While perhaps an unusual way to start things off, I’m going to tell a joke, or rather provide you with a very broad outline of one.

This “Bear Tale” comes to us courtesy of Al Archibald, Great Bear Lake veteran, and in his own words “… a finely tuned athlete.” (lol) This tale clearly shows that fishing later in the season on Great Bear Lake, while having its challenges from time to time, can be otherworldly if you stay the course, and have the right attitude and approach.

Having missed 2 consecutive years, the first by Government fiat with the second being self-imposed, despite numerous challenges which I will outline in due course, we finally made it – barely…

While it probably comes as no surprise that Great Bear Lake’s legendary reputation is based primarily on the world class angling it offers but having said that the “Bear” and its environs also provides the visitor with many other unique opportunities to do something other than fish, which at first blush may not be readily apparent to those who have a singular focus.

Thanks to the Plummers family we dodged a bullet that for most of us was not even on our radar.

https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1964/10/17/how-wealthy-sportsmen-are-plundering-our-last-frontier?fbclid=IwAR1QH-IsuFIKBIfWabQ8jY1Iu1_wWfGfH4nO7HXA1ka8KXVgYT4d0XZp3Q0 

Enjoy what I hope will be our first instalment of "Barge Tales" by Brian Halabourda.

It’s been many years since I’ve fished the McTavish Arm, so this trip to Arctic Circle Lodge was going to be something of a homecoming for both me, and fishing partner Kenny Gold.

From the fly tying bench of Josh "Jelly" Gelinas, a must Grayling fly for the purists coming up to Great Bear.