Anglers from the U.S. flock to Great Slave Lake for once-in-a-lifetime catch

GREAT SLAVE LAKE, N.W.T. — A group of anglers from the American Midwest arrived at Plummer’s Great Slave Lake Lodge on the morning of July 12, 2026, capping a pre-dawn departure from Yellowknife and a regional turboprop flight in pursuit of the lake’s famed trout.

The party of 12 — organised as a “bucket-list” fishing trip — included people from Minnesota and North Dakota who had committed to the expedition about 18 months earlier. They touched down on a gravel airstrip after a 90-mile flight aboard an ATR 72 turboprop and made it to the lodge in time for a quick breakfast before heading out onto the water.

Early start and quick action

For some of the group the morning moved in a blur. Within minutes of leaving the dock and on the very first jig drop, one angler landed what he later described as a fish-of-a-lifetime — a massive lake trout that stunned his companions and set the tone for the trip.

“I still can’t believe I caught that,” said Peter Hinderlie, recalling the catch days later.

That lightning strike of luck came on the first day of a four-day stay at Plummer’s Great Slave Lake Lodge. The lodge, known in angling circles for remote shore lunches and access to deep-water trout habitat, provided a scenic backdrop for the group’s outings and meals.

Who made the trip

The visiting crew included:

• Peter Hinderlie of St. Paul
• Peter Howard of Stillwater, Minnesota
• Jason Laumb of Grand Forks
• Tom Laumb of Berthold, North Dakota
• Dennis Hahn of East Grand Forks
• Braden Durick of Grand Forks
• Ron Nies of Minneapolis
• Stuart Rice of Pinecreek, Minnesota
• Ed Roethke and Ryan Roethke of Federal Dam, Minnesota
• Scott Jensen of St. Anthony, Minnesota
• Brad Dokken of Grand Forks

Jason Laumb led the planning, having researched destinations in the Northwest Territories for years before settling on Plummer’s as a suitable option for the group’s budget and interests.

Regional connections and logistics

The trip underscores the role Yellowknife plays as a hub for remote tourism in the North. The party’s itinerary began with an early morning start in the territorial capital and the subsequent turboprop connection illustrates the transportation chain that supports lodge-based tourism on Great Slave Lake: first a flight to regional airstrips and then short surface transfers to camps.

“Turnover day” at the lodge — when one guest group departs and another arrives — is typically busy. The visitors reported a tight schedule on their arrival morning but still had time for a quick meal before heading out in boats.

Local economy and visitor draw

Visits like this are a visible example of the northern tourism economy at work: small lodges, seasonal operators and local flying services combine to offer experiences that attract international and out-of-province anglers. For communities and operators around Great Slave Lake, these trips deliver seasonal employment, supplier business and off-season marketing value.

While the group’s story centres on the exceptional catch and the camaraderie of a shared outdoor pursuit, it also points to practical realities of northern travel — early starts, tight transfer windows and aircraft suited to gravel runways — that visitors and operators must coordinate.

Names, memories and a shore lunch

Beyond the numbers and logistics, the trip offered the type of memorable moments that help sustain word-of-mouth promotion for northern outfitters. A five-star shore lunch and the spectacle of an enormous trout being boated on the first outing are details likely to be retold to future potential visitors and to the friends and colleagues back home in the U.S.

Trips like this seasonally animate Great Slave Lake’s shoreline and contribute to the region’s profile as a destination for anglers chasing trophy trout. For operators and communities, successful visits bolster both reputation and the practical business of running remote lodges in the Northwest Territories.