The Minipi Guides can usually get you close to rising fish, but often you'll need to make long, accurate casts to reach contrary fish that try to rise just out of reach.

What's more, you'll be using large flies and sometimes casting into a stiff wind. So, we suggest that you bring a rod that's a little heavier than the one you normally use on small trout streams back home. Most anglers bring 9 ft. 5, 6 or 8 weight rods rigged with weight-forward lines, 9 ft. leaders and 6 to 8 pound tippets.

If the rises are sparse, the weather bad, or the wind strong; the guides will suggest you troll streamers. Under these conditions the big brookies will hit your streamers, but so will great northern pike up to 20 lbs and landlocked Arctic char up to 10 lbs. and over. That’s another reason for bringing a second heavier rod. And some wire leaders and small swivels. The woven, flexible, knot-able wire is best.

 

Flies Most Often Used on the Minipi

The flies in the fly gallery are not grouped by early, mid or late season. This is a selection that works best throughout the season under nearly all the conditions you'll encounter on the Minipi.

You'll recognize most if not all of the patterns. Again, what's different here is the size. Minipi means big fish and big flies: 4s, 6s, 8s.

If you had to pick three essential flies, pick a Muddler Minnow, a large Deer Hair Mouse and a Grey Wulff. If there is one fly that you should not be without, it is the Muddler Minnow. Be sure to bring half a dozen big ones -- 4s and 6s. And, yes, a couple of little ones, too.