Kluane Wilderness Lodge

Wellesley Lake has to be the best freshwater fishing venue in the world!

Situated on one of the richest lakes in northwest Canada, Kluane Wilderness Lodge is as exclusive as it gets. The only access from June to August is by floatplane from Whitehorse, the capital of the Yukon.

There is a constant fly hatch on calm days/evenings in the shallows. June into early July is prime time for fishing dry flies and fishing streamers, nymphs, and buzzers in the rocky shallows and off the extensive gravel bars which are ideal for wading. Char in the 4 to 16lb range are common and give great sport in shallow water. The bigger char of 18lb plus can be found along the slightly deeper drop-offs. Bait balls appear in late June and through the summer attracting large numbers of quality pike and lake char towards the shallows and along the edge of dropoffs. During calm conditions, a hatch sparks off the vast shoals of cisco baitfish. This, in turn, prompts the char to feed aggressively. Casting or slow trolling medium to large streamers along the edge of the bait-balls into 16 to 30 feet (along the drop-offs) is deadly. Char in the 10 to 20lb+ range are caught. Choppy water turns them off but the moment the surface calms and there’s a fly hatch the action starts.

Mike Cornall enjoyed great sport in a difficult week of changeable weather in early July. His best catch was 22 char in an evening, all on his own tied large streamers both cast and trolled. A number of char were in the 20lb range, his biggest closer to 30. The deeper water areas of “the flats” produce the biggest char caught in this short summer season. Again you need the right conditions, calm warm days/nights, a good fly hatch and plenty of surface feeding whitefish. This attracts the slower, bigger char, 20lb, 30lb and bigger. They ambush their prey from the depths, hitting the unsuspecting whitefish from underneath. Try drifting with lead heads and soft plastics or slow trolling large streamers on a Di 8 fly line it is possible to get your lure down to where these bigger char reside.

Pike in Wellesley Lake are prolific to say the least. The weedy shallows start to produce as the shallow water bays warm and weed growth increases. Surface popper flies and plugs are most effective as are small to medium size spoons and shallow working soft plastics too. The bigger pike can be taken on larger streamers, spoons, surface plugs and jerk bait lures in nine to 20 feet depths. Pike to 20lb plus are caught and released each season but are more common in the 4 to 15lb range.

Fishing at Kluane Lodge is a hands-on experience. You are supplied a boat for 2 anglers and fuel. The ability to operate your own small boat is important. Lodge owner Brian Dack and his assistant Lindsay provide expert advice; both are keen anglers. The lake is big with lots of features and is full of fish - one of the officially listed lakes in Canada! It is 11 miles long and 6 miles wide, so there is plenty of room! Use single barbless hooks with catch and release (except for the weekly shore lunch) which is mandatory. Packages are generally 7 nights at the lodge (6/7 days fishing) with 2 nights in Whitehorse (pre and post fly out). 2-week trips are possible on some dates.

The lodge has tackle hire for rods and reels. Anglers taking their own rods should take travel rods to avoid excess charges on international flights. There is an extensive range of lures and flies for sale at the lodge.

Rods:  6 and 8 weight fly rods; a medium and mid to heavy spinning/lure rods.

Fly lines: floating, intermediate and a Di 8.

For lure fishing, we prefer 30-40 pound braid with an 18 mono or fluorocarbon leader for the char as they tend to twist and wrap around the line.

For nature lovers and photographers the wildlife viewing opportunities here are quite exceptional. Guests see wolf, lynx, moose, loons, bald eagle and numerous other birdlife. The lake shoreline is a photographers dream.

There are numerous add-on options to extend your stay, self-drive tours of the Yukon, Alaska Highway, Vancouver Island, and the Rocky Mountains, etc.

Prices from £3541 per person

Includes: 

2 nights in Whitehorse; sharing twin rooms, room only
7 nights at the lodge; 2 adults per cabin/boat; all meals at the lodge
7 days fishing; fuel for the boat, life jackets, etc. unlimited fishing time
Information and guidance from lodge owner Brian Dack

Not Included
Flights from the UK to Whitehorse (Air Canada are our recommended airline)
Meals in Whitehorse
Fishing licence which is purchased at the lodge
Personal drinks