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FAQ's & Guest Information
We're sure that you will have a lot of questions. If you cannot find answers to your
questions through our entire site, please email or telephone.
What is the average size trout caught at Fortress Lake?
There is a healthy population of varying age classes. Fewer
small brookies are caught, however, due to techniques used. Typical
brookies are in the 3 - 5.5 pound range. The lake record is 11~1/2
pounds. Anglers can realistically hope for a few trout in the 6 - 7
pound range. The brookie at right is about 3.5 to 4 pounds and is a typical
trout.
Is it only lake fishing?
The Wood River - which flows out from Fortress Lake - provides
some river fishing with good structure to
work. There are light hatches and some dry fly fishing occurs. The
Wood provides some of the most gorgeous
scenery on the trip.
Our foundational fly fishing guide company - Fly
Fish Alberta - originated by hosting guided fly fishing trips on the
Ram,
Bow, and Red
Deer Rivers for anglers seeking larger river trout. We began
operations in 1996 and continue to host many trips on these rivers
annually. Click here to see what other
options are available to you.
Do you provide Fly Fishing Instruction?
Yes. Guides on site are efficient casting and technique
instructors. We will host you and help you understand how the rhythm
of casting works and where the fish are and how to catch them. As
above, we have hosted guided fly fishing since 1996 and are Central
Alberta's longest serving full time guide service, and come highly
recommended.
About the weather?
We are located at the Continental Divide, surrounded by stunning
mountains and glaciers with several of the highest peaks in the
Canadian Rockies nearby. Our weather is influenced by the mountains
and the weather can change often. During our open season, late May
through mid October, our weather is generally pleasant with
temperatures in the 20 to 30C range (70 - 85F). Precipitation is not
generally heavy nor long lasting during our year, but we do get
rain. Guests should come prepared for rain and sun, with temperature
extremes from freezing overnight (late in the season) to 35C (95F).
Sunshine
Unlike most other mountain lakes, Fortress Lake is an east - west
oriented lake with open valleys at either end. This means that we
get the full range of sunshine through the day, we enjoy the full
sunrise to the east and the full sunset to the west. During the day
the sun lifts well above the peaks surrounding the lake. On sunny days we enjoy full sunshine from first to last light,
from opening week in May to early October.
Where are you located and how do I get there?
Guests fly to either Edmonton or Calgary, Alberta, Canada to the
international airport and rent a car to travel west to the town of
Hinton, just east of Jasper. Travel time is 3 hours from Edmonton
and 5 from Calgary. We can arrange a special landing close to
Calgary for those wishing to fly to Calgary directly. See our location
map on our location page. Renting a vehicle from at the Calgary
or Edmonton International Airports is the most economical and flexible option for
transportation to the float plane staging area.
Biting bugs?
Fortress Lake Retreat is surrounded by steep, rocky slopes and the shoreline
is gravel. This is not mosquito habitat and very few bother guests.
Black flies common to other brook trout lakes in Ontario &
Labrador/ Newfoundland do not exist
due to the well drained gravel shorelines. There are some horseflies
at the peak of summer and in wet years we do get sandflies. Most
years there are very few bugs.
What should I bring?
We have included a packing list for your convenience. Remember, we fly to Fortress Lake by
float plane, space and weight are
limited. Upon arrival, where do we check in?
Our host will greet you at the float plane base. From there, you will receive a welcome package and brief
orientation to the location where you will then be shown your cabin
accommodation. What are the daily fish limits?
All guests of Fortress Lake Retreat are Catch and release.
Replica mounts are available and good photos are available of your
catch. What is included in the
trips?
Our packages include your float plane flight, accommodations,
all meals, drinks (wine is served with dinner, otherwise all alcohol
is sold separately), semi guided fly fishing. Guests are required to
arrive with fishing gear, clothing, and personal effects. You will be able to
purchase a fishing license on site. The only additional expenses are
some minor fishing gear (where needed), licenses, flies (if needed), and
alcohol, and applicable taxes. Do you get many couples?
We consider couples a mainstay of our operations. Yes, we get many
couples.
Many honeymooners and anniversary celebrators
have joined us. We are very much a couple's kind of place
and the ladies
really appreciate our stylish and immaculate cabins!
 What is the best time to come
to fish?
Whenever you arrive! We are open for the business of fishing from
May 28 until October 10. You will want to time your
vacation to the other waters you join us on. Please consider
additional guided fly fishing trips or
fishing our other waters that are easily accessed from our
Red Deer & Calgary operation.
 Packing Your Bag
for Fortress Lake
We
provide the following and as a
guideline so guests can limit unnecessary extras. Float Plane baggage
bound for Fortress Lake is restricted to 30 lbs per person. This is a
safety measure, and Transport Canada Regulations require that we weigh
your gear when you arrive at the base. Total weight, adding
your gear, all clothing, and your body weight shall not exceed 250
pounds. For guests with additional total weight, a weight charge of
$250 may apply based on the flight's dynamics - if there is no way to
avoid additional flights, we must charge this. We will try our best to configure the flights to avoid
this weight charge, however, it may be necessary if we cannot. A packing list will be emailed
to you upon booking.
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Booking &
Additional Information
Fortress Lake Wilderness Fly Fishing Retreat
Important Reservation Information
Float Plane Flight
There are no roads penetrating the wilderness surrounding
Fortress Lake Retreat (FLR), and access is by our scheduled
float plane shuttle from the base near Hinton, Alberta.
Waiver of liability
Wilderness recreation is not without risk. All our guests
are required to read and sign a comprehensive Waiver
of Liability in order for us to accept their reservation. A
sample of this waiver will be sent to you upon receipt of
your deposit. When you arrive at the float plane base, you
will be required to complete and sign this waiver, in the
presence of our staff.
Deposit
To confirm your reservation, we require a non-refundable
deposit of 50% of the trip total for your group/individual.
Payment can be made by personal cheque or internet
payment. We operate on a first paid, first reserved basis.
Dates are not guaranteed until the booking deposit is
received.
Cancellation
Insurance
By necessity, we have strict cancellation policies and
therefore recommend all guests purchase cancellation
insurance. The cost for this insurance for people under the
age of 60 is about 4% of the total trip cost. Costs for
people over 60 increase slightly. Please inquire to your
insurance agent about this.
 Travel
Insurance
Before reserving, it is highly recommended that guests
research and purchase additional and/ or private
cancellation, travel, hospital, and accident insurance.
Please contact your local travel agency.
Final payment
We must receive the final payment 2 weeks prior to your trip.
We prefer final payments to be made by cheque drawn in your
local currency or by internet payment. Overdue payments may
result in cancellation and resale of the reserved space.
Children
Children of all ages are welcome at Fortress Lake Retreat,
but those under the age of 19 must be accompanied by their
parent or legal guardian. Parents or guardians of children
under the age of 19 (the age of Majority in British
Columbia) will be required to complete an “Indemnity
Agreement for Minors” in addition to our standard Waiver of
Liability for each participant.
Emergency Contact
There is no telephone service to our property.
Our business office telephone number is 403 346 1698 and is
normally answered on Mondays to Fridays between the hours of
9:00am and 5:00pm Mountain Time.
For safety, family
emergencies & convenience, there is a satellite phone
located at the lodge. Guests are able to purchase minute
cards for personal phone use.
Cash Bar
At Fortress Lake, we offer a limited selection of red and
white wine as well as a variety of beer and wine for
sale. Our liquor license does not permit guests to bring
their own alcoholic beverages to the dining room.
Tips & Gratuities
Gratuities are at your discretion. Should you have an
exceptional experience it will likely be the result of the
team approach we take to customer satisfaction. Management
will gratefully accept any offered gratuity and distribute
it equally among all the staff, along with your
compliments.
Last Word:
Guests are not permitted to bring any pets, and all of our
wilderness facilities are completely non-smoking. Outside,
we ask smokers to be extremely diligent in keeping our site
clean of butts and cigar endings. We look forward to your
visit. Please contact us if you have any further questions
or concerns.
Fortress Lake Retreat
www.fortresslake.com
Phone: 403 346 1698
info@fortresslake.com
Cancellation Policy
We have strict cancellation policies. The opportunity for
refunds and/or credits resulting from a cancellation are
limited. Payment in part or full is considered as agreement
to the following terms and conditions:
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Your deposit is
non-refundable within 90 days of your booked trip dates.
Cancellations outside of 90 days will be refunded, minus
$100. A cancellation received less than 90 days prior to
your arrival will be offered a trip within the calendar
year, if possible. Refund Currency: All reimbursements
will be made in received Canadian Funds.
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FLR reserves the
right to cancel any or part of a tour and will give as
much notice as possible. Cancellation due to reasons
beyond our control (ie weather, float plane availability
or maintenance, etc) will result in a credit for any
unused portion of the tour. This credit is valid for one
calendar year from the original booked tour.
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Guests choosing
to depart their tour prior to tour completion will not
be eligible for any credit or refund and will bear the
cost of individuated air travel, regardless of reason.
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Guests are bound
by scheduled arrival and departure times. “No shows”
will forfeit the entire cost of the tour package. If a
guest is late, for any reason whatsoever, they will be
responsible for the entire cost of missed meals, new
flight connections, etc. Guests who miss their scheduled
flight either forfeit their trip to Fortress Lake
Retreat or incur flight costs associated with their
transport to the lodge.
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Guests whose
flight is delayed due to factors beyond the control of
FLR (such as weather, public emergency, floatplane
availability, etc) shall wait at least 24 hours before
requesting cancellation. Cancellation will see credit
for a tour within 1 calendar year. During this period,
FLR shall be solely responsible for deciding when it is
possible to safely proceed with the tour, but will
diligently pursue this goal.
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Guests delayed
overnight at the flight base by factors beyond the
control of FLR (float plane availability, public
emergency, weather, etc) will be responsible for their
own accommodation and meals.
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Guests delayed
over 24 hours at the base may request cancellation and
receive full credit towards an alternative tour date,
within one calendar year.
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Guests held
overnight at Fortress Lake due to uncontrollable
departure delays shall be charged a flat rate of $150.00
per person, per night. These accounts are payable prior
to departure.
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When float plane
is unavailable due to maintenance (seldom), guests may
opt to fly by one of the chartered helicopters in our
area. Helicopter flight rates are more expensive but the
flight routes offered are spectacular. Guests choosing
this option in this circumstance will incur the
additional air transportation costs.
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