The website said Deplar Farm Lodge blends into the natural surroundings. When I saw the two-foot grass and native vegetation growing from the roofs, I knew I was about to have the understated copywriter’s descriptions absolutely blow my mind. The lodge is in a valley, surrounded by huge mountains, as lush green as Ireland or Kodiak, Alaska. But, not just any valley, the Fljotaa River Valley, with runs of mint bright Atlantic salmon and pools with medium to large Arctic char. The mountains, steep and close, are the home of the Deplar Farm Lodge heli-ski operation in the winter.
Add mountain biking, whale watching, horseback riding and hatchet throwing. No matter what you do all day, it will blow your mind, too. There are a variety of fly fishing opportunities from Deplar Farm Lodge. While Atlantic salmon are the number one tug, I found the brown trout fishing to be some of the best in the world. We caught 30 inch trout, wade fishing lakes, 26 inch trout in rivers and had several sessions of super technical, light/long leader, match the hatch, dry fly midge fishing for 16 to 20 inch, selective, high IQ, slick water, risers.
These beats were as challenging as any spring creek in Montana, Idaho, Oregon or California. But, you have miles of water all to yourself. When the dry fly action phased out, we would go to bigger, freestone water and strip streamers for heavy browns. Steelhead sized browns. In every direction, of every hour, of every day, the scenery is spectacular. As were the guides, and words cannot describe the lodge cuisine. One of the most fun and interesting things about Atlantic salmon fishing, as compared to my backyard Oregon steelhead, is that Atlantic salmon are devils! They roll under your fly five times on one swing. They jump over your fly in a graceful arc. Even if they don’t actually take the fly, they entertain and thrill and drive you crazy. Changing flies and swing speed, with or without a hitch… Madness. Then, they crush a fly so small that you were convinced this had to be a joke from the guide. And, the next fish takes a 4 inch, conehead, Sun Ray Shadow tube. It’s all good, no matter what, there is a steak to die for, superb wines and a geothermal hot spa and pool waiting for you at the lodge. – Brian O’Keefe
Contributed By
Brian O’Keefe
Deplar Farm Lodge is located on the Troll Peninsula, in the rugged, lightly populated, North Country. We watched whales from our rental car on the drive in. We drove over a dozen Atlantic salmon streams. We were pumped up. Deplar delivered. This is an Eleven Experience property, where pampered luxury is combined with a dedicated staff that will fish you, ski you, bike you, feed you, but will also let you chill with a book or soak motionless in the hot pools.
