What are your open season dates?
Winter Activities – March 1st to April 15th
- Aurora Northern Lights
- Ice Fishing
- Ice Hockey
- Snowshoeing
- X-Country skiing
- Snowmobiling and tobogganing
- Flight Seeing
Summer Activities – June 1st to Sept 30th
- Sport Fishing
- Glamping (Tent Camping) – June 15th to September 15th
- Padding: canoeing, kayaking, peddle boating, paddle boarding, tubing
- Hiking
- Aurora Northern Lights – August 15th to September 30th
- Flight Seeing
What are the pricing terms, cancellation policy and suggested tipping amounts?
Value Added Tax (VAT)
Please add 5% for the federal tax (GST) to the Yellow Dog Lodge fees
Pricing
- Our package plans are based on shared occupancy; For single travellers, please add 20% to our packaged plans.
- Children under 5 are free with parental supervision.
- Youth ages 5 to 15 are ½ price.
- Two (2) weeks notice is required when booking the Executive Cabin.
- Yellow Dog Lodge accepts: Visa, Mastercard, AMX, Union Pay, Interact, and email banking.
- Foreign prices can fluctuate with exchange rates, all quotes are provided in CAD.
- Air Charter surcharges may be applied based on oversize luggage, fluctuations in aviation fuel market prices and government taxes.
Deposits
- A 30% deposit is required to confirm your booking.
- Full payment of the fees are due 30 days prior to the client’s arrival date.
Cancellation Policy
- The deposit is refundable if cancelled within 24 hours of booking, after 24 hours, the deposit is non refundable.
- 100% of the fees will be retained if the client cancels within 30 days prior to arrival.
- If emergency cancellations or extenuating circumstances prevail, refunds or credits will be at the sole discretion of Yellow Dog Lodge.
Suggested Gratuities or Tipping
Gratuities are not included on your final invoice. Our policy is “Tipping is whatever you feel is appropriate”. However it is customary to leave a few dollars for our staff.
- Gratuities are $30 per day, per guest for our kitchen and housekeeping staff.
- Gratuities for guided tours are $100 per day for your guide.
- General Rule: Tipping is considered OPTIONAL, however the accepted practise is: the total tip should be 10% of total invoice based on our customer’s experience.
How do I get to Yellow Dog Lodge?
There are no roads to Yellow Dog Lodge!
Our trips to Yellow Dog Lodge begin in Yellowknife. We are a multi activity, off grid wilderness lodge.
In the summer, you have to charter a float plane (or we can for you) to come and visit us. We are located 55 kilometers by air over rough terrain, water and swamps and the only way to visit during the summer is by aircraft. This flight is 20 mins from Yellowknife. We have a prefered air charter that we can book for you.
In the winter and early spring, you have the option to travel the un-groomed trails by snow machine or UTV. Special arrangements can be made with Yellow Dog Lodge to provide snow machine transportation and a guide who knows the route. It takes about 3.5 hours one way on a snowmobile over 80 kilometers of trails. Winter Trail System
For our international travellers, you will have to clear customs at a major port or airport before traveling to Yellowknife. The most popular Canadian international airports are: Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton and Ottawa. Please check with the commercial airlines for their scheduled flights to Yellowknife.
For the road traveler, it is about 15 hours door to door from Edmonton, Alberta on a paved highway to Yellowknife. Take care when driving as there are not many fuel stops north of High Level, Alberta. Edmonton to Yellowknife
What are the luggage and weight restrictions on the charter airplane?
Maximum Seating and combined Weight by Charter Aircraft type
Type of Bush Plane on Floats or Skis | Maximum Passengers | Maximum Payload | Estimated Cost Per Aircraft (one Way) | Optimal Cost per Passenger (if Aircraft is full) |
Cessna 185 Skywagon | 3 | 800 lbs or 360 kg passengers and luggage | $ 525 | $ 175 |
deHavilland Beaver DHC-2 | 5 | 1,200 lbs or 545 kg passengers and luggage | $ 788 | $ 158 |
Cessna 208 Caravan | 8 | 2,200 lbs or 1,000 kg passengers and luggage | $ 1,379 | $ 172 |
deHavilland Single Otter DHC-3 | 9 | 2,400 lbs or 1,100 kg passengers and luggage | $ 1,500 | $ 167 |
deHavilland Twin Otter DHC-6 | 18 | 3,000 lbs or 1,360 kg passengers and luggage | $ 2,966 | $ 165 |
Weather conditions can delay the bush plane departures. Yellow Dog Lodge and our air charter service provider will do our utmost to accommodate our clients, however, due to weather conditions being beyond our control, we are not responsible for additional costs incurred by guests.
What should I bring?
- Vital medications
- Passports (if crossing into and out of Canada)
- A good quality rain suit
- Waterproof footwear
- Quality polarized sunglasses (to see the fish with)
- Puffer vest, turtleneck or chamois shirts
- Windbreaker or medium jacket (for early spring or fall)
- Bug or screen jacket or hat (for early summer season)
- Wool socks
- Waterproof gloves
- Dry bag for the boat in case of inclement weather
- Toiletries
- Insect Repellent and Sunblock
- Camera, film, video camera, extra batteries
- Short pants (mid summer season)
- Swim Wear
- Long sleeved shirts
- Long pants
- Hat
- Fishing Tackle
- Fishing Reels
- Fishing Rods (we have rods at the lodge)
- Old tennis shoes (for wading)
- Neoprene waders (optional)
- Portable fish finders (optional)
It is best to dress in layers, as the sun warms the lake and land it is good to peel off the outer layers. Temperature and wind conditions can vary greatly so “be prepared” and bring good quality warm clothing and protection from the insects and sun.
Do you rent winter clothing?
Yellow Dog Lodge does not offer winter clothing for rent.
My BackYard Tours in Yellowknife has a great rental selection of winter Parkas, Snow Pants, Boots, Mitts and Hats. They will deliver to the charter airports or your Yellowknife Hotel. You may find their website here.

Yellow Dog Lodge offers a limited selection of clothing for sale like T shirts, ball caps, vests and jackets. It is best to dress in layers, as the sun warms the lakes and land it is good to peel off the outer layers. Temperature and wind conditions can vary greatly so “be prepared” and bring good quality warm clothing and protection from the elements.
What is the weather like?
Average daylight hours:
Key Day | Sunrise Time | Sunset Time | Total Daylight (hours) | Comments |
20-Mar | 7:32:00 AM | 7:48:00 PM | 12:16 | Vernal Equinox |
15-Apr | 6:04:00 AM | 9:07:00 PM | 15:03 | YDL Winter Aurora Viewing Ends |
20-Jun | 3:30:00 AM | 11:45:00 PM | 20:15 | Summer Solstice |
15-Jul | 4:11:00 AM | 11:12:00 PM | 19:01 | Mid Summer |
15-Aug | 5:39:00 AM | 9:41:00 PM | 16:02 | YDL Fall Aurora Viewing Begins |
22-Sep | 7:23:00 AM | 7:29:00 PM | 12:06 | Autumnal Equinox |
21-Dec | 10:11:00 AM | 2:57:00 PM | 4:46 | Winter Solstice |
Average daytime monthly temperature °C:
Month | Average High °C | Average Low °C | Monthly Average °C |
March | -9 | -21 | -15 |
April | 2 | -11 | -4.5 |
June | 25 | 6 | 15.5 |
July | 23 | 13 | 18 |
August | 20 | 11 | 15.5 |
September | 13 | 4 | 8.5 |
December | -16 | -24 | -20 |
What are the bugs like?
What do the fish bite on?
RECOMMENDED FISHING ROD COMBINATIONS AND TACKLE
- 6′ 6″ or taller medium heavy casting rod and reel with 12-20 lb. test mono line (Northern Pike)
- 6’ or taller medium light – medium spinning rod and reel with 10-17 lb. test mono or low stretch lines like fire wire (Lake Trout)
- 5’ Ultra-light spinning rod and reel with 2-6 lb. test line (Arctic Grayling)
- 9-10 weight fly rod with floating line (Northern Pike)
- 4-6 weight fly rod outfit with floating line (Arctic Grayling)
Northern Pike Steel leaders are a must for pike:
-
- 9-12″ 30-65 lb. test wire leaders with ball bearing bushing swivels or titanium leaders with cross lock snap swivels
- Crank baits, husky jerks, Bomber Long A
- Len Thompson #2 or Red Devil spoons, green & black froggy, black and white, five of diamonds
- 6″ Slug-O, Pork-O, Johnson Silver Minnow, plastic frogs
- Red Eyes, Rapalas, Spinnerbaits, Spooks
- Bucktails, Flippin Jigs, Trailers
- Mepps / Bluefox spinners, giant killers
- Streamers – Bunny, Popper, Deceivers
Lake Trout Tied directly to line or snap swivel:
-
- Wolverine spoons, pearl & red, pearl & black
- Lucky Strike lures, red and silver, black and white, 5 diamonds, canoe spoons
- Len Thompson #2 platinum series, silver and nickel blue, black and white, green and black, 5 diamonds
- T60 flatfish silver, silver and blue, black with silver fleck
- Kitimat Lures: blue & silver, fire tiger
- Williams wobblers: silver, gold, gold & silver
- Rapalas: super shads, suspending, blue and pearl, fire tiger, green and silver
- Luhr Jensen rattling J plugs, silver, fire tiger, glow torpedo
- Bait harnesses for 6” ciscos
- Buzz Bombs, 4 oz cod jigs, 1 to 2 oz jigs with white tubes or rubber tail worms
Arctic Grayling & Lake Whitefish Tied directly to line:
-
- Mepps, Panther Martin or Blue Fox in #00 or #0 (assorted colors)
- Small spoons (assorted colors)
- Dry flies: miquotos, may flies, midges
- Nymphs: bead heads, muddler minnows
- Clousers; polar bear hair,
- Terrestrials: hoppers, crickets
- 1/16th oz jigs with rubber tail
How big are the fish and how many can I catch?
Do you sell fishing licenses?
- NWT Resident: Season $10
- Canadian Resident: Season $20 *3-day $15
- Non Canadian Resident: Season $40 *3-day $30.
*A 3-day license is valid for 3 consecutive days, commencing on the date stated on the license. GST is added to all fees. The length of license (number of days) and fees are subject to change.
Do you sell bait and tackle?
What kind of fish are there in the lakes?
Can I see wildlife like bears and wolves?
- Black Bears
- Wolves
- Moose
- Otter, Beavers, Mink, Fishers and Muskrats
- Martens, Ermine, Weasels, Wolverines and Porcupines
- Musk Ox have been spotted nearby
- Caribou in winter only
- Raptors: Eagles, Owls, Merlin, Night Hawks
- Loons, Mergansers, Ducks, Geese, Swans
- Other birds: Robins, Yellow Finch, Phoebees
Bears and Wolves can be dangerous but if you follow some guidelines, you can stay safe.
- Let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return.
- Hike in a group, and keep children close at hand.
- Make your presence known (call out)or sing
- Hike during daylight hours & stay on the trail.
- Watch for bear signs: scat, claw marks, diggings, logs or stumps torn apart, etc.
- Do not leave food or garbage out in the open.
Stay alert!
All wildlife should always be considered unpredictable and potentially dangerous. A black bear will usually detect your presence and flee the area before you notice unless the bear has been conditioned to people and their foods. If a large predator is visible, but not close, alter your route so that you will move away from its area. If a black bear approaches, do not run. Remain calm, continue facing the bear and slowly back away. If the bear continues to approach, try to group together and pick up small children. Try to scare the bear away by shouting and acting aggressively. If a black bear attacks, it is suggested to fight back using everything in your power fists, sticks, rocks.
General Notes
- Air Charter flights are provided by a 3rd party contractor.
- Air Charter flights from Yellowknife to the lodge depart around your schedule.
- Air Charter flights from the lodge to Yellowknife depart approximately 3 hours prior to your scheduled commercial flight.
- All children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Youth under 16 years of age – receive 50% off the adult rate. There is no charge for children under 5 years of age.
- Group discounts are available, please ask for details.
- NWT Fishing licenses are available for purchase at the lodge.
- Souvenirs, bait and fishing lures are also available for purchase.
- Full bar service: soda pop, bottled water, beer, wine, spirits, and munchies are available for purchase.
The Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) are spectacular to experience, but as a natural phenomena we cannot control their appearance. Cloud cover may obscure the view or the Aurora may not be active. Aurora forecasts are like Weather forecasts and may not be 100% reliable. Weather conditions could delay charter plane departures. Yellow Dog Lodge and our air charter service provider will do our utmost to accommodate our clients, however, due to weather conditions being beyond our control, we are not responsible for additional costs incurred by guests.