Tag Archives: Labrador Brook Trout

Nine Minipi Locations You Should Focus On This Year

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1. Lover Boy – The narrowing or river section between Anne Marie and Burnt Lake. One of our most popular fishing areas. Fish start congregating here in July and continue through spawning.  Most of the fishing through Lover Boy is done wading.

2. Bathtub – A gentle rapids leading to outlet of Anne Marie Lake. A great evening fishing location. 

3. Petch’s Pond – A shallow lake that warms up first so we get the first hatches of the season here. Mostly dry fly-fishing at this time.

4. Lavoie House – Named after Dr. Mark Lavoie, after he fell in love with the char fishing here. This is hot in September when the char start moving towards spawning locations.

5. Woody’s Rapids – About ½ mile section of Anne Marie River with numerous rapids. Here the fishing is large trout, small trout and northern pike. Usually from July onwards this spot is great for wading. 

6. Hatchery – The headwaters of Minonipi and a prolific spawning area. The stream above the little waterfalls is teeming with juvenile trout.

7. Big Red – The first rapids at outlet of Minonipi.  Named after the big brook trout that have been caught here.

National Geographic's Andrew Brown (left), who loved to fish what we now know as "Andy's Run."

Andrew Brown (left) July 1979.

8. Andy’s Run – The favorite evening fishing hole of Andy Brown, one of the first and regular fishers of Anne Marie. Andy first visited Labrador in 1930s on expedition with National Geographic.

9. Pawtucket Island – A favorite shore lunch location for fishers that fish Petch’s Pond every year.

As always, we’re willing to work with anglers and get them to the locations they want to explore. Morning times are special at Anne Marie, while the mist slowly burns off the lake and breakfast is being prepared, speak with head guide Raymond Best to map out a plan of where you and your partner would like to fish for the day.

We look forward to hosting you!

Minipi Fly and Tackle

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The Beaver is in the water, the staff is ready and the Lodge is being prepped. It’s a busy week at Coopers’ Minipi Lodges so finding a moment to speak with our head guide Ray Best is pretty difficult. We managed to snag a minute or two for some quick pointers on what you should take in your tackle box for your trip to Minipi.

 Ray recommends:

–   8lb test tippet is a good start

–   Dry fly floatant such as Top Ride Floatant and Desiccant

–   Bug spray

–   Split Shot

–   A few small caddis, between size 6 and 12

–   Muddlers and bombers

–   A wooly bugger

–   Irresistibles

–   Polarized sunglasses are a must have

–   Sunblock and Chapstick (cherry flavor optional)

–   A mini-first aid kit

–   If you’re on a fly-out, take a boat bag. Take only what’s really necessary.

–   Definitely keep a collapsible wading staff with you.

–   Treats for the guides

Gotta love Ray’s sense of humor.

Somerset 2014: Sittin’ on the Minipi River Couch

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It’s the biggest fly-fishing show in all of North America, probably in the whole wide world. Ten thousand fly fishermen gathered right here in northern New Jersey.

That’s where the Minipi gang, most notably, Robin and the sanguine, senior Mr. Cooper, were hanging out this weekend (Jan. 24, 25, 26), sitting on their inflatable “River Couch” with fly fishers buzzing all around – the famous Lefty Kreh and Ed Jaworowski to name only two — plus lots of friends, some from as far away as Canada, and dozens of Minipi veterans and Minipi plan-to-be’s and wannabes.

Robin was yakking about the latest outdoor products at his Minipi Outfitters store in Goose Bay; Ed Quigley and Barney Leonard, Minipi multi-year veterans, were discussing the state of the union and telling potential guests tales of trophy trout.

“Why was Mr. Cooper “sanguine’”? Because nearly all the beds available at Anne Marie Lodge are already filled for the 2014 season. So, while it may be too late to join us on the river couch, it’s not too late to reserve your 2014-week on the Minipi. But hurry up. There are only a few prime-time spots left.