Last-Minute Travel and Packing Tips for Your Fly-In Fishing Trip to Cat Island Lodge
The countdown is on.
Your trip is booked, the anticipation is building, and before long you'll be boarding a floatplane bound for the remote waters of Trout Lake. Whether this is your first visit to Cat Island Lodge or you're returning for another season of fishing and adventure, taking a little time to prepare before you leave home can help ensure your trip starts smoothly.
Every year, we receive a few last-minute questions about licenses, travel documents, baggage limits, and what to pack. To help make your journey as stress-free as possible, we've put together this guide with some of the most common reminders and travel tips for guests heading to Cat Island Lodge.
Start With Your Travel Plans
One of the biggest changes in recent years is our new water base location.
If you've visited Cat Island Lodge in the past, you may remember departing from Red Lake. Today, guests fly into the lodge from Ear Falls, Ontario.
Before your trip, we highly recommend reviewing our travel information page, which includes maps, directions, and details about reaching the water base:
Travel Information & Ear Falls Water Base
If you're driving, make sure you know your route ahead of time and allow extra travel time for construction, weather, or border crossings.
Double Check Your Required Documents
Nothing creates travel stress quite like realizing you've forgotten an important document.
Before leaving home, verify that you have:
Passport (required for most U.S. guests crossing the border)
Government-issued photo ID
Ontario Outdoors Card
Ontario Fishing License
Travel itinerary and reservation information
We also recommend printing physical copies of important documents whenever possible.
While most guests rely on their phones, remote travel, poor reception, dead batteries, or forgotten passwords can quickly become inconvenient. Having printed copies of your travel itinerary, fishing license, and reservation details can save a lot of frustration.
Don't Wait Until the Last Minute to Purchase Your Ontario Outdoors Card
One of the most common mistakes first-time guests make is waiting too long to purchase their Ontario Outdoors Card and fishing license.
If you plan to order online, give yourself plenty of time for processing and delivery.
If your trip is approaching quickly, there may be in-person licensing options available depending on where you're traveling through before arriving at the water base.
For step-by-step instructions and licensing information, visit our guide:
Send Your Fishing License Information Before You Arrive
To help streamline check-in and ensure everything is ready for your trip, be sure to send any requested fishing license information to the Cat Island Lodge team before arrival.
Taking care of this ahead of time helps eliminate unnecessary delays and allows you to focus on enjoying your vacation once you arrive.
Email Us
Plan Ahead for Tips
Another item many guests forget to think about until the last minute is cash.
While you're relaxing at home packing your bags, it's worth considering gratuities for the guides and staff who work hard to make your experience memorable.
Our guides spend long days on the water helping guests find fish, prepare shore lunches, share local knowledge, and create unforgettable experiences. Behind the scenes, our kitchen, housekeeping, and lodge staff work just as hard to keep everything running smoothly.
We recommend bringing enough cash to cover any gratuities you wish to leave during your stay.
Many guests find it helpful to set this money aside before leaving home so it's already accounted for in their travel budget.
What is customary for staff tips?
Although tips are not expected or required, they are a greatly appreciated reward for their dedicated and hard work. Guides: typically $50 to $100 USD per guest per day (Usually given to the guide personally). For the rest of the staff combined which includes our Cooks, Kitchen Help, Servers, Housekeeping, and Dockhands, we have 2 locked boxes in the dining room for your convenience to leave tips in. We split these tips according to the staff’s job, hours & days worked during your stay. They all work tirelessly to help make your stay an awesome experience. It is customary for $60 to $90 USD per guest per day to be left in the boxes for them.
Pack for Changing Weather
Northern Ontario weather can be unpredictable, even during the summer months.
You may experience warm sunshine, cool mornings, rain showers, and windy conditions all in the same week.
Layering is one of the best ways to stay comfortable.
Suggested clothing includes:
T-shirts and lightweight shirts
Sweatshirts or hoodies
Flannel shirts
Rain gear
Windproof jacket
Pants and shorts
Comfortable footwear
Rain boots
Hat for sun protection
Hat for rainy days
Swimwear
Wool or warm socks for cooler mornings
A breathable rain coat is one of the most valuable items you can bring.
Even if you don't use it every day, you'll be glad you packed it when the weather changes.
Don't Forget These Often-Overlooked Essentials
Some of the easiest items to forget are often the ones you'll use the most.
Before you zip up your luggage, make sure you've packed:
Polarized sunglasses
Camera or GoPro
Extra batteries and charging cables
Prescription medications
Extra contact lenses or glasses
Sunscreen
Small flashlight
Insect repellent
Personal toiletries
Ear plugs if you're a light sleeper
Remember the Baggage Limit
Floatplane travel comes with weight restrictions.
Guests are limited to 85 pounds of baggage per person, including fishing gear and personal belongings.
Soft-sided luggage is generally easier to load and transport than large hard-shell suitcases.
If you're unsure about what to bring, focus on versatile clothing and essentials rather than overpacking.
What to Expect When You Arrive
One of the best parts of a fly-in fishing trip is that once you arrive, it's time to relax.
You'll be welcomed by the Cat Island Lodge team and shown to your cabin. Our cabins include private bathrooms and refrigerators, giving guests a comfortable place to unwind after a day on the water.
Most days follow a simple rhythm:
Breakfast at the lodge begins around 7:00 a.m.
Guides are ready to head out around 8:00 a.m. for a full day of fishing.
Guests enjoy lunch on the water, often in the form of a traditional shore lunch prepared by their guide.
After returning to camp in the afternoon, dinner is served at the lodge, followed by free time to fish from the dock, explore the property, enjoy a campfire, or simply relax and take in the view.
It's a pace of life that many guests don't realize they've been missing.
Ready for Adventure?
A little preparation goes a long way toward making your trip smooth, stress-free, and enjoyable from the moment you leave home.
Before you hit the road, double-check your documents, review your travel plans, purchase your fishing license, and make sure you've packed the essentials.
Then get ready.
The fish are waiting, the floatplane is fueled, and another unforgettable week on Trout Lake is just around the corner.
Need help preparing for your trip? Visit our Travel Information Page or Contact Us with any questions before your arrival.
