'Where the rivers run black with trout'

After nearly 40 years of wandering the woods and waters of the West with a fly rod, nothing much surprises me anymore.

Experience is the great equalizer. I'm not saying that years of relentless fly fishing is the equivalent of an advanced degree in fisheries biology. But you have to admit, if you fish an area for so long, you're going to start to understand how things work. Familiarity breeds success, right?

All that said, I love being surprised. And, a couple of summers ago, while fishing in the Yukon out of Dalton Trail Lodge, I got a surprise that absolutely thrilled me. 

In the heart of the Yukon lies a fly fishing paradise...

Living in the Lower 48, I've always considered lake trout to be something of a novelty fish — a critter you can catch on a fly under very exacting circumstances. Where I live, in the American Rockies, lake trout live in deep reservoirs and anglers who chase them troll for with planer boards and downriggers. 

Only very early in the spring, just as the ice is leaving the lake, and again late in the fall during the spawn, can fly fishers reasonably catch lake trout in the lakes around my home. The rest of the year, the big char live deep and only move up in the water column to gobble up an unsuspecting trout or whitefish. 

But in the Yukon, things are different. 

Trophy lake trout in shallow water, all summer long ...

The owner of Dalton Trail Lodge, Hardy Ruf, explained to me that, in the southern Yukon, lake trout weren't able to go deep to find the cold water they need — the lakes are just too shallow. Instead, starting in May and June and lasting all summer long, the big lakers nose up into the inflow of coldwater rivers and streams. Not only does this provide them with the thermal relief they're after, but it also gives them direct access to the Arctic grayling and lake whitefish that make up the bulk of their diet. 

And, Hardy noted, it makes it possible for fly fishers to catch the big fish, no matter what the calendar says. 

But, he said, there's no better time to be at Dalton Trail Lodge than from late August and into September. That's when the lake trout actually migrate into the rives and streams to spawn. 

Or, as Hardy puts it: 

"The rivers run black with trout." 

Picture yourself in the Yukon

This summer, Dalton Trail Lodge is offering trips ranging from three nights to nine nights, and Hardy and his team kept the rates at 2023 prices. To sweeten the deal, the lodge is offering three blocks over the summer where prices are discounted 20 percent — it's the best buy in fly-fishing that nobody knows about. Discounted weeks are:

• May 28-June 4 
• Aug. 4-14
• Sept. 22-9 (only one spot left — this is at the height of the lake-trout run!)

This is the summer to visit the Yukon and, like me, be pleasantly surprised at the angling opportunities. Lake trout? All summer long? In knee-deep water? 

Yup. 

But don't forget trophy pike early and late in the season, as well as summer-long dry-fly fishing for beefy and beautiful Arctic grayling and big rainbow trout. 

And, in addition to some great fishing, you'll enjoy three great, home-cooked meals a day, private-room lodging (no solo-angler upcharges!) and maybe the best little bar in the Yukon. 

Just let me know how I can help get you to the Yukon. Everyone should be so lucky. 

Book your trip to Dalton Trail Lodge today

Great fishing ... great service