St. Lewis River Lodge is located in southeastern Labrador, Canada – approximately 290 kilometers southeast of Goose Bay (YYR). The village of Port Hope Simpson (YHA) is 14 kilometers to the northeast of the Lodge and has a 750 meter gravel airstrip. The town of Blanc Sablon, Quebec (YBX) is 123-kilometers southwest of the Lodge with a 1,300 meter paved runway.

Access to the Lodge is via a 1.2 – 1.5-hour helicopter flight from Goose Bay.

Commercial flights to and from Goose Bay are available on a daily basis. Changeover times will generally be organized for midday as to allow inbound guests to arrive in Goose Bay in the morning and for outbound guests to depart on evening flights. Pending commercial flight schedules, guests may have to overnight in Goose Bay, St. John’s or Halifax on the inbound or outbound legs.

Guests arriving to Goose Bay via private aircraft will depart for the Lodge directly from the FBO. Those entering Canada will clear Canada Customs at the FBO.

Guests can be fishing within 1.5 hours of a Goose Bay departure.

We have the local scene covered and know what works. We would encourage guests to bring some different patterns from their own salmon fishing experiences around the world or patterns used elsewhere for other species. Our guides may raise an eyebrow at some but it’s always worth the challenge.

Only stipulations are that hooks must be single, barbless and the flies not weighted.

We highly encourage the use of dry fly patterns as it brings fly-fishing to an entirely different level. In the right conditions, dry flies and Bombers in particular, induce salmon to the surface in what quite often are very aggressive takes that are always visual. The size of fly patterns may be the difference in that a salmon can stealthily take a wet fly pattern from the surface causing little disturbance while a dry fly has to be a full on mouth opened assault.

Some have a tendency to over pack for trips and arrive back home with only having used the top layer of the bag. Pending the length of your visit, clothing for the Lodge can consist of 1-3 changes of casual clothing or just recycle your fishing clothes.

The Lodge has laundry facilities on site and housekeeping will launder any items that you place out for freshening. While no one will take notice of wrinkles, we also have irons and boards in each suite. In the event you forget personal toiletries, each suite is fully stocked with an assortment of shampoos, conditioners, soaps, body washes, hand cream, face cream, sun block, lip balm, insect repellant, after bite ointments, antihistamines, bug nets and jackets, tooth brushes and paste, razors and shaving cream, pain medications and band-aids.

We also recommend packing in several small soft shell luggage bags or one medium sized soft shell luggage bag. Helicopter luggage compartments are not conducive to accommodating large hard shell luggage. Please restrict total weight of luggage to 23 kilos or 50 pounds.

While weather delays beyond a few hours are generally infrequent, we recommend that you bring along extra personal medications that may be required in the event of an extended delay.

Our staff has advanced First Aid training and the Lodge is fully stocked with First Aid supplies, including a defibrillator.

Goose Bay is also accessible by automobile. Gravel roads are open from both the north shore of Quebec as well as the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador.

If traveling from Baie Comeau, Quebec, Goose Bay is 1,117 kilometers. If traveling from the island of Newfoundland, the trip will be via a 1.5-hour ferry across the Straits of Belle Isle followed by 623 kilometers to Goose Bay. Extra spares of 8-10 ply tires are recommended for these routes.
Travelling northeast at 500 mph, Goose Bay is approximately 3 hours from Chicago, 2.6 hours from Washington, 2 hours from Toronto or New York, 1.8 hours from Boston, 1.6 hours from Montreal and 1.2 hours from Halifax.

Travelling west from Europe at 475 mph, Goose Bay is 6.2 hours from Berlin, 5.5 hours from Oslo or Paris, 5.2 hours from London, 4.6 hours from Edinburgh or Dublin and 3.2 hours from Reykjavik.

If chartering aircraft within North America we can offer suggestions as to our preferred operators that have met the stringent safety audits of both ARGUS International and Wyvern.

Goose Bay is an Airport of Entry (AOE) for customs clearing purposes. We refer you to Canada Border Services Agency for particular details.

Canada Border Services Agency – Calls within Canada – 1 (800) 461 – 9999, Calls outside of Canada – 1 (204) 983 – 3500 or 1 (506) 636 – 5064
Goose Bay Airport Runways– 08/26 – 11,051 ft/3,368m, 16/34 – 9,580 ft/2,920m

Elevation – 160ft/49m
Goose Bay Airport Website
Nav Canada – Pilot Briefing Services/Flight Planning call Halifax FIC: 1(866) 541 – 4106. Global toll free number – 1 (800) 876 – 4693 – 4 (within North America disregard last digit)

View Newfoundland and Labrador HF/VHF/UHF Aviation Frequencies