Enjoy what I hope will be our first instalment of "Barge Tales" by Brian Halabourda.

It’s been many years since I’ve fished the McTavish Arm, so this trip to Arctic Circle Lodge was going to be something of a homecoming for both me, and fishing partner Kenny Gold.

Just Once!

That’s right, just once I would like to check in at the airport without some sort hassle!

What follows are a series of three “Bear Tales” involving actual Bears.

Having given Char fishing a miss last year, I decided that a return visit to the Tree River was in order, and together with GBL angling buddy Kenny Gold, we booked into the main lodge, with our sights set on being the first to fish the Tree since August of last year.

This “Bear Tale” comes to us courtesy of the Plummer family. The "old stove" is currently on display, together with the narrative to follow, at Great Bear Lake Lodge.

From the tying bench of Josh "Jelly" Gelinas comes a great early, mid-season Char fly - and it's not too shabby when it comes to Lake Trout either.

Anyone reading this who has either heard about, or been fortunate enough to visit the Tree River in Nunavut, is likely of the view that this little piece of heaven on earth is justifiably famous for both its breathtaking natural beauty and the world’s biggest Arctic Char.