
Mannifrank Lake Outpost
Our premier outpost — 1,700 acres of exclusive water with a brand-new modern cabin rebuilt in 2025.
What to Expect on Arrival
Arrival Day
Arrive at Adventure Air base (68 Airport Rd, Lac du Bonnet) 45 minutes before your scheduled departure
Check in at the Float Base Office — let staff know you're heading to Mannifrank Lake
Fill out the passenger manifest
Staff will help load your gear and groceries onto the floatplane
Enjoy the ~1 hour scenic floatplane flight to Mannifrank Lake
Settle into the cabin — your lake is all yours
Departure Day
Clean the cabin — wash dishes, sweep floors, wipe counters
Double-bag all garbage for removal by the pilot
Have your gear packed and ready at the dock
Floatplane arrives for the return flight to Lac du Bonnet
Arrive back at the float base by late morning
Adventure Air Float Base
Float Base
Adventure Air — 68 Airport Rd, Lac du Bonnet, MB R5G 1G9
From the Twin Cities
Drive north on I-29 to Winnipeg, then Highway 59 North to Lac du Bonnet. Total: approximately 8 hours.
From Winnipeg
The Lac du Bonnet float base is just over an hour northeast of Winnipeg.
Commercial Flights
Fly into Winnipeg Richardson International Airport (YWG). Arrive the day before your departure. Shuttle service available from the airport — contact us for rates.
Nearby Hotels
Arriving the night before? These hotels are close to the float base:
- Drifter's Inn2.9 km from base
Jct of MB-11 & MB-313, Lac du Bonnet
1-204-345-2915 - Lac House Inn7.4 km from base
176 Minnewawa St, Lac du Bonnet
1-204-345-9000 - Breezy Oaks Inn52 km from base
1055 Park Ave, Beausejour
1-204-268-9050 - Papertown Motor Inn42 km from base
34 Walleye Lane, Pine Falls
1-204-367-2261 - South Beach Casino & Resort~45 min from base
One Ocean Drive, Scanterbury
1-877-775-8259
Essential Pre-Trip Checklist
Passport & Documents
A valid passport is required for all guests entering Canada. Children under 18 traveling without both parents must carry a notarized consent letter from the absent parent(s). Ensure your passport is valid for the duration of the trip.
Carry proof of vehicle insurance when driving into Canada.
Manitoba Fishing License
Manitoba now requires online fishing license purchase before your trip. Purchase at manitobaelicensing.ca and print it out before traveling. Licenses are required for guests 16 and older.
Buy Your License at manitobaelicensing.ca →Bait Restrictions
No live or dead bait is allowed across the border. Purchase frozen or salted minnows, leeches, and crawlers in Manitoba. Crawlers must be in sterile bedding (no soil). Live minnows are not allowed in Atikaki Park.
Alcohol Import Limits
Each adult (19+) may bring only ONE of: one case of beer (24 cans/bottles), 40 oz (1.14L) of hard spirits, or 53 oz (1.5L) of wine. No glass bottles are allowed on the aircraft. Keep purchase receipts.
DUI & Criminal Records
Canada is very strict regarding DUI and criminal offenses. The rules and regulations have been changing in recent years. If you or anyone in your group has a DUI or criminal record, contact Canada Border Crossing Services at 1-800-438-7020 or visit bordercrossing.ca well in advance of your trip to understand your options.
What to Bring — 100 lb Limit
Luggage
- Maximum 100 lbs per person (strictly enforced)
- Overweight charge: $2/lb over the limit
- Pack multiple small bags rather than one large bag
- Take rods apart and use hard rod cases
- Food counts toward your weight limit — plan accordingly
Clothing & Gear
- Rain gear — essential for any fishing trip
- Layers — weather can change quickly in the wilderness
- Warm fleece or jacket for cool mornings/evenings
- Comfortable footwear + extra pair of shoes
- Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen
- Bug repellent and bug jacket for shore excursions
- Personal medications (don't forget — there's no pharmacy out here)
Amenities & Equipment
Cabin Amenities
- 3 bedrooms, sleeps 8 guests
- Shower and full kitchen with dining room
- Covered porch right on the lake
- Solar power with 24-hour electrical service
- Starlink WiFi
- Standard 110v outlets for charging
- Refrigerator and freezer
- 4-burner propane stove with oven
- BBQ grill
Boats & Motors
16' Lund boats with Yamaha 4-stroke 15 HP motors. Landing nets, flotation cushions, and all fuel provided. No fuel mixing needed — just draw from the tank.
Staying Connected & Emergency Info
WiFi & Connectivity
There is no cell service at the lodge or any of our outpost camps. All locations have Starlink WiFi. Connect to the WiFi network when you arrive — your host or the cabin info sheet will have the network name and password.
With WiFi calling enabled on your phone, you can make and receive regular phone calls and texts over the Starlink connection — just like being on cell service.
Starlink works well for calls, texts, email, and browsing. Streaming video or large downloads will be slower, especially with multiple people connected. Download movies, music, and maps before your trip.
WiFi Calling Setup
- iPhone: Settings → Phone → WiFi Calling → toggle ON. You may need to confirm your emergency address.
- Samsung: Settings → Connections → WiFi Calling → toggle ON.
- Google Pixel: Settings → Network & Internet → Calls & SMS → WiFi Calling → toggle ON.
- Other Android: Settings → search "WiFi Calling" → toggle ON. Contact your carrier if the option doesn't appear — some carriers require activation.
Weather
Check the Environment Canada forecast for the Lac du Bonnet area before your trip. Weather in the wilderness can change quickly — pack layers and quality rain gear regardless of the forecast. Expect warm days and cool evenings in summer, with the possibility of cold snaps early and late in the season.
Check the Forecast →Emergency Contacts
- Dogskin Lake Lodge715-955-4110
Call us first — we're the closest and can respond fastest
- Adventure Air (Lac du Bonnet)204-345-8322
Floatplane base — for flight emergencies
- Adventure Air (Bissett)204-277-5536
Alternate base
- Manitoba 911911
Via WiFi calling for police, fire, ambulance
Medical Information
The nearest health centre is in Lac du Bonnet (204-345-8647). The nearest hospitals are in Pinawa and Beausejour. In a medical emergency, call Dogskin first — we can coordinate a floatplane evacuation faster than any other option. Bring all personal medications with you — there is no pharmacy in the wilderness. First aid kits are stocked in every cabin. We strongly recommend travel and medical insurance for all guests, especially those traveling from the US.
Report Issues
If anything is broken, not working, or needs attention at your cabin — call or text us. We want to know about it so we can fix it for you and for the next group. Don't assume someone else will report it.
Fishing Mannifrank Lake
Walleye
Walleyes are early biters on Mannifrank — they love to feed before the sun is high. Spring through mid-June, find them in 6'-14' of water. As the water warms, they drop to 20'-36' or deeper. Trophy walleye are often solitary near structure. Wind is the key on this lake: 2 days of north wind drives the fish to the south, and 2 days of south wind pushes fish to the north.
Northern Pike
Northern pike congregate in warm, weedy sand bottoms in back bays. They're in shallow water during early spring and late fall, moving to weed beds in summer. Afternoon and late PM are prime pike time, especially on sunny days.
Tackle Recommendations
Walleye: 1/4-1/2 oz jig heads (dark red, pink, chartreuse) with 3"-6" twister tails. Frozen or salted minnows work extremely well on Mannifrank. Plugs: Bill Lewis Rat'l Traps, Wally Divers, Thundersticks. Bring 35-40 jig heads per angler and 100+ twister tails. Pike: Johnson Silver Minnows (1-1/8 oz), Daredevils, Five of Diamonds (1 oz), 9" Suicks, Buck Tails. Always use steel leaders (minimum 12" with ball-bearing swivel). Chrome or blue lures on sunny days, gold and chartreuse on overcast.
Mannifrank also has an 800-acre portage lake for additional fishing variety. The cabin was rebuilt in 2025 and is the most modern outpost in our fleet.
Food & Meal Planning
You bring all your own food and cook for yourself. Custom food packages are also available.
Kitchen Equipment Provided
- Refrigerator and freezer
- 4-burner propane stove with oven
- BBQ grill
- Complete cookware, dishes, and utensils
- Running water (hot and cold)
Food packages: $25+ per day per guest (beverages separate). Contact us to order.
Meal Planning Tips
- Plan your meals carefully to stay under the 100 lb luggage limit — food counts toward your weight
- Most groups plan on eating fresh-caught fish for several evening meals
- Pack a couple of steaks for the last night — after days of walleye, a change of pace feels great
- Bring extra towels for dishwashing and pot holders — they tend to disappear at camps
- A battery-powered lantern makes evening fish filleting much easier
Fishing Rules & Policies
- Barbless hooks required — barbed hooks may be used if the barb is pinched completely flat
- Catch and consume policy: keep walleye 14"-17" for shore lunch, release everything else
- Possession limit: 4 walleye (conservation license)
- Live minnows are not allowed in Atikaki Park — crawlers (must be in sterile bedding, no soil), leeches, frozen/preserved minnows and offal may be used
- Leeches must be purchased in Manitoba
- Register Master Angler catches online at anglers.travelmanitoba.com
What You Need to Know
Outboard Motors
16' Lund boats with Yamaha 4-stroke 15 HP motors. No fuel mixing needed — draw gas directly from the 300-gallon tank at the dock. One tank is enough for a full day of fishing.
Propane
The cabin runs on propane for the stove, oven, and BBQ. Propane bottles can be exchanged if one runs out. If you swap a bottle, you may need to relight the pilot lights on the stove.
Solar Power
Solar-powered electrical system with standard 110v outlets. Charge phones and cameras during the day when panels are active. Unplug chargers and devices when you leave the cabin. Don't rely on solar power for essential medical devices — outages can happen.
What's Provided
- Boats, motors, and all fuel
- Propane for stove and BBQ
- Landing nets and flotation cushions
- Cleaning supplies
- Starlink WiFi
Where to Buy Bait
Purchase frozen or salted minnows, leeches, and crawlers before you fly in. Available at convenience stores in Lac du Bonnet and the surrounding area. Remember: crawlers must be in sterile bedding (no soil), and live minnows are not allowed in Atikaki Park.
Bear Spray
We keep our camps clean, so bears are rarely seen around camp. If you bring bear spray, you MUST inform the pilot before the flight — the pilot will secure it in the float hatch away from the cabin.
Weather Delays
Floatplanes operate under visual flight rules (VFR) only. Weather at the base and at your lake can be different. If conditions delay your flight, be patient — safety comes first. Pack enough food for an extra day just in case.
Before You Leave
- Leave the cabin cleaner than you found it — you don't want to spend your first hour cleaning, and the next group doesn't either
- Wash all dishes, sweep floors, wipe down all surfaces before the pickup flight
- Double-bag all garbage and bring it to the dock for removal
- Dispose of fish remains well away from the cabin to avoid attracting bears
- Don't run motors at high speed near unfamiliar shorelines — consult the lake map for shallow areas (marked in yellow)
- Remove fishing line from propellers immediately if tangled
- You are responsible for equipment damage beyond normal wear and tear — bent props, line in motors, etc.
- Check your motor's lower unit after hitting rocks — damage can strand you
Questions About Your Trip?
We're here to help you prepare for your Mannifrank Lake Outpost adventure.