Fly-In Trip Planning Guide
Planning a fly-in fishing trip comes down to one thing a drive-in trip never asks of you: everything has to fit in a floatplane. Northwest Flying’s outpost trips include a 100-pound personal-gear allowance per angler, so good planning isn’t about packing more — it’s about packing right. This guide walks your group through what to pack, how to plan meals by weight, the habits experienced anglers use to stay under the limit, and how to handle the night before you fly.
The one rule that shapes everything: weight
On a fly-in trip your gear flies in with you. Each angler is allowed 100 pounds of personal gear, based on a minimum party of four. That covers your clothing, fishing tackle, food, and personal items — not the boats, motors, fuel, or cabin equipment, which are already waiting for you. See exactly what each package includes on the rates page.
What’s already at your cabin
Before you pack a thing, know what you don’t need to bring. Every Northwest Flying outpost comes with boats, motors, fuel, a fully equipped kitchen, BBQ, fish cooker, fresh towels and pillowcases, and a satellite messenger. For the full cabin equipment list, see the outposts overview — the single place that detail lives.
What you’ll catch
Northwest Flying’s five remote lakes hold walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, lake trout, and muskie, each a short floatplane flight from Nestor Falls. From Kishkutena and Loonhaunt to Ajax, Cleftrock, and Gordon, there’s a match for every angler. Check rates and availability to find your dates.
Plan your trip step by step
Work through these pages in order, or jump to what you need:
- What a Week Looks Like — start here. The flight, the lake, the cabin, the fish and the food, told through what actually happened at our outposts in summer 2026.
- What to Pack — the essential gear checklist, and how four or eight anglers share the 100-pound load.
- Meal Plan & Groceries — a six-day food plan that keeps weight in check and feeds the whole crew.
- Pro Packing Tips — the weight-saving habits that come from sixty years of flying anglers into the wilderness.
- Before You Fly — where to stay the night before, where to pre-order groceries, and how to sort out bait and licenses.
Plan with one phone call
First fly-in trip? The simplest way to get it right is to talk it through. Call Shane at (800) 461-2126 for a plan built around your lake, your group, and your dates — or get in touch and see current rates.