Rebekka Redd with Brook Trout
Crooks Lake Lodge
Brook Trout and Northern Pike Fishing
Labrador, Canada
Crooks Lake Lodge, a fly-fishing-only lodge, is located on the famous Upper Eagle River watershed, south of the Mealy Mountains, a 60-mile floatplane flight from Goose Bay. The comfortable Lodge caters to six anglers per week.
Fishing Crooks Lake
Crooks Lake is five miles long. The rivers and streams entering and leaving the lake are full of 2 to 8-pound brookies, with an average size of 4.2-pounds. For the last three decades, the Lodge's catch-and-release policy has sustained a high-quality wild brook trout fishery, plus lake trout, northern pike, dolly varden, and Arctic char. Brookies are native to Labrador's many rivers and lakes, and though commonly called a trout, are actually a char.
At Crooks Lake Lodge, there is a lot of opportunity for anglers who like to wade fish. Streamers, nymphs, dry flies, and mouse popper imitations are very effective.
Fishing Seasons:
2023 Season: The Lodge is open eight weeks for peak dry fly fishing from mid-June through late July.
Capacity: The Lodge hosts six anglers per week.
Boats: 16’ aluminum boats with 15-HP engines. Two anglers per guide and boat.
Guides: The Lodge has three experienced veteran fly-fishing guides who offer tips and proven techniques to beginners and accomplished fly anglers. You are guided 8 to 10 hours each day.
Equipment: The Lodge does not supply any gear or flies. A detailed equipment list is included in our confirmation packet.
Fishing License: is included in the package.
Northern Pike Fishing
Northern pike up to 20-pounds are also plentiful here and provide a secondary challenge for fly anglers who choose to take them on light tackle. Northern pike season begins in mid-June. Regarded as the barracuda of the North, northern pike are known for their savage strike and feed on anything that swims, including voles, duckling, and even trout. Northern pike like to cruise the shallower weedy areas of the watershed. Anglers should bring wire tippets as their surgical scalpel-like teeth will slice through monofilament like a knife through butter. They love mice patterns but will also explode on big poppers, spoons, large crankbaits, and large saltwater streamer patterns.
A Typical Fishing Day:
You're guided 8 to 10-hours each day.
You’ll have breakfast between 7:00 and 7:30 a.m. If you’d like to fish earlier than that, there is good fishing right in front of the Lodge. After breakfast, you’ll join your guide for a 15-minute boat ride to the fishing area. Most anglers choose to return to the Lodge around 1:00 p.m. for lunch; however, lunch on the river is also an option. If desired, you may rest in the afternoon and fish after dinner in the evening instead.
The guides are very accommodating. Dinner is served around 6:00 p.m.
Brook Trout Flies
At Crooks Lake, brook trout feed voraciously on the abundant insects. Hatches of mayflies, stoneflies, or caddisflies can occur anytime, and when they do, you had better be ready! Depending on the time frame, anglers should also bring an assortment of wooly buggers and saltwater deceivers. Later in the season at Crooks Lake, when the hatches taper off and the fish start to stage for spawning, a popular fly is the “shaving brush.” It is a big spun caribou or deer hair popper with a blunt end that pops as you retrieve it in short jerks. The more noise, the better. The fly mimics a lemming or a mole, both of which are plentiful. The brook trout don’t love this fly... they hate it and prove it by smashing at it with a vengeance, often coming a foot out of water when they strike!
About Crooks Lake Lodge
Comfortable, unpretentious lodge in a wilderness setting. The main lodge overlooks the lake and consists of a kitchen, dining and lounge area, three large bedrooms, and a screened-in sun porch. There are two full bathrooms, each with a hot shower. The Lodge is limited to six anglers per week, with an emphasis on personal attention. Their cook prepares three delicious home-cooked meals each day.
Alcohol: Alcohol and mixers are not provided. You can bring your own or order alcohol at least three weeks in advance and have it sent to the Lodge.
Communications: Generated power, free high-speed internet/Wi-Fi, and long-distance telephone calls are included in the package.
Getting to the Lodge:
Commercial flights are available to Goose Bay Airport in Goose Bay, Labrador. You will need to arrive in Goose Bay the day before your departure to the Lodge. A Lodge representative will meet you at the airport and drive you to The Bunkhouse. (Lodging and a continental breakfast in Goose Bay are included in the package.) Early the next morning, you'll be driven to the floatplane for the 35-minute flight to the Lodge. This roundtrip charter flight is included in the package, and there is a baggage weight limit of 50-pounds. (For your return flight from the Lodge, book your flight from Goose Bay for after 12:00 noon; that way, you won’t need to stay a second night in Goose Bay.)
A 35-minute floatplane flight to the Lodge.
2023 USD Rates:
6-nights and 5-days guided fishing
$5,949.00 per person
Rates do not include 15-percent HST (Harmonized Sales Tax).
The Lodge is only open for eight weeks in June and July.
Packages Include:
• 1-night Lodging in Goose Bay
• Continental breakfast at The Bunkhouse
• Roundtrip floatplane flight between Goose Bay and the Lodge
• 5-nights at the Lodge
• All meals at the Lodge
• 5-days guided fishing
• Canadian fishing license
• Wi-Fi at the Lodge
• Use of a satellite phone for free long-distance phone calls
Packages Do Not Include:
• Airfare to Goose Bay, Labrador, and return• 15% HST on package (Harmonized sales tax)
• Dinner in Goose Bay on the day of your arrival
• Fishing equipment and tackle
• Liquor or mixers
• Gratuities for guides and staff
• Global Rescue
• Travel insurance
• Anything not mentioned under inclusions.
