La Ronge. The route I'm currently planning is:
Ottawa - Geralton - Red Lake - Snow Lake - Points North - Fort Smith - Yellowknife
I've never been to Snow Lake, Points North or Fort Smith so any information, contacts or recommendations from people who do know these places would be most helpful. While in Yellowknife, I'd like to stay fairly close to the back bay so that I don't need transportation to and from the fly-in and I will need secure docking for 2 planes. If I can get all of that, then all I need is a decent place to lay my head and a fridge that works! I want to plan early so that I can book a good spot before they all fill up. I've stayed at B&Bs before and they generally work out very well.
I don't have any personal contacts in Yellowknife so I'm looking for someone who can point me towards a good location for some fishing. I'm toying with the idea of heading up to Plummer's for a couple of days but that may be a bit too far for some of the group. If someone has a camp within 100 miles or so of town that they would like to rent out for a night or 2, that would be ideal.
Blakey
Yes, I was hoping for a bit more of a response but it's early yet so maybe everyone is still drafting their informative missives. I may get a lot more responses if I ask if I should operate LOP on the trip!
I'll be coming from Ontario so I doubt I'll get to La Ronge. The route I'm currently planning is:
Ottawa - Geralton - Red Lake - Snow Lake - Points North - Fort Smith - Yellowknife
I've never been to Snow Lake, Points North or Fort Smith so any information, contacts or recommendations from people who do know these places would be most helpful. While in Yellowknife, I'd like to stay fairly close to the back bay so that I don't need transportation to and from the fly-in and I will need secure docking for 2 planes. If I can get all of that, then all I need is a decent place to lay my head and a fridge that works! I want to plan early so that I can book a good spot before they all fill up. I've stayed at B&Bs before and they generally work out very well.
I don't have any personal contacts in Yellowknife so I'm looking for someone who can point me towards a good location for some fishing. I'm toying with the idea of heading up to Plummer's for a couple of days but that may be a bit too far for some of the group. If someone has a camp within 100 miles or so of town that they would like to rent out for a night or 2, that would be ideal.
Blakey
Re: Trip advice?
Points North... Haven't been there in about 5 years or so... it used to be a run-down camp with ancient ATCO trailers and a shared bathroom with about 10-15 hygiene-impaired drillers - fine for one night, but 2 months at a time = no fun!! But I digress... from what I've heard, facilities have been improved greatly since then - new buildings, and the sewer pipes now run downhill, not uphill!
Regardless, it's a decent place for an overnight or a fuel stop - I've only been there in the dead of winter and on wheels, so can't comment on the floats side of things. The lake is pretty much right at the south end of the runway, and from there it's a stone's throw to the camp buildings. I'm not sure if you can just show up and get a room for the night (i.e. not sure how busy they are these days) so definitely give them a call (# in the CFS).
Sounds like an awesome trip - hope you can make it up to Plummer's, it's amazing up there!
Regardless, it's a decent place for an overnight or a fuel stop - I've only been there in the dead of winter and on wheels, so can't comment on the floats side of things. The lake is pretty much right at the south end of the runway, and from there it's a stone's throw to the camp buildings. I'm not sure if you can just show up and get a room for the night (i.e. not sure how busy they are these days) so definitely give them a call (# in the CFS).
Sounds like an awesome trip - hope you can make it up to Plummer's, it's amazing up there!
Re: Trip advice?
Thanks Chipmunk,
That's the kind of stuff I need to know. I'm not sure where I'll be staying overnight but judging from previous trips like this, the weather gets to decide those things anyway! I need to know what options are available if required.
I was up to visit Chummy in the summer of 2011 and that's why I would like to make the trip up again. It was a fantastic experience.
Blakey
That's the kind of stuff I need to know. I'm not sure where I'll be staying overnight but judging from previous trips like this, the weather gets to decide those things anyway! I need to know what options are available if required.
I was up to visit Chummy in the summer of 2011 and that's why I would like to make the trip up again. It was a fantastic experience.
Blakey
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Beaver Driver
- Rank 3
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- Joined: Thu Mar 11, 2004 7:25 am
- Location: Sask
Re: Trip advice?
The accommodations at Points North are all new. Sometimes the dock by the fuel pumps is busy and you have to wait your turn.
Re: Trip advice?
Buffalo Narrows, SK is a good spot to stop. Watch out for the Big Bridge on approach if you are landing in the north end of the channel. Barry at Voyage Air is a good chap but I'd phone first just so he knows you are inbound. There are a couple of hotels in town. Courtesy Air runs one and they have an attached restaurant. I'd phone in advance and make sure they have a room. Maybe it is further south than you like.
North Western Air Lease in Fort Smith, NT has a seaplane base on an old ox-bow. Not sure but they would sell you fuel, best to check, but probably. Fort Smith has a couple of hotels. The rooms are nice, but I'd get out of the bar before the large amounts of whisky consumed by the bomber pilots kicks in. I've seen a double-beer-bottle-in-the-head smackdown occur which involved one of the pilots I was imbibing with and a local fellow. Seems buddy told the local that his mother looked like Fred Flintstone. (She did).
Anyways, Fort Smith would be my choice other than the 15Km drive to town from the seaplane base...
Actually, If you have a tent, the nicest thing to do would be to camp on a lakeshore somewhere. I could give you a few suggestions if you are interested. Nice spots and beautiful sand. Firewood all over. Pm me if you like.
1000 HP
North Western Air Lease in Fort Smith, NT has a seaplane base on an old ox-bow. Not sure but they would sell you fuel, best to check, but probably. Fort Smith has a couple of hotels. The rooms are nice, but I'd get out of the bar before the large amounts of whisky consumed by the bomber pilots kicks in. I've seen a double-beer-bottle-in-the-head smackdown occur which involved one of the pilots I was imbibing with and a local fellow. Seems buddy told the local that his mother looked like Fred Flintstone. (She did).
Anyways, Fort Smith would be my choice other than the 15Km drive to town from the seaplane base...
Actually, If you have a tent, the nicest thing to do would be to camp on a lakeshore somewhere. I could give you a few suggestions if you are interested. Nice spots and beautiful sand. Firewood all over. Pm me if you like.
1000 HP
