"Who would have believed that there is a lake hidden high in the Rockies that has some of
the best Eastern Brook Trout fishing in all of Canada?" ~ Outdoor Canada Magazine.

Catch & Release
The first consideration we give is to the fishery at Fortress Lake. Fortress Lake  is considered Western North America's finest brook trout lake and is set in a stunning, world renowned alpine location. While it is a fertile lake, it is set in a fragile ecosystem. Because of this, Fortress Lake Retreat imposes a catch & release policy for guests.

Fortress Lake is a very visible example of how a small, responsible, commercial operations can be conducted in pristine locations such as Hamber Provincial Park. Please help us to preserve this pristine wilderness location by minimizing your impact on the fishery, the lake, and the surrounding environment by following the simple steps as will be outlined upon arrival.

The Fishery
Fortress Lake is 11 kilometres (7 miles) long and averages 1 kilometre (1/2 mile) wide. Our retreat represents 97% of the use on the lake and we accommodate a maximum of 16 guests. Our guests adhere to catch and release. We feel that the opportunity to enjoy wild places like this is accompanied by an obligation to act as responsible guardians of the resource. We are the only commercial operators permitted on the lake, no other guide, company, or services exist or are permitted. The fishing is as good now as it has ever been - let's keep it that way! 

Wood River
We don't just fish Fortress Lake. For stream fishermen, there is a good population of brook trout in the outflowing river at the west end of the lake. We shuttle to the mouth of the river and wade our way downstream. There are good pools and seams to fish with some dry and wet fly. The river - shown at left - gets light hatches of stoneflies, caddis, and mayflies.

"There are so many fish it began to seem like an Alfred Hitchcock movie - one called The Fish, instead of The Birds" - Conde Nast Traveler magazine

The Season
Our waters are cold year round and the fishing is fairly consistent at Fortress Lake, although the fish themselves provide a bit of a challenge as they move about the lake with seasonal conditions. May - June and September - October are the best sight fishing  months, when schools of fish can easily be seen and cast to. Early July can be temperamental and can see some murky conditions due to  alpine runoff, but at the same time some of the best fishing can occur in July.

Angling Licenses
A current Province of British Columbia angling license is required to fish our waters.  For your convenience we do have these licenses for sale at Fortress Lake.

Floats & Motor Boats
There are many points along the lake shoreline where fly-fishing is possible year-round. Some of the best are just a short stroll from camp. Our boats are ideal for anywhere along the lake shoreline. Typically we drift with the wind using small corrections with the oars, while casting to the cover lining the shoreline.

We have 12 and 14 foot aluminum boats powered with clean and quiet 4-stroke Honda motors. Guests wishing to use these will appreciate the cost of maintenance and fuel at such a remote location, as we fly all fuel in. Because of this, we do employ wind drifting the shorelines rather than trolling - trolling is quite ineffective,  the best method to anchor and fan cast. A guide on the oars with one or two anglers per boat is an ideal way to spend the day wind drifting also. 

Flies
We use barbless, single hooks only when angling at Fortress Lake, per provincial regulations. No double fly set ups.

We use streamers for much of the season. Chironomid fishing can be exceptional, as can nymphing and fishing scud patterns. We will email a fly list upon booking.

Dry fly fishing is sometimes effective, though we encourage guests to come prepared to spend most of their time subsurface.

There is a bait ban at Fortress Lake and all scented lures, or the use of chemical attractants of any kind, is also prohibited. 

Rods, Reels and Other Gear
We recommend 9 foot fly rods with #6 quick sinking and sink tip line. Floating line (with 9 to 20 foot leaders) can also be quite effective at given times. An exact packing list will be emailed to you upon booking.

We have a fully outfitted  fly tying desk for those simply wishing to relax and tie for a spell or eager to learn to tie their own.

Your Trophy
We promote replica mounts and have an excellent artist we work with. All that is necessary is a couple of good quality color photos of your catch, a length and breadth measurement, plus a quick weight, and then you can return your catch to fight another day.