Why bucketlist fishing and hunting destinations are worth the wait • Outdoor Canada

Getting the chance to spend time at one of Canada’s fishing or hunting lodges is a rite of passage most of us hope to experience at least once. Being able to devote a week or so to fish or hunt uninterrupted is undoubtedly a pleasure and a privilege, after all. And the options are many, with lodges all across Canada for every interest and budget, from rustic, drive-to, mom-and-pop operations to five-star fly-in resorts.

Keen to catch-and-release more than 100 walleye in a day? There’s a place for that. Always wanted to chopper to a remote river to fly fish for Dolly Varden? That’s doable, too. Whether you want to be pampered with fine cuisine and a personal guide, or you prefer more of a do-it-yourself approach at a remote outpost, this country’s lodges can make it happen. Sure, it might take years of saving to achieve your goal, but that will just make the experience all the more rewarding.

Since many lodges in Canada typically cater to a mostly American clientele, these past two years of closed borders and pandemic-related travel restrictions have been challenging, to say the least. It’s really a testament to the resilience and resourcefulness of the owners that many of them are still in business. Thankfully, with COVID-19 on the wane at the time of this writing, the 2022 season should be the first in three years they can operate on a normal basis. And since many didn’t even open during the last two seasons, the fishing and hunting opportunities should be as good as ever, if not better.

So, if you’ve been saving and waiting to book a lodge experience, there’s probably no better time than now to pull the trigger. Have a great trip, and know you’re doing your part to help Canada’s lodges leave the dark days of the pandemic behind.