Pro Packing Tips for a Fly-In Fishing Trip

After sixty years of flying anglers into the wilderness, the habits that keep a group comfortably under the weight limit are no secret. These are the ones that make the biggest difference between a stressful load-in and a smooth one.

Freeze everything you can

Frozen meats, hash browns, and juice concentrate all double as ice in your cooler. This is the single biggest weight-saver — you carry less ice because your food is the ice, and it thaws as the week goes on.

Duffel bags only — no suitcases

Soft-sided duffels pack tight into the aircraft and weigh far less than hard cases. A good duffel weighs three to five pounds versus eight to twelve for a suitcase — that is extra food or beverages right there.

Coordinate with your group early

The biggest savings come from sharing. Assign one person the sunscreen and bug spray, another the spice kit, and split tackle boxes between partners. A quick group chat a week before departure saves everyone five to ten pounds.

Cans only — no glass

Glass is heavy, breakable, and not permitted on the flights. Bring canned beverages only. Better still, consider powdered drink mixes instead of canned pop — one packet replaces a one-pound can.

Pack groceries in small, sturdy boxes

Loose articles do not fly well. Pack groceries in sturdy cardboard boxes — smaller containers load better into the aircraft, and your food arrives intact.

Combine tackle with your partner

You do not need two of everything. Share tackle boxes, jig heads, sinkers, fillet knives, and depth finders between fishing partners. Two well-organized boxes beat four half-organized ones.

Go light on water, heavy on mixes

Water is the heaviest thing you can pack, at roughly eight pounds per gallon. Bring powdered drink mixes and supplement with filtered water. Ask your group about portable filters for extra savings.

Don’t over-pack clothing

You are going fishing, not to a fashion show. Two or three quick-dry outfits, one warm layer, rain gear, and camp sandals will do. Most groups over-pack clothes by thirty to forty percent.

Your five lake options

Each outpost lake offers a different experience, and all are a short floatplane flight from the Nestor Falls base — more time fishing, less time travelling.

Lake	Species	Known for
Kishkutena Lake	Bass, Muskie, Lake Trout	Premier smallmouth and muskie waters
Loonhaunt Lake	Walleye, Pike, Bass, Lake Trout	Popular all-rounder, sleeps 8
Ajax Lake	Walleye, Pike, Bass, Lake Trout	Multi-species variety, sleeps 8
Cleftrock Lake	Walleye, Northern Pike	Classic walleye water
Gordon Lake	Walleye, Northern Pike	Trophy walleye potential

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