Lake Athapapuskow

[Jims83cj5]

Anyone do a self guided fishing trip there that I can get some information from, looking for mid Feb ish, ice access, stuff like that.

[58thecat]

Pm me.


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[Rabdo]

I did one this summer, happy to share info. Would love to get out there again this winter too

[AlbertanGP]

Greg (58thecat), his wife and I went out there last year and stayed at Baker's Narrows Lodge. I probably wouldn't stay at the lodge again, but would go again with the right friends. Anything he can't answer, you can shoot me a PM as well.

[Esox]

Originally Posted by AlbertanGP

Greg (58thecat), his wife and I went out there last year and stayed at Baker's Narrows Lodge. I probably wouldn't stay at the lodge again, but would go again with the right friends. Anything he can't answer, you can shoot me a PM as well.

Any particular reason why you wouldnt stay there?

[AlbertanGP]

I guess I never did write anything about that place did I?

The day I arrived, the Lodge changed my guide to Darryl Gilbert to guide me the first day after we arrived...Greg and Lisa had Amir. Darryl never did show up at my cabin to introduce himself and make plans, as the guides are supposed to do the night before. I decided to go out with Amir the next morning. We get out to the big lake and Amir is getting phone calls while he is supposed to be guiding us with the lodge screaming at poor Amir and accusing him of stealing Darryl's client. Came back to the Lodge at the end of the day and went to the office and wound up talking to Brett's son Brody, who is a little *****. Darryl's story was that he came to my cabin a half dozen times looking for me the night before. Anyone who has ever been to the BNL knows you're either in your cabin or at the restaurant a few hundred feet away from your cabin. And my sled was sitting outside so it was obvious I wasn't far away for anyone who came looking. Long story short, Brody says they believe Darryl's story more than mine and I can go pound sand. Brett winds up calling me later that night for some very shady reasons that I can't really go into without getting other people at the Lodge in trouble. In the end they refund my $350 day fee for the guide *minus* the $200 or so that normally goes to the guide, as they say they have to pay Darryl even though he never showed up, never came out to the big lake to apologize or make things right, never came to my cabin at all the rest of the trip to try to work things out, etc. According to Brody, I should have stayed at the lodge, went to the restaurant when it opened at 8am, and Darryl would have met up with me there. That would put us out on the big lake where the lakers are around 10am for a lake with a pronounced morning bite...pretty much wasting a day of fishing. Greg had already seen the biggest fish of the entire trip by then.

It's interesting to note that most of the staff of BNL has quit since we were up in April, including some members of the Baynton family themselves. It didn't even look good for them being open this season at one point. But now they have Kamuchawie and Laurie Lake Outposts to spread themselves even thinner.

TLDR: IMO BNL is more marketing hype than anything. Athapap is a good lake, which is why I would make the trip back with the right friends even though there are countless other better spots closer for me (Yukon, northeastern B.C., N.W.T., Cree Lake, etc). I might even go to the restaurant at BNL for a meal. But I'd sooner stay across the road in the provincial park than give that family any of my money again.

[58thecat]

Yeah that was a very unfortunate situation that could have been resolved relatively easily.
Been going up there the last three seasons for open and hard water and the experiences were always pleasant for us.
Can understand how a bad go around can leave a client or customer upset and rightfully so.
OP seemed more focused on big lakers and access to the big lake which I would check cranberry portage area for accommodations has you are literally right there access to the big lake and many smaller fun lakes too.
At least going up in February you won’t be driving your skidoo on muddy quad trails and dealing with lots of water on the lake like we did last April.

Always an adventure.


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[Elchinodiablo]

Originally Posted by AlbertanGP

I guess I never did write anything about that place did I?



The day I arrived, the Lodge changed my guide to Darryl Gilbert to guide me the first day after we arrived...Greg and Lisa had Amir. Darryl never did show up at my cabin to introduce himself and make plans, as the guides are supposed to do the night before. I decided to go out with Amir the next morning. We get out to the big lake and Amir is getting phone calls while he is supposed to be guiding us with the lodge screaming at poor Amir and accusing him of stealing Darryl's client. Came back to the Lodge at the end of the day and went to the office and wound up talking to Brett's son Brody, who is a little *****. Darryl's story was that he came to my cabin a half dozen times looking for me the night before. Anyone who has ever been to the BNL knows you're either in your cabin or at the restaurant a few hundred feet away from your cabin. And my sled was sitting outside so it was obvious I wasn't far away for anyone who came looking. Long story short, Brody says they believe Darryl's story more than mine and I can go pound sand. Brett winds up calling me later that night for some very shady reasons that I can't really go into without getting other people at the Lodge in trouble. In the end they refund my $350 day fee for the guide *minus* the $200 or so that normally goes to the guide, as they say they have to pay Darryl even though he never showed up, never came out to the big lake to apologize or make things right, never came to my cabin at all the rest of the trip to try to work things out, etc. According to Brody, I should have stayed at the lodge, went to the restaurant when it opened at 8am, and Darryl would have met up with me there. That would put us out on the big lake where the lakers are around 10am for a lake with a pronounced morning bite...pretty much wasting a day of fishing. Greg had already seen the biggest fish of the entire trip by then.



It's interesting to note that most of the staff of BNL has quit since we were up in April, including some members of the Baynton family themselves. It didn't even look good for them being open this season at one point. But now they have Kamuchawie and Laurie Lake Outposts to spread themselves even thinner.



TLDR: IMO BNL is more marketing hype than anything. Athapap is a good lake, which is why I would make the trip back with the right friends even though there are countless other better spots closer for me (Yukon, northeastern B.C., N.W.T., Cree Lake, etc). I might even go to the restaurant at BNL for a meal. But I'd sooner stay across the road in the provincial park than give that family any of my money again.

Man. We went last January and your story sounds alot like ours. It did seem like lots of tension between the guide appointments and the owner seemed like a guy I didnt need to get to know.

The facility was beautiful and the breakfast was hot and yummy. The scenery is 100 percent worth it but the drama was a definite put off. We didnt get no monsters but like you said we would go again with the right group of people but other options should be considered first. Still havent booked anything yet for this season.

Need me some breath taking scenery and big lakers soon!!!

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[AlbertanGP]

Back on topic for OP...all of the spots Mac and Amir took us to are on Lowrance's Social Map and Garmin's QuickDraw Community Map. Garmin actually has a pretty decent map.

BNL only has a limited number of spots. The guides meet every day to decide who's going where (based on the size of their groups and recent success) and what spots are allowed to sit. Even's Clayton's magic spot where he does all his filming is on those maps.

[58thecat]

Such a vast area to get intimate with as the leak has so much structure which needs to be explored more. Three times for me is not enough so gonna stay at it.
Recently three years ago when we stopped chasing lakers,eyes, and gators cuz we got into a poop load of small mouth bass the size of footballs.
Got back to the dock and a few guides stopped by and I told them what we got into as they were expecting massive lakers, pike etc.
Well we shared some intel bass spots for pike spots.
Worked out awesome.
Crazy area to fish as you never know what to expect and the size potential is always part of the fun.


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[Wapiti340]

Oh man I need to get over that way! How was the ice travel? Obviously I know it changes year to year but do you see lots of atvs and sxs’s or truck travel if you go on the main lake from the cranberry side?

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Wapiti340

Oh man I need to get over that way! How was the ice travel? Obviously I know it changes year to year but do you see lots of atvs and sxs’s or truck travel if you go on the main lake from the cranberry side?

You bet, if ice conditions permit of course, last year had very little snow so there was lots of truck,quad,side by side travel but if you got a snowmobile I would bring it just in case you get a big dump of snow while up there which can happen in no time at all.
Shame to travel that far and be limited but you can rent equipment, that too could be hit and miss on availability.
Plan for the worse and enjoy what nature throws at you is what I say.
Next time I’m up there I will have the truck, quad and skidoo in tow.


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[Jims83cj5]

Originally Posted by Jims83cj5

Anyone do a self guided fishing trip there that I can get some information from, looking for mid Feb ish, ice access, stuff like that.

Booked Viking lodge for March 6-11 and mac for a guide on Lake A for the 7th

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Jims83cj5

Booked Viking lodge for March 6-11 and mac for a guide on Lake A for the 7th

Awesome, Mac is a great guide, even better person.
Good luck !


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