Inside Munroe Lake Lodge with Brett on Fishing and the North

By Brett from Munroe Lake

At Munroe Lake Lodge, a fly-in fishing trip means access to northern pike, lake trout, Arctic grayling, and walleye in a remote northern Manitoba setting. It also means a small camp where you get to know the people hosting you and have room to shape the experience around what you enjoy.

In this interview, I share what makes the lake special, how our guides approach fishing and hunting, and what guests should understand before travelling north. The answers have been edited from the interview for clarity and flow.

What drew the founders to Munroe Lake?

Three of the four original founders are from northern Manitoba. They grew up near Thompson, with fishing and hunting as a big part of their lives. When the opportunity came to buy the business with friends, Munroe Lake offered a combination that was hard to overlook.

It is a huge, isolated body of water with four species of fish and very little fishing pressure. The caribou and moose hunting opportunities were another major draw. Together, those experiences gave us a lot to be excited about as hosts.

That connection to the North matters. We want guests to appreciate the place as well as the fishing or hunting they came for.

What does a cabin away from home mean at the lodge?

For us, it starts with keeping the operation small. Some lodges send out 20 or 30 fishing boats a day. At Munroe Lake, we take out a maximum of four, typically serving eight to ten anglers.

With only a few team members at the lodge full-time, guests get to know the cook, guides, and other staff. People spend time together, and the atmosphere feels personal.

That size also gives us flexibility. If a guest wants to fish in the evening or has a particular way they would like to spend the day, we can often accommodate it. We talk through what people want from their trip and tailor the experience where we can.

What surprises first-time fishing guests?

The quality of the fishing is usually the biggest surprise. We have seen guests catch 50 to 100 fish in a day, with opportunities for large fish among those catches. Those are examples of what the lake can produce, rather than a promise of what any particular day will bring.

The variety is just as exciting. On a four-day trip, guests have a chance to encounter trophy-sized northern pike, lake trout, Arctic grayling, and walleye. In the season discussed in our interview, one angler caught four Master Angler-sized northern pike in a single day.

Guests also notice how quiet and personal the experience feels. There are few boats, a small group back at camp, and plenty of northern wilderness around you.

How does one lake support so many fishing opportunities?

Munroe Lake has a wide range of habitat. There are numerous bays, several rivers and creeks flowing into the system, and deep areas reaching approximately 80 feet.

The bays provide the shallow habitat we work when targeting northern pike. The deeper holes give lake trout places to hold as the water warms. Rivers and creeks provide the shallow, moving water we associate with Arctic grayling fishing.

The lake has also seen relatively little fishing pressure. The previous owner focused very little on fishing and hosted around 20 anglers a year. Keeping our own groups small is part of how we want guests to continue experiencing this water.

When and where do you look for big northern pike?

Timing here can surprise people who are used to fishing farther south. The ice often remains until after the first week of June. When it comes off around mid-June, pike move into shallow water and create some excellent opportunities.

In June and early July, we spend a lot of time working the bays. Covering water is important: cast throughout the bay and keep looking until you find fish. Once you locate bigger pike, it can be worth continuing to work that area because large fish will sometimes hold together.

One of the most memorable ways to fish is by sight. In shallow bays, guests can sometimes see a larger pike and make a cast specifically to that fish. You are watching the opportunity develop in front of you, which adds a lot to the experience.

How does lake trout fishing change through the season?

Early in the season, lake trout can be in shallower water and around moving water. During the first two or three weeks, they can be harder to locate consistently because we sometimes catch them in the same areas as pike.

As the water warms, our attention shifts toward deeper holes with more suitable temperatures. From roughly late June through mid-August, trout can become concentrated in those areas.

We have had exceptional days, including one when a boat caught 235 lake trout while spending most of the day in one area. That is a standout example from our experience. The useful lesson for an angler is that finding the right depth and location can make a substantial difference as the season progresses.

What makes Arctic grayling worth targeting?

Grayling offer a different experience from fishing the bays or deep water. You are often fishing moving water, and fly anglers particularly enjoy being able to catch them on flies. Sometimes you can actually see the strike.

The fish are beautiful, with distinctive colour and a large dorsal fin. When you bring one in against the current, you can sometimes see that fin above the surface. It is a small detail that stays with people.

They are also a species many visiting anglers have not had the opportunity to target. My advice is to leave room in your plans for them, even if a big pike is the main reason you booked.

How do guides help different anglers enjoy the same trip?

Many of our guests have fished for years and arrive with specific goals. We also host families and corporate groups where some people need more guidance than others.

Our guides adapt to the people in the boat. Their priority is helping each guest have a good time, whether that means providing more instruction or working with an experienced angler to target a particular species.

One packing mistake we see is bringing tackle only for northern pike. Once guests arrive, they often discover they want to fish for lake trout, grayling, and walleye too. Plan for the variety available, and talk to us about your tackle before the trip.

How do you protect large fish during release?

Preparation makes a difference. Once a big fish reaches the boat, we net it and generally keep it in the water while unhooking it. Before lifting it out, we get the measuring board and camera ready.

Then we work quickly through the measurement and photograph before returning the fish to the water. The guide generally takes the fish back immediately after the picture and makes sure it is properly released beside the boat.

We require barbless hooks at our lake. When we are catching a lot of fish, we also often replace treble hooks with single hooks. That can make unhooking quicker and reduce the chance of several hook points becoming lodged in a fish.

Those habits are part of looking after the fishing that brings people here.

What should guests understand about a remote caribou hunt?

Caribou are migratory, so the hunt can be very different from sitting in one place waiting for an animal. There is a lot of spotting and stalking: working ridges with binoculars, locating animals, and deciding how to intercept them and get within range for a good shot.

Migration affects what guests encounter. During a strong movement, hunters on a six-day trip may see large numbers of animals. In other years, they may need to cover more ground and work harder to find them.

Before booking, we have several conversations about what the hunt involves. Walking, terrain, and keeping up with animals all matter. We also encourage guests to watch our videos so they have a clearer picture of the landscape.

Guides adjust the pace to the individual. Some guests want to cover a lot of ground; others prefer to move more slowly and spend longer glassing from one position. Being honest about your experience and physical readiness helps us plan a more suitable trip.

What preparation matters most before travelling north?

Have your equipment ready before you arrive. For hunters, that includes hiking boots, rain gear, ammunition, and the other supplies needed for the trip. For anglers, it means thinking beyond a single target species.

Aircraft baggage restrictions deserve close attention. The flights bringing guests also carry food and supplies, so weight limits are an important part of planning. We provide packing information and a video to help guests prepare.

Travel arrangements vary. Guests may fly into Winnipeg and connect to Thompson, or drive north before meeting their float plane. Many stay overnight in Thompson before a morning departure. Confirm the arrangements for your particular trip with us before finalizing travel.

For hunting guests, we send welcome information and documentation to help with preparation. If your trip involves crossing a border with firearms, discuss the paperwork with us early and confirm the requirements that apply to your travel. Your booking information should guide the details of your own trip.

How do guides manage weather and communication?

Remote travel requires preparation behind the scenes. We plan flights and payloads carefully, and our guides pay close attention to weather before deciding how far to travel.

Our fishing boats carry InReach devices so the team can monitor their locations and communicate if a problem develops. Guides also watch changing weather and may keep closer to sheltered areas when conditions could deteriorate.

On hunts, guides use InReach devices to stay in communication and consider both the conditions and the guests when planning the day. We also have medical equipment at the lodge and access to an additional aircraft stationed at the main lodge for emergency support when conditions allow.

The focus is on avoiding dangerous situations in the first place. In a place this remote, careful decisions are part of the experience every day.

What do you most want guests to take away from the experience?

Take it all in, and do not rush. Understand what you are doing, listen to your guide, and give yourself time to appreciate where you are.

You might be out in a boat and see an eagle, a bear, a caribou, or a moose. You never know what the next day will bring. A memorable trip includes the fishing or hunting, but it also includes those moments and the people you share them with.

If you are considering a trip to Munroe Lake Lodge, start by telling us what you hope to experience. We can talk through the fishing or hunting, the timing, and the preparation so you have a clear idea of what to expect before heading north.