Canadian Fly-In Fishing By Pedal Kayak
THE POWER OF PEDAL KAYAKS
THREE ANGLERS. THREE DAYS. 13 MUSKIES. COUNTLESS BIG BROWN BASS. MULTI-SPECIES MAYHEM. THE TRIP OF A LIFEFIME.
Call it Canadian fly-in fishing re-revisited, deconstructed, and improved by way of ‘yak… a contemporary take on the classic canoe drop or 14-foot v-hull and 9.9hp experience. Indeed, it’s a whole new way to experience pristine waters and world-class fishing. Intimate. Adventurous. Damn exciting.
The small town of Nestor Falls, Ontario, in NW Ontario’s Sunset Country is only 1.5 hours from the U.S. border at International Falls, Minnesota, but is the gateway to a veritable multi-species playground only now being explored by kayak. That’s because prior to 2016, nobody in the province (or Canada, to my knowledge) was offering fly-in trips catering specifically to kayak anglers.
Enter Nestor Falls Fly-In Outposts, a family-run outfit that’s been in business for over 30 years. Encouraged by intrepid kayak anglers from Maine and Minnesota, the company is now offering trips geared specifically for anglers who prefer to fish and explore from kayaks – in their case, four state-of-the-art pedal-driven Old Town Predator PDL boats at their Kay Lake Outpost (30 minutes by air), and a similar set of watercraft on the Onepine Lake system, located north of Woodland Caribou Provincial Park, and seemingly in another universe from where the gravel road ends at Red Lake, Ontario.
Kay Lake (Katimiagamak) is a “high probability” muskie lake -- where anglers routinely catch several toothy critters a day ranging in the high 30s- to upper-40-inch class. But there are some trophy ‘skis in Kay, too. You’ll just have to work a bit deeper around the lake’s numerous rock islands where these goliaths feed. But there’s action aplenty casting near sheer rock walls, points, reefs, and massive cabbage weed beds in the lake’s numerous bays.
Given the outpost’s choice of pedal-driven watercraft, trolling is highly effective. The must-have bait? The 2’ x 4’- looking Storm Giant FlatStick in UV Pink. Take my word for that. And the action doesn’t stop when the sun goes down; under a cloak of darkness fish explode the surface to crush the “plop, plop, plop” of Lake X Lures Fat Bastard topwaters in loon pattern.
Yes, these fish eat loons... juvenile birds, anyway. That’s should be enough to get your blood boiling.
And did I mention these fish will chomp flies, too? Bring a 10 wt., sink tip line, and big muppet-like flies. Again, pink’s the deal.
Anglers will find a pleasant diversion in Kay’s willing smallmouth bass… lots o’ ‘em, too, with fish pushing six pounds. The lake’s countless reefs, submerged islands, and rock-to-weed transitions are filthy with bronze linebackers. Bring plenty of X-raps, tubes, curly tail grubs, and flukes – and a selection of crawfish-imitators and topwaters for fly roddin’.
Deep-water lake trout are a bonus. Pack your portable fishfinder and pay attention when crossing open-water stretches. Buzz Bombs, Heddon Sonars, spoons, and heavy hair jigs are required weaponry, deployed in vertical fashion over 40 to 100 feet.
And that’s just the main lake. There are also two modest portages to smaller lakes where the action continues. When the water’s up, you can kayak right through a small creek system into the tannin-stained Derby Lake where more muskie and smallie action awaits. The portage into Anstey Lake is also do-able – but over land. The reward? More brilliantly-mottled lake trout.
If you’re a fan of Canadian walleyes and big northern pike (or “Jacks” in Canadian-speak), the 2.5-hour flight into Onepine is a dream trip. Anglers report literal 100-plus-fish days on the rugged eight-mile long lake. Portages into Strawberry and Malette offer more picturesque Canadian fishing, a mystery around every turn.
Really, no matter what outpost you choose, it’s a win-win. And if you’re a real glutton for punishment, you’ll do both in the same week (or two).
PLANNER
OUTFITTERS & GUIDES
Nestor Falls Fly-In Outposts
P.O. Box 35B
Nestor Falls, Ontario
Canada P0X 1K0
1-807-484-2345
1-877-653-1524
KAYAK GEAR
Nestor Falls Fly-In Outposts
P.O. Box 35B
Nestor Falls, Ontario
Canada P0X 1K0
1-807-484-2345
1-877-653-1524
FISHING GEAR
Not sure what rods, reels, and baits to pack? Ask to speak to Jon Beaushene at Nestor Falls Fly-In Outposts. And whatever you forget can be found at Angler’s Pro Shop in Nestor Falls, Ontario. Recommendation: Get your Ontario fishing license online before you leave. www.ontario.ca/page/fishing-licence-non-residents-canada
Angler’s Pro Shop: www.anglersproshop.ca
807-484-2525
FOOD
Pack lots of high-energy, high-calorie food – and don’t forget your fillet knife! Ingredients for the classic Canadian shore lunch can be found at Dalseg’s Fine Foods in Nestor Falls, Ontario. Looking for high-end, organic fare? Stop at the Safeway in Fort Frances, Ontario, immediately after you cross the border from International Falls, Minnesota.
Shore Lunch seasoned flour
Evaporated milk (in substitute of egg wash)
Japanese Panko crumbs (for breading)
Refined coconut (or peanut) oil
Large cans of baked beans
Molasses (and bourbon) to doctor beans
Potatoes
Onions
(2) cast iron skillets
WHAT’S BITING
Smallmouth bass, walleyes, northern pike, lake trout, muskie
SEASONS
Late May through October.
RIGGED UP
Smallmouth bass: X-Raps, tubes, flukes, Z-Man Ned Rig, curly-tail grubs, spinnerbaits, topwaters, 1/16- 1/8 oz. black marabou hair jigs, crawfish-imitating flies
Muskies: Storm Giant FlatStick (pink UV), bucktails, Suicks, Fat Bastard, big flies
Lake Trout: Buzz Bombs, Heddon Sonars, PK Lures spoons, hair jigs
Walleyes: 1/8 – 3/8 oz. jigs (black, chartreuse, orange), Gulp! Alive minnows & leeches, Shad Raps, Original Rapala Floaters, 1/8 oz. Storm 360GT Search Bait, ass’t swimbaits
Northern Pike: Spinnerbaits, spoons, bucktails, large Husky Jerks, big flies
KAYAK
Nestor Falls Fly-In Outposts provides (4) Old Town Predator PDL kayaks at both the Kay Lake and Onepine lake locations. Pedal Drive and paddles provided. Bring your favorite PFD, favorite kayak accessories (i.e. crate with rod holders), and portable fishing electronics (the latter by no means a deal-breaker).