It was noon on the second day when I leaned over and kissed my wife, Stac, on the head. She slowly opened her eyes, clearly dazed from a rough bout of vertigo. While she was still trying to figure out where she was, I couldn’t help but blurt out the news: I had just landed three brook trout—17, 21, and 22.5 inches. She barely registered my words, but that didn’t stop me from recounting every detail.

That was how day two began, with Stac sidelined in bed while I fished. By evening, though, she was on the mend, and the mood in camp shifted into celebration. Everyone around the dinner table had landed trout over three pounds, and a few had added pike to the tally. Heidi and Brandon tried to pretend they’d had a slow day, only for the truth to come out: Heidi had landed an eight-pound brook trout, and Brandon a five.

Big Fish Stories at the Dinner Table

Every night, the entire group gathered to share stories of the day. John began offering a prayer before each meal, blessing our food and time together, which quickly became a meaningful tradition. The stories that followed were always full of excitement.

On day three, while I managed another 22.5-inch brook trout, Stac was skunked. But the real buzz came from a fly-out trip to Burton Pond, where Paul landed a brook trout pushing 10 pounds—a true Labrador trophy.

Day four brought more magic at Burton Pond. Stac and I hiked in with Zach and Bryan, who fished with the head guide. While I managed a nice fish at the mouth of a stream, the highlight was watching Zach hook and land his biggest brook trout ever—over five pounds—on a dry fly.

Stac’s Redemption

By day five, it was time for Stac to shine. I rigged a rod with an indicator and bead-head Woolly Bugger, and Derrick, our guide, took us across a small pond to a promising spot. The motor sputtered, died, and restarted, adding a little drama before we finally anchored up. On her second drift, Stac’s indicator twitched, and she set into a heavy fish that refused to leave the fast current. Derrick pulled anchor, letting the boat drift into slower water, and soon he slipped the net under a thick, 21-inch brook trout with a 14.5-inch girth. It was likely her biggest trout to date—made even sweeter after a slow start to the week.

The Grand Finale

For our final day, we wanted one more shot at Burton Pond. John and Rick flew in while we hiked the short trail. Out on the water, Derrick spotted a rise beside the boat, and though I didn’t see it, I trusted his eyes and cast a Hex nymph. Five feet from the boat, a flash of red—then I was into a 20-inch brook trout.

Later, while eating lunch, we watched trout porpoising like dolphins across the lake. I tossed a Hex spinner into their path and hooked another 20-incher. But the real surprise came when Stac hooked what looked like the fish of the week. I called it a giant brookie, but when it surfaced, it turned out to be a 40-inch northern pike—her biggest ever. Just a few casts later, she capped the trip with another 21-inch brook trout. It was the perfect ending.

Reflections

Looking back, Igloo Lake Lodge is the kind of place that delivers on dreams. Even if you’re not an expert fly angler, the odds of landing a fish of a lifetime are remarkably high. There aren’t many small trout in these waters—just heavy, wild fish that test your skill and make every day unforgettable.

For more about our adventure, we recorded four podcasts with everyone on the trip. You can find them—along with prayers, stories, and plenty of laughter—on On the Reel with Kevin and Stac, available on Spotify and Apple.