Brookie trip of a Lifetime....

[solopaddler]

WHAT?!? BETTER than THAT? Not quite sure how that could be possible!!! That was an incredible read. That is on my bucket list for SURE.

Jay - if you really want to do something like this, we need to talk. Thanks for sharing. Just an amazing, amazing read.

BD

Actually BD I've fished several rivers in N/W ON that imo are better than the Sutton. Larger fish, similar numbers and river bred fish...not sea run. I spent roughly 12 years of my adult life (several months each open water season) tripping solo through some of the best brook trout rivers in the world, hence the username.

Rivers like the Fawn, Asheweig and Frog were incredible. Only problem now is I don't have two months to paddle up there, and air charter is ridiculously expensive. Any of those rivers would cost me double what the Sutton trip did.

Not taking anything away from the Sutton at all though. What sets it apart is the fact there's not a single portage along its entire length. I know of no other river in the world quite like it.

Methinks I should be getting a percentage of the Sutton bookings from Hearst Air. There's been a whole lot of interest generated LOL!

[solopaddler]

We need to find sponsors to send us all on a trip like that! *cough cough* OOD *cough*

I already tried that avenue. They weren't interested at this time.

[LadyinRed]

I already tried that avenue. They weren't interested at this time.

LOL, maybe they'd be more interested in sending women out into the wild. If so, Steph and I volunteer!!! I can see the article now....Steph the accomplished angler-ess and me her hapless protegee...c'mon OOD, it'd be a great read!!!

[Fishy Wishy]

LIR, aren't you a little too...accident prone to consider this trip? LOL.

That is an awesome trip. But me being me 11 days of reelling in those monsters, I might lose interest.

[bicephalic]

Methinks I should be getting a percentage of the Sutton bookings from Hearst Air. There's been a whole lot of interest generated LOL!

While scouring their website this morning I was half surprised not to be greeted with a "This website has exceeded their monthly allotment of traffic - Please check back soon" message

[Big Daddy]

solo - I clearly have spent FAR too long down here in Southern Ontario. Fishing like that for Brookies is like a dream. Heck, I'm happy on my spring Algonquin trips if I get 5 or 6 decent (i.e. 2lbs+) Brookies in four days of fishing. Looks like you accomplished that in about your first ten minutes. Just ridiculous.

So you drove to Hearst, and then flew in from there I guess? Any estimates on cost of the flight per person? Oh, and what time of year did you do this trip? Any BUGS? With all that swamp, I could see the skeeters and blackflies being just NASTY, although I didn't notice any in your videos...

btw - LOVED the part with the polar bear coming to say hello! Bet THAT got your heart pounding pretty good. Wow.

BD

[solopaddler]

solo - I clearly have spent FAR too long down here in Southern Ontario. Fishing like that for Brookies is like a dream. Heck, I'm happy on my spring Algonquin trips if I get 5 or 6 decent (i.e. 2lbs+) Brookies in four days of fishing. Looks like you accomplished that in about your first ten minutes. Just ridiculous.

So you drove to Hearst, and then flew in from there I guess? Any estimates on cost of the flight per person? Oh, and what time of year did you do this trip? Any BUGS? With all that swamp, I could see the skeeters and blackflies being just NASTY, although I didn't notice any in your videos...

btw - LOVED the part with the polar bear coming to say hello! Bet THAT got your heart pounding pretty good. Wow.

BD

Hey I love Algonquin too, it's one of my favourite places.
No estimate on the cost, it's precisely $2500 per person plus tax. That gives you flight in and out and a canoe. The entire cost is more or less air charter, it's a REALLY long flight.

That's a huge bargain in my books especially for someone living in southern Ontario as it's an easy days drive to the jump off point.

Price out destinations with similar quality brook trout angling like Minipi in Labrador or the Gods river in Manitoba and you'll see what I mean.

Trout season begins in earnest on the Sutton in late July and runs through to early Sept. Our trip was Aug 21-Sept1 and we were the second last party to fish it this year.

You couldn't have watched all the videos, in one spot we were swarmed by billions of biting sand flies, it was horrible. There's a short clip in there showing that.

By and large though bugs were non existant on our trip.

Late July into early August the blackflies can be brutal though.

[Big Daddy]

That IS a bargain! Plus it's cool to be able to bring in whatever you want for food and gear and stuff without having to worry about your outfitter having a different opinion on what constitutes good meals. I may well have to look into that for next year... Hearst Air the place to call, or that native outfitter you mentioned in your thread?

BD

[solopaddler]

Hearst Air is currently the only outfitter flying into the Sutton. They use Albert Chookomoolins camp on Hawley lake to store their canoes.

Pretty much all the anglers who stay at Alberts camp fly with Hearst as well.

Give them a call, ask for Melanie (she's a sweetheart btw) and tell her I sent you.


Cheers

[Big Daddy]

Thanks solo.

BD