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Overview
The Hunt River Lodge showcases the extraordinary beauty of the remote northern Labrador wilderness, world-class angling and fine cuisine. Located on an island at the mouth of the river, it is amongst the finest remote retreats to nature in North America, and is widely regarded as one of the world’s best Atlantic salmon fly fishing lodges.
The river itself has been practically exclusive from 1964-2010, with considerable investment in conservation and science (along with plenty of patience) increasing Atlantic salmon returns fourfold since the lodge was acquired by Atlantic Rivers in 2010.
Anglers can expect plentiful runs of aggressive Atlantic salmon taking flies from the surface through mid-July to September, with 4 night packages in truly some exceptional accommodation starting at $7,300 per person.
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Fishing
Hunt River is gently flowing with periodic slides, riffles and steadies. Depending on the pool location, fly fishing can either be from shore, wading or from a river canoe. 16km of river is accessible from the Lodge via river canoes. The river is divided into two sections, with the lower section from the Lodge to First Falls hosting 8 pools, and the upper section is from above First Falls to Hunt Lake hosting 21 pools.
Guests landing a Salmon greater than 20lbs at any unnamed pool location shall have naming rights. Since 2011 we have had 10 pools named by our angling guests, with more than a dozen remaining to be named, which only have temporary names such as “The Leaning Juniper” or “The Boulders”. The previous owner did not fish above the First Falls, thus the unique situation of angling previously uncharted waters.
The Hunt River’s northern location and proximity to the Labrador Sea have kelts departing in late June and early July, with fresh arrivals entering mid-July. Salmon continue entering the river until mid-September. Spawning is concurrent with fresh water being its densest at 4°C, which is generally around mid to late October at the Hunt River. The majority of Hunt River smolt depart at a river age of 4 years and hosts some of the highest parr density counts in the Northwest Atlantic. Since introducing a catch & release policy is 2012, the Hunt River returns have increased fourfold, and the grilse to salmon ratio has reverted from 90:10 to 65:35.
Angling the Hunt River tidal estuary for char can also prove very exciting during the last few weeks of July and early August before they migrate up Char Brook, situated just east of Hunt River. We encourage small #12 – #20 flies for the ultimate technical angling achievement for char. As the char migration numbers continue to build into the latter part of August and early September at our Char Lake Outpost, it’s not uncommon for char to take surface flies such as small bombers.
A catch and release policy was introduced on the Hunt River upon the commencement of the 2012 angling season. In 2014 Atlantic Rivers and LOOP entered into a collaboration with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to conduct baseline migration, redd densities, rearing habitat, and catch & release studies. Some of the results are currently publicly available, while others will become available in due course. Most notable are the returning salmon numbers, having increased fourfold since initiating a catch & release policy in 2012.
A team of experienced guides are on hand to transport you through the wilderness of Labrador using traditional canoes to move from pool to pool. Catching salmon on the dead drift bomber is something that our guides have down to a fine art.
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Accommodation
Hunt River Lodge offers eight beautiful guest bedrooms, each with a large double bed featuring Egyptian cotton sheets and feather duvets, large storage and full en-suites. Each guest room also comes with a courtesy toiletries basket presenting as a trip to the pharmacy, and the lodge offers full laundry services on a daily basis, should anglers prefer to travel light.
The main lodge has a large salon and dining room area adjoined by a fully stocked bar. The expansive outdoor observation decks have become a popular place to enjoy a morning coffee while surveying the salmon rising in Home Pool, and evening cocktails whilst sharing the angling experiences of the day.
The lodge outbuilding incorporates a spacious wader changing and drying area, fly tying station, dry sauna, gym and a fully stocked LOOP Pro Shop.
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Food & Cuisine
The balanced creativity of the in-house chef produces a superb menu of local and exotic cuisine; including moose, cod, halibut, scallops, lobster and a variety of plant-based dishes. Combining flare and diversity but served in a relaxed setting, mealtimes are a great opportunity to catch up on the days fishing whilst also enjoying a fine glass of wine.
While breakfast and dinner is enjoyed in the comfort of the lodge, lunch is specially prepared by the catering team each morning and taken out on the river by your guide, alongside various snacks and beverages to keep you energised across a long days’ fishing.
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Example itinerary
Day 1 – Home City to goose Bay
- Flight from home city to Goose Bay airport
- Over night in hotel
Day 2 – Goose Bay to lodge
- Transfer from hotel to sea plane or helipad (approx. 10 mins)
- Fly directly to the lodge (approx. 1hrs)
- Lunch on arrival
- Afternoon fishing
- Overnight at the lodge
Day 3 to 7 – Continued fishing
- Continued overnights at the lodge with 5 full days fishing
Day 8 – Return to Goose Bay
- After breakfast you will be transferred back to Goose Bay
- Overnight in hotel
Day 9 – Goose bay to Home city
- Depart Goose Bay to home city
- Continue with own arrangements
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Specifics
Included:
- Full board accommodation throughout your stay
- 1 Guide per 2 fishers and river canoe
- Fishing licence
- Charter flight to the lodge
Not included:
- Transfers during travel
- Flights
- Gratuities
- Hotels in Goose Bay
- Items of a personal nature
Hunt River Lodge
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Location
FAQ
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Are there mosquitos / midges?
When the wind drops, there are biting insects as you would expect in the wilderness of Labrador. We have available and use our Mygg jackets, which keeps the nasties off you so you can continue to enjoy the fishing.
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What rods are ideal for fishing here?
Typically we use 9 – 10′ rated #6 or #7 for salmon fishing paired with our specially designed SST dry fly line, with an elongated rear taper for picking up maximum line and a compact front taper for turning over bombers into a wind.
For char we’d recommend a 9′ – 10′ #5 or #6 rod.
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How do I get there?
Hunt River Lodge is located in northeastern Labrador, Canada, approximately 246 kilometres north of the nearest paved commercial airport of Goose Bay (YYR). The Inuit village of Hopedale (YHO) is 31 kilometres to the southeast and has a 750-meter gravel airstrip.
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Why use LOOP Travel?
LOOP Travel has extensive teams worldwide, all working to give you the best possible advice when travelling the world in search of top-class fly fishing. Our advice is totally free to you and booking with us comes at no extra cost.
Our decades of experience between the teams and plethora of knowledge is second-to-none. Our team members know all of our destinations backwards, having spent many years guiding, managing & fishing these lodges.
Suitable gear
On the Hunt River we are using single-handed rods for all occasions. Typically we use 9 – 10′ rated #6 or #7 for salmon fishing, paired with our specially designed SST dry fly line, with an elongated rear taper for picking up maximum line and a compact front taper for turning over bombers into a wind.
A larger arbour reel is also excellent for salmon fishing with single-handed rods. This allows you to gain more control over the fish and keep tension with ease. Chest waders are a must when fishing the Hunt River, and a good wading jacket is useful for the wet days on the river, as too are our Onka Pants to keep your legs warm. A waterproof backpack is an excellent addition to your gear, especially with the amount of canoe travel you’ll be doing up and down the river.
When the wind drops, there are also biting insects as you would expect in the wilderness of Labrador. We have available and use our Mygg jackets and neck gaiters, which keep the nasties off.
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