Camp North

Lodging Details
Camp North is exactly what it sounds like: a wilderness camp in the wilds of Greenland. The camp is built directly on the banks of the Eqalugsugssuit River in a sweeping glacial valley at the end of a very long coastal fjord. Far from a luxury camp or a polished fishing lodge, the camp consists of twelve geodesic dome tents, a large dining and kitchen tent, a shower hut with heated water, and a camp outhouse.  

Each dome tent (all of which are single occupancy) is built on an elevated wooden platform. The tents are outfitted with a sturdy sleeping cot, an inflatable sleeping pad, a small camp pillow, and a clothesline for hanging gear. All are basic yet very warm and comfortable. Anglers will want to bring a warm sleeping bag and perhaps and additional inflatable camp pillow to ensure a comfortable sleep each night. Other key items that we recommend for the tents are inflatable solar lanterns on a carabiner (check out the ones from Lumi), a towel, and perhaps even a couple of wire hangers that can be bent and packed in your luggage.

The schedule for a typical day at Camp North usually involves a wake up around 7:00 AM for breakfast and coffee. Once breakfast is served, you then make your own sandwiches for the day, kit up in your fishing clothes, and head up-river whenever you feel like it. You can fish the main river, hike up the side creek, or coordinate a trip with one of the guides or other guests to the far reaches of the upper river. For the upper river, one of the guides will ferry you across the lake, saving you two hours of hiking! All options are yours to explore over the course of the week. Anglers typically head back for dinner somewhere around 7:00 PM, unless you choose to fish a little longer. Most guests will also go out once or twice during the week for some evening, or even night fishing, as this is the perfect destination for those that simply can’t get enough fishing time during a typical day. It’s an easy-going and flexible schedule, and everyone can set things according to their own pace and preferences.

Food and Beverages
The food at the camp is always good – especially when you consider the remote location and rustic setting of the operation. During the eight-week summer season, a camp chef is rotated in and out of camp every two weeks, and the meals are always hot and filling. Guests can expect a nightly menu that might include steaks, chicken, hot pasta dishes, and more. Breakfast each morning consists of hot bacon and eggs, along with endless amounts of hot coffee. There is usually a selection of European meats and cheeses as well. For lunch, anglers make their own sandwiches and pack them along for their day on the river. 

For alcohol, you will need to bring whatever you want to drink with you from Sisimiut or Copenhagen. The grocery store in Sisimiut has plenty of beer (Tuborg or Carlsberg) along with a decent selection of wines and basic liquors. Once you arrive in Sisimiut, you can buy and bring along as much as you want in the transfer boat. There is no ice in camp for cocktails, so be sure to bring any necessary mixers as well. We also recommend that you bring a variety of snacks, energy bars, beef jerky, or nuts to eat throughout the course of each day. The hikes are long, and you end up burning a lot of calories – especially when things are cold or wet. For drinking water, you can literally drink straight from the river, as the water is so clear and pure. In fact, all of the camp’s water is taken directly from the river, and there are no concerns about giardia or anything else. 

Typical Length of Stay
All Camp North trips include seven nights in camp with six fishing days on the river, with a set arrival and departure day once a week. There is also an overnight that is included in Sisimiut on both the front end and back end of the trip – something that allows for potential airline and weather delays. 

Non-Angling Activities and Options
Camp North is a fishing destination – 100%. The only reason to visit the camp is to access the river and fish for big char! You leave the camp each morning after breakfast and return late in the evening – usually around 7:00 or 7:30 PM. There are fantastic scenic opportunities for photographers, as well as some interesting creatures in the area, but for the most part, this is an angling destination that is best suited for focused anglers. 

Internet / Communications
The camp has no wi-fi and no cell signal. Once you are at camp, you will truly be off-line. There is good cell coverage and wi-fi available in Sisimiut and at the hotel in town.

How to Get There
Most anglers traveling to Greenland from the United States will pass through Copenhagen, Denmark. From Copenhagen, you then take the once-a-day Air Greenland flight from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq – the largest international airport in Greenland. As the Copenhagen- Kangerlussuaq flight is a morning flight, it is recommended that you arrive in Copenhagen the day before and overnight. For overnighting at the Copenhagen airport, the Clarion Hotel is the easiest and quickest to access from the main terminal. The following morning, you will fly Air Greenland from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq. From Kangerlussuaq, you will take a short 30-minute Air Greenland flight to Sisimiut, where you then overnight before being transferred the following day by boat to camp on the Eqalugsugssuit River. The boat ride is approximately two hours in length depending on the weather and conditions.

Arrival and Departure Details / Times
Once you arrive in Kangerlussuaq, you take a take a 30-minute flight to Sisimiut – the jumping off point for Camp North. It is not uncommon for the Kangerlussuaq-Sisimiut flight to be delayed by weather or wind, so be prepared to wait. There is a great restaurant in the main Kangerlussuaq terminal, as well as a small bar and several waiting areas. If for some reason you end up stranded in Kangerlussuaq for the night, there is also a 67-room hotel that is actually attached to the terminal. (Kangerlussuaq is built on an old World War II landing strip, and until the late 1950’s, it was a US Air Force base with more than 1600 American service members.) Other than the small international airport, there is nothing else in the area. 

When you arrive in Sisimiut, you will overnight in the small town of 6000 people (which, interestingly enough, is the second-largest city in all of Greenland). This is designed to accommodate any delays or weather-related problems. Accommodations will be reserved for you at the Hotel Sisimiut, where you will find a great overall atmosphere as well as a fantastic restaurant and bar. Nights in Sisimiut on both the front end of the trip and the back end are included in all packages. The town of Sisimiut itself is well worth exploring, as it is one of the most picturesque and scenic towns in the entire country. Keep in mind that the round-trip flights from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq and on to Sisimiut are included in Yellow Dog packages.

Documents Required
All U.S. citizens are required to have a valid passport that does not expire within six (6) months of trip dates. Please be sure that your passport has at least two blank, unstamped pages, and that it is not torn, delaminated, or damaged in any way.

Travel Arrangements
Yellow Dog provides airline reservations and ticketing assistance through etcTravel Group, and a full-service airline logistics agent that can help book airline tickets, hotels, rental cars, and more. You can click here to request a quote or contact Yellow Dog for more information at 406-585-8667. etcTravel Group offers dedicated support services for all Yellow Dog clients. Service fees may apply when booking or researching tickets, and etcTravel will discuss this with you before sending quotes. 

About Greenland
Greenland is one of the biggest places in the world, and yet very little about this fascinating country is known to the outside world. Greenland is actually the world’s biggest island – by area – that is not a continent, with a total area of almost 835,000 square miles. More than 80 percent of the country’s land mass is covered by a year-round ice cap, with the ice-free coastal areas of Greenland definitely in the minority. Collectively, however, these smaller ice and snow-free areas are still around the size of Sweden. With a population of only 57,000 people, Greenland is one of the least-densely populated countries in the world. There are no roads or railway systems that connect the country’s few towns and to one another. While there are of course roads within the towns, they abruptly end at the outskirts. All travel between towns is done by plane, boat, helicopter, snowmobile, or dogsled.

Although Greenland is geographically a part of the North American continent, it has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for more than a millennium, and even today Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark. While in 1979 Greenland was granted home rule and the opportunity to establish their own political system, the two countries remain extremely close and very much linked when it comes to trade, supplies, culture, and travel. Since most of Greenland is covered in ice, snow and glaciers, the Arctic nation is mostly white. It actually got its misleading name from Norse explorer Erik the Red – a famous Viking and notorious murderer who was exiled to the island from Iceland in the late 900s. He called it “Greenland” in the hopes that the name would attract future settlers. 

Travel Tools
– Airline Ticketing
– Moon Phases
– Rent This Rod
– Trip Insurance and Emergency Evacuation
– Global Rescue Membership

General Information
The Eqalususussuit River is a wade-anglers dream, with miles of productive runs, riffles, pools, cut-banks, sand flats, and tail-outs. The sea-run char fishing on the river is incredibly productive, with both numbers and size consistent deliverables. Each morning, anglers wader-up, layer-up, and pack their waterproof day pack to head out for a 10+ hour day on the water. There are three main fishing areas on the Eqalususussuit: the main river section, the upper waterfall section above the lake, and the tributary that enter the Eqalususussuit River near the bottom end of the lake. All three typically produce large numbers of fish as well as huge char, and in typical conditions, most of the fish can easily be spotted in each run or pool. There is a camp manager as well as a camp assistant that can help during your first couple of days in camp. After a couple of sessions hiking up-river with the manager or assistant, it is easy to learn the runs and the most productive areas of the river, and the rest of the trip largely becomes a DIY experience. Landing nets are available in camp, and each angler can take one for their day on the river. 

The Eqalugsugssuit strain of char are different than in other area rivers. They are bulkier and grow bigger than the char you find in any other river in Greenland. They also tend to be moodier, especially when skating foam flies. Sometimes, they hit a skated fly incredibly hard for half an hour, only to totally ignore them for the next several hours. That’s when you need to pull out streamers or nymphs to keep the action going. The average size of fish here can be impressive. As in, “Oh, this is another nice six-pounder”-impressive. Every season, anglers fishing out of Camp North spot some true monster char in this river, and sometimes they are actually landed. The biggest char landed and actually recorded to date was just shy of 20 pounds, and since then, several potentially bigger (and surely longer) char have been hooked by guests.

The peak season is during July and August. Arctic char start to enter the coastal rivers in late June, and by mid-September, they become so interested in spawning that they need to be left alone. Also, once you get into September, the Greenlandic weather can turn consistently cold and rough.

For techniques, the most effective char fishing is done by either swinging streamers across the current and downstream, or by skating large foam dry flies. Bright flies are usually the name of the game, with pink, orange and purple being the most effective throughout the season when it comes to top-water foam skaters. The same colors apply for streams, although it also makes sense to bring some white, tan, brown and black streamers as well. As a general rule, brighter colors seem to be the most consistent throughout the course of the season when it comes to char flies. 

As to who is best suited to fish this destination, anyone in reasonable shape with some fly fishing experience and a bit of self-sufficiency should do very well. Though some days are always better than others, the fishing is rarely difficult, and there is no need to have a guide watching over your shoulder all day long. After having been introduced to the fishery, most anglers are fine fishing these waters with one or two other guests, and only occasionally, when venturing into a new area, do they ask one of the young guides for assistance. It is important to note that if you are someone who needs to be fully guided at all times – to have someone on hand to tie your knots, unhook your fish, and read water – this may not be the destination for you. The fishing is on a walk-in basis, so to get the full benefit of the very best runs and holding waters, anglers should be reasonably fit. The terrain is easy to hike but you should be prepared to cover a total of four to eight miles on most days. 

Equipment
You will definitely want to bring all equipment with you to Camp North, as the operation has nothing in the way of loaner or demo gear. That said, you can pre-order a selection of custom-tied flies, which will then be waiting for you on arrival. 
The fly selection is usually 75-to-100 Euros and includes both skating dry fly patterns as well as streamers and a few nymphs. For rods, a 9’ 6 wt. is ideal, and it is a good idea to bring at least two in the event that one breaks. Most of the time you will be fishing floating fly lines, and we always recommend a line with an aggressive front taper that is designed to throw heavy flies in windy conditions. Tippet and leaders are all based around 16 lb. test, and having a number of tapered 9’ 16-lb. leaders as well as a spools of 16 lb. and 12 lb. mono is recommended. 

If you are tying your own patterns (both streamers and skating dry flies) the Ahrex NS 122 in size 4 and 6 are the hooks you want. The Ahrex FW 581 barbless is also a great fly. Big char are incredibly strong, and many standard trout hooks will easily straighten or break. Remember that with this program, all flies are to be 100% barbless.

Package Rates
Remember that Yellow Dog’s services are completely free! When you book a trip with Yellow Dog, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge or outfitter.

Prices starting at 6,000 Euro per person.
*This price includes flights from Copenhagen, Denmark to Greenland*

What’s Included:

• Round-trip Air Greenland flights from Copenhagen, Denmark to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland and on to Sisimiut. 
• Round-trip boat transportation from Sisimiut to Camp North
• Single occupancy tent accommodations at Camp North
• All meals at the camp
• Non-alcoholic beverages
• DIY fishing and full access to waters on the Eqalususussuit River
• Two nights of double occupancy accommodations at the Hotel Sisimiut on the front and back end of the trip (single occupancy available for a small upcharge)).
• Arrival dinner and departure dinner at Hotel Sisimiut
• Breakfast at Hotel Sisimiut
• Airport transfers in Sisimiut
• Concession Fees
• Fishing License

What’s Not Included:

• International airfare to Copenhagen, Denmark (CPH)
• Additional meals, bar tab, and gift shop purchases in Sisimiut
• Gratuities for camp manager and staff
• Flies, terminal tackle and all equipment

Camp North (Sisimiut, Greenland)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS – CANCELLATIONS
Deposits and final trip payments are non-refundable. Additionally, the outfitter and Yellow Dog are not responsible for alternative travel arrangements including flights, hotels, meals, and any other expenses incurred due to travel or weather delays. For all of these reasons, and because of the operator’s no refund and no credit policy, Yellow Dog strongly recommends that anglers and guests purchase travel insurance and full coverage for your trip. If a cancelled package is resold by either the lodge or by Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, then a full refund will be issued minus a $100.00 per person fee charged by Yellow Dog. Inside of 120 days, the total price of the trip package will be kept by the outfitter, as flight tickets will have already been issued. Receipt of deposit and/or final payment is acknowledgment that registrant has read and accepts the deposit, cancellation, refund and responsibility clauses for these packages. Once again, Yellow Dog strongly recommends that anglers and guests purchase travel insurance for all Greenland packages.

Payment Terms for All Yellow Dog Trip Bookings  
Unless otherwise noted on your invoice, for all trips less than 90 days out, full payment is required after receipt of the confirmation email to secure guides and reservations. For trips outside of 90 days, a 50% deposit is required upon receipt of confirmation email to confirm your reservations.   

Yellow Dog accepts on-line payments via a secure payment portal – a quick and easy way to complete your trip reservation. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com to gain access. 

Yellow Dog Flyfishing Standard Forms of Payment 

• Debit card (fee-free) and credit card (3% convenience fee) - to pay via card please utilize the customer payment portal. If you need assistance, reach out to 406-585-8667 ext. #3 
• Wires - please include name and/or invoice number for reference on your wire. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com for wiring instructions. (Client is responsible for wiring fees) 
• Physical check - please include your invoice number in the memo. Mail checks to 213 S. Willson Ave. Bozeman, MT, 59715

If you have any questions about alternate payment methods, please contact Yellow Dog at (406) 585-8667 ext. #3. We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM MT. 

Typical Week-Long Trip Itinerary: 

Day 1: Arrival in Copenhagen, stay at airport hotel (optional).
Day 2: Morning flight to Sisimiut via Kangerlussuaq, transfer to Hotel Sisimiut,
afternoon sightseeing in town or relax at the hotel. Dinner at hotel.
Day 3: Boat transfer to camp, fishing the rest of the day.
Day 4-9: Six days (and nights) of fishing.
Day 10: Boat transfer to Hotel Sisimiut, farewell dinner and overnight.
Day 11: Morning flight back to Copenhagen.

F.A.Q.’s

Greenland looks huge – how many people live there?
Though Greenland is the world’s largest island, covering almost 850,000 square miles, almost 80% is always covered with ice. Only the areas along the coastal shores in the southern part of the country are inhabitable, and the population is around a mere 56.000 people, which gives the lowest population density in the world. 

What time zone is Greenland in?
The time zone in western Greenland, where we fish, is GMT -3.

What’s the weather like?
Temperatures may vary from a little below the freezing point warmer summer days in the 60s to 70s (Fahrenheit). The weather can and does change quickly, however, which means you need to be prepared for severe changes in temperature, wind, and precipitation during a day of fishing.

Is it light 24 hours a day?
The polar circle is close to Sisimiut, thus during most of the fishing season it will not be dark at night. It’s only during the latter part of August that there will be a few hours of darkness.

How do I get there?
To get to Sisimiut, you will need to fly to Copenhagen, Denmark (overnight in a hotel) and then to Sisimiut via Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. It’s approximately 4.5 hours from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq, and then a short domestic flight of 30 minutes to Sisimiut. You arrive early in the afternoon, settle in at Hotel Sisimiut, and have the rest of the afternoon for sightseeing and relaxation. The next day you transfer to the lodge by boat (approximately 2.5 hours transfer time).

Do I need a Visa?
Most nationalities only need a valid passport to visit Denmark and Greenland. Check online to make sure.

When is the best time to go?
The peak season is during July and August. The arctic char start running the rivers in late June, and by early September they become so interested in spawning that they need to be left alone. Also, once you get well into September, the weather can turn kind of rough.

How safe is Greenland?
Very safe! Think “modern world” without hard crime, heavy traffic, or air pollution. There are also no animals or critters that are a threat in these parts of Greenland. 

Do I need trip insurance?
Highly recommended due to the volatile nature of Greenland’s weather and the constant potential for flight delays. You also need a standard medical evacuation insurance policy that will cover the costs of getting you out of camp (typically by boat or via helicopter for emergencies) and back home safely. 

What languages are spoken?
Unless you are already fluent in Greenlandic (Eskimo-Aleut) you can usually get by with English – or Danish. Greenlandic people are known for their welcoming and hospitable nature. Don’t be surprised if locals strike up a conversation with you in the street.

Additional Notes on Key Pieces of Equipment for Camp North

You will definitely want to bring all equipment with you to Camp North, as the operation has nothing in the way of loaner or demo gear. For rods, a 9’ 6 wt. is ideal, and it is a good idea to bring at least two in the event that one breaks. Most of the time you will be fishing floating fly lines, and we always recommend a line with an aggressive front taper that is designed to throw heavy flies in windy conditions. Tippet and leaders are all based around 16 lb. test, and having a number of tapered 9’ 16-lb. leaders as well as spools of 12 lb. and 16 lb. mono is recommended. 

As for flies, if you would like to pre-order a selection of custom-tied flies, we can arrange to have them waiting for you on arrival. A pre-packaged fly selection is usually 75-to-100 Euros, and includes both skating dry fly patterns as well as streamers and a few nymphs.

Other key pieces of equipment include good, breathable waders and rubber-soled wading boots. Staying dry is super important. Start each hike with few layers, as you will heat up quickly when walking long distances to each section. Pack numerous warmer layers to then add on once you arrive. You will be doing a lot of hiking with this program, so leave the felt-soled boots at home. Plan on bringing along the best raincoat you have, as well as numerous layers of fleece, Poly Capilene, a good puffy coat, under-wader layers, stocking hats, and more socks than you expect to use. There is a large amount of hiking that is required with this program, and dialing in the right layering system is important. If things are rainy and wet, it can be hard to dry clothing, so bring along more layer than you normally would pack for other destination. 

One thing that you will absolutely need at Camp North is a comfortable, waterproof backpack. Bring one that is large enough to carry your personal equipment and gear up and down the river each day. Since spotting fish is a big part of the game on the Eqalususussuit River, having really good, polarized glasses is essential. Both a copper lens for bright and semi-bright days, as well as a yellow lens for cloudy and low-light days are highly recommended. You will also need a very warm sleeping bag as well as good waterproof luggage. Other useful items for this programs include a small blister kit, lots of extra socks (wool socks are ideal), and inflatable solar lantern, headlamp, and camp shoes to easily slip on and walk around camp.

Notes on Physical Fitness
It is wise to physically prepare for this trip, as this is a somewhat demanding fishery that requires a lot of walking and hiking. Being reasonably fit and ready to tackle walks of several miles is recommended for fishing in Greenland. The hiking is not hard, but as a general rule, the more you are willing to hike, the better the fishing you will find! The terrain is easy to hike but you should be prepared to cover a total of four to eight miles on most days.