The Potentilla, or cinquefoil plant are those shrub like plants with the distinctive yellow flowers that are common throughout the Great Bear Lake area and can, when combined with some sprigs from a Black Spruce tree – another Great Bear staple – produce a very distinctive, and pleasant tasting cup of tea.

Until June of 2013, when he took on the job of “Dock Boy” at Plummer’s Great Bear Lake Lodge, Mathew Mesec could be best described as an urban kid, whose idea of adventure was a trip to the family cottage a couple of hours north of Toronto.

In this article Mathew shares his thoughts, feelings and impressions of what he describes as a life changing experience in Canada’s Arctic.

Over the 30 plus years we have been fishing Great Bear Lake, together with a number of friends who have fished with us from time to time, we have literally caught thousands of Lake Trout...

I first met Hartley Marsh during my initial trip to Branson’s Lodge in the late 1970’s.

Featuring both a website: www.srrb.nt.ca - and a Facebook page, the content focuses on sharing information about the wildlife and harvesting of same, throughout the Sahtú Region of Denendeh, in the Northwest Territories.

While at times it seems to fly by, a year is actually a very long time – particularly between our fishing trips to Great Bear Lake.

Anything can, and sometimes does happen that threatens to throw a wrench into our plans, but in 2012, not unlike the previous thirty plus years for many us, the fates were once again in our corner, we overcame the odds, and would soon be gathering in Edmonton on the first leg of our journey to the "Bear."

While Great Bear Lake can certainly frustrate you at times, it is also capable of producing the kind of fishing experience that most of us can only dream about.

Please enjoy this story about one such experience.

Have you ever wondered how the places you have fished, or otherwise visited on and around Great Bear Lake came by their names?