Packing & tackle lists · Sydney Lake
A floatplane has a weight limit, so packing smart matters. Here’s what we supply at camp, a checklist of what to bring, the tackle that works on Sydney and Kilburn, and two calculators: one to check your group’s gear will make the plane, and one to build your Kenora grocery list.
Everything you need fits in the boat bag
100 lb
per person, shared
The whole group shares the allowance, food and drinks included.
40 lb
or less per bag
Soft bags this size load easily into a floatplane.
Save
freight on drinks
Order pop, beer and water ahead and they fly in at a lower cost.
12 V
battery in every boat
Leave your fish finder battery at home.
Packing checklist
Your cabin is fully set up and your boat is ready at the dock, so you don’t need to haul camping gear. Pack for the weather, bring your fishing gear and your groceries, and leave the rest to us.
We supply
Papers
Clothes
Fishing
On the water
Personal
Kitchen
Pack for the month
Weather on a big northern lake changes fast, and a 25 hp boat ride on a cool morning is colder than it sounds. Layers and good rain gear matter in every month.
| When | What to expect | Pack extra |
|---|---|---|
| Opener to mid June | Cool mornings and evenings, cold water, the odd frosty start. Bugs come out in June. | Warm jacket, toque, gloves, long underwear |
| Late June to August | Warm to hot. Many days reach 80 °F and some go well past 90 °F. Cabins are air-conditioned. | Sun hat, light long sleeves, swimsuit, extra sunscreen, a fleece for the boat ride |
| September | Crisp mornings, warm afternoons, fall colours and almost no bugs. Northern lights at night. | Warm layers, gloves, toque, rain gear |
Tackle list
You don’t need much. Most of our guests’ fish come on a handful of jigs, spoons and crankbaits. Bring what you’ll use, leave the extra lead at home, and ask at the dock each morning for what’s working.
The main event
Medium-light spinning rod, 8–12 lb line (fluorocarbon is best)
Trophy hunting
Medium-heavy rod, 12–25 lb line
Deep and cold
Medium rod, 12–20 lb line
Electronics
Bring yours, or rent one from us
Our boats don’t come with depth finders. Most portable units hook straight up to the boat’s 12 V marine battery, so leave your battery at home and bring a clamp-on transducer mount. Or rent a Garmin Striker at camp: $15 a day for a 5-inch, $25 a day for a 9-inch.
Fly anglers are welcome. Bring your own fly gear; many guests cast from the bow or from shore, and pike on a fly are a blast.
Pack and weigh calculator
Every guest adds 100 lb to the group’s floatplane allowance, and the whole group shares it, so a light packer covers a heavy one. Add everyone’s bags and the shared coolers to check before you get to the dock. Weigh bags at home on a bathroom scale: step on holding the bag, then subtract your own weight.
Grocery planner
Your cabin has a full kitchen, so you cook what you like. Enter your group and your plans and get a shopping list with amounts for the Kenora grocery run at Safeway, No Frills or Walmart.
Floatplane packing tips
FAQ
Your ID, rods and tackle, rain gear, warm layers, bug spray, sunscreen and your groceries. At Sydney Lake the cabin, bedding, kitchen, boat, motor, gas, lifejackets, shore lunch gear and your fishing licence are all supplied.
100 lb per person, shared across the group and including food and drinks. Bags of 40 lb or less are easiest to load. Extra weight can fly on a freight charter at $1.25 per lb, with minimums.
Yes. Food and drinks count toward the 100 lb. Pop, beer and bottled water ordered ahead fly in at a lower cost, which saves a lot of weight.
No. Bring your own, which can run off the boat’s 12 V marine battery, or rent a Garmin Striker at camp for $15 a day (5-inch) or $25 a day (9-inch).
Mostly 1/4 oz jigs, plus a few 3/8 oz, with twister tails or minnows, a few spinner rigs and crankbaits, on a medium-light spinning rod with 8–12 lb line. Fluorocarbon is best. Add steel leaders and spoons for pike.
No. Beds are made up with linens, and towels are supplied.
Mornings can be near freezing at the opener and in late September, while July and August days often reach 80 °F or more. Pack layers, a toque and gloves in every month.
In Kenora, the night before you fly. Safeway is best, and No Frills and Walmart are close to the float base too. Use the grocery planner above for a list with amounts, and see the stores on our Kenora town map.
Packed and ready
Your cabin, boat, gas, shore lunch kit and Ontario fishing licence are waiting at Sydney Lake. If you’re not sure what to bring, call or text me and I’ll tell you what’s working that month. — Jeb
Check dates →Plan your trip: Getting to Kenora · Crossing the border · Ontario fishing licence · Best time to fish
