Fly Fishing In Labrador, Canada

Brook Trout

The Labrador wilderness is home to one of the last remaining strongholds on Earth for trophy Brook Trout. It comes as no surprise that this species is highly regarded among fly fishermen. They’ll attack a dry fly, nymph, or streamer, thus giving you the opportunity to employ different techniques during your stay. Brook Trout require clear, cold, and well-oxygenated water and are carnivorous. Labrador Brook Trout typically range in size from one to six pounds and are abundant in the Atikonak watershed. Combine all of this with the sheer beauty of their distinctive marbled patterns, and the pristine, unspoiled wilderness, and you have all of the ingredients necessary for the trip of a lifetime.

Part of the allure of Brook Trout is how challenging it can be to catch them. While dry fly fishing for Brook Trout, you want to cast ahead of the fish and let it drift right over its nose. This is because Brook Trout are lazy surface feeders and will rarely stray from their spot to take a bug. In fact, a mere six inches can be the difference between you hooking or missing out on one. They’re also highly selective, so matching the body shape and profile will greatly improve your chances. When it comes to streamers, Brook Trout will move a little bit, so if you cast one in the general area and strip it moderately fast, you’ll have a chance. They like to hang out on the edges of currents and shelves, so those are good places to start your search.

Typically, the top dry flies at our lodge for Brook Trout are Goddard Caddis (size 10-16), Stimulators (size 10-14), Royal Wolfs (size 10-16), Irresistibles (size 14-16), and Elk Hair Caddis (size 14-16), while the top streamers are Zonkers (size 2-6), Wooly Buggers (size 2-4), Deceivers (size 2-4), bucktail streamers (size 2-6), and Tequeelys (size 2-4). However, this can change from year to year or even day to day, so there are no guarantees that these will work during your trip. Please contact us prior to your trip to see what is working at the time. We have all these flies in stock at the lodge, so you can buy what’s working when you arrive.

Lake Trout

Early in the season, Lake Trout can be found throughout the Atikonak River, and most are caught on large streamers. They are the first to leave the river as the water temperature rises. Like Brook Trout, Lakers require clear, cold, and well-oxygenated water. Their diet consists mostly of baitfish. Our Lake Trout are worthy opponents. Their aggressive nature combined with their size creates a game fish that is extremely fun to catch on a fly rod. They frequently prowl the shallows in the spring, hunting baitfish, so if you can get the streamer in front of them, they will attack it. The majority of Lake Trout caught in the river are in the five to 20-pound class, while larger ones can be found in the lake.

The best way to catch Lake Trout is by streamer fishing, as they rarely take bugs off the surface. You’ll find the most success in catching them by stripping at a slower pace through heavy current. Many Lake Trout are caught in the river by trolling while targeting Landlocked Salmon in bad weather as well.

When fishing for Lake Trout, large flies are often more successful than smaller ones, and the top ones are Tequeelys (size 2-4), bucktail streamers (size 1/0-4), Deceivers (size 1/0-4), Zonkers (size 2-4), and Wooly Buggers (size 2-4). However, this can change from year to year or even day to day, so there are no guarantees that these will work during your trip. Please contact us prior to your trip to see what is working at the time. We have all these flies in stock at the lodge, so you can buy what’s working when you arrive.

Landlocked Salmon

Labrador’s Landlocked Salmon, also known as Ouananiche (pronounced wa-na-neesh), are a subspecies of the Atlantic Salmon. Labrador is one of only a handful of destinations in the world where a quality, native Landlocked Salmon fishery remains intact. Unlike Atlantics, in addition to nymphs and streamers, they’ll readily take a dry fly along current seams or foam lines. They are explosive fighters capable of powerful runs and acrobatic maneuvers that take anglers deep into their backing. Early in the season, when the water is cooler, the Landlocked Salmon range in size from one to ten pounds. As the water warms and the season goes on, the larger ones move back into the lake to seek cooler water, but they return to the river to spawn in the fall as the water temperature cools back down.

When dry fly fishing for Landlocked Salmon, you’ll likely find the most success by casting into a current seam or foam patch and letting it dead drift. When streamer fishing, it is often best to cast into the current or on ledges and strip it back fast. We have also found trolling to be an effective way of catching them, particularly if the weather is bad.

Typically, the top dry flies at our lodge for Landlocked Salmon are Goddard Caddis (size 12-16), Stimulators (size 12-16), Royal Wolfs (size 14-16), Salmon Bombers (all sizes), and Irresistibles (size 14-16), while the top streamers are Wooly Buggers (size 2-6), Tequeelys (size 2-4), bucktail streamers (size 2-4), Deceivers (size 2-4), and Zonkers (size 2-4). However, this can change from year to year or even day to day, so there are no guarantees that these will work during your trip. Please contact us prior to your trip to see what is working at the time. We have all these flies in stock at the lodge, so you can buy what’s working when you arrive.

Northern Pike

Northern Pike, while often cast aside as a nuisance, are the ultimate ambush predator. They are a blast to catch on a fly rod, as their predatory disposition, violent takes, and screaming runs make them a force to be reckoned with. They often remain completely still as they await their prey before striking at the last second with an incredible burst of speed. They prefer a habitat that consists of shallow weed beds and rocky shoals where baitfish congregate. While you can catch them all season long, they are more common and aggressive as the water temperature rises and the levels fall. At the very least, one afternoon should be devoted to enticing them with popping bugs and streamers. Our Northern Pike range in size from five to 15 pounds and are abundant.

The best technique when streamer fishing for Northern Pike is to cast into dead water and strip aggressively. Since they often wait until the last minute to strike, we recommend that once at the boat, you zig-zag your fly, as this typically promotes a strike. When surface fishing for them, it is best to strip or pop them along the water.

When it comes to choosing a fly for Pike fishing, the bigger and brighter it is, the better when it comes to streamers, and we’ve found Tarpon flies to work well. The top surface flies are mouse and frog-like patterns and popping bugs. However, this can change from year to year or even day to day, so there are no guarantees that these will work during your trip. Please contact us prior to your trip to see what is working at the time. We have all these flies in stock at the lodge, so you can buy what’s working when you arrive.

Whitefish

Whitefish are the main forage fish of the Atikonak River. However, they can also be thrilling to catch on a fly rod. They readily take a dry fly around foam lines and seams, and their soft mouths make them a challenge to hook and land. They put up a huge fight and are notoriously difficult to bring to the net. Our whitefish range from one to six pounds and are abundant throughout the river in all seasons.

Due to their small mouths, streamer fishing is largely ineffective for Whitefish. It is typically best to cast a dry fly into the current or a foam patch and let it dead drift. When choosing a fly to target Whitefish, it is often best to go small (in the 14-16 range), and the top flies are Goddard Caddis, Blue Wing Olives, Royal Wolfs, Irresisitibles, and Elk Hair Caddis. However, this can change from year to year or even day to day, so there are no guarantees that these will work during your trip. Please contact us prior to your trip to see what is working at the time. We have all these flies in stock at the lodge, so you can buy what’s working when you arrive.

Brook Trout

Lake Trout

Landlocked Salmon

Northern Pike

Whitefish

What To Expect At Riverkeep

Location and Weather

Rates/Inquire

What To Bring