North Charles Lake Fishing Excursions

Remote Fly-In Fishing in Northern Alberta

Charles Lake (North) is a fly-in fishing destination located in Northern Alberta’s remote boreal wilderness. The North Lodge is the only operational cabin on Charles Lake, providing guests with complete seclusion and exclusive access to this expansive, lightly pressured fishery. Accessible only by floatplane, the experience is defined by solitude, scale, and uninterrupted time on the water.
 

Charles Lake stretches approximately 40 km (25 miles) in length and features rugged shorelines, rocky reefs, and countless coves. Clear, cold water and varied structure make it a productive lake throughout the season, while its size allows guests to explore new water each day without repetition.

The Lake

Charles Lake is a large, cold-water lake system known for its length, depth, and structural diversity. Covering approximately 22,016 acres, the lake offers extensive shoreline, long narrow basins, and numerous sheltered bays and coves to explore.

​

• Surface Area: Approximately 22,016 acres

• Length: Approximately 40 km (25 miles)

• Mean Depth: Approximately 22 feet

• Maximum Depth: Up to 114 feet

​

Depth mapping shows a series of deeper central basins connected by narrower channels, with gradual transitions into shallower bays and coves. These features create strong holding areas for lake trout in deeper water, while rocky points, reefs, and protected shorelines provide excellent habitat for northern pike, lake whitefish, and yellow perch.

​

The lake is fed by numerous intermittent and permanent streams, supporting clear, cold water conditions throughout the season. With the North Lodge as the only operational cabin on the lake, fishing pressure remains minimal, allowing guests to spread out, fish at their own pace, and adjust techniques based on conditions without competition or congestion.

(Lake data sourced from provincial surveys and Anglers Atlas depth mapping.)

Fishing at Charles Lake

Charles Lake offers a diverse, cold-water fishery with consistent opportunities across multiple species and fishing styles. The lake’s depth, length, and structural variety allow anglers to adapt techniques throughout the day and across changing conditions, making it well suited for both focused anglers and mixed-experience groups.

Lake Trout

• Lake trout are supported by the lake’s deep, cold-water basins and long structural transitions.

• Found throughout deeper sections of the lake, particularly along drop-offs and basin edges

Northern Pike

• Northern pike are widespread and reliably encountered across the lake.

• Typically found along rocky shorelines, reefs, and within protected bays and coves

• Known for aggressive strikes and strong action throughout the season

Lake Whitefish

• Lake whitefish are present throughout the system and are frequently encountered while fishing deeper water or transitional areas, offering additional variety during a stay.