Bain Lake Outpost

About This Outpost

Three modern cabins with spacious living areas, comfortable seating area, separate bedrooms, fully modern bathrooms, and fully-stocked kitchens. Cabins house up to 4 people each on the massive, sprawling Bain Lake fishery, which provides excellent grand slam potential.

Accommodations

Lodging Type

Cabin

Max Guests

12

Amenities

Electricity: Yes - full electricity

Running Water: Yes

Hot Water: Yes

Shower: Yes

Sink: Yes

Toilet: flush

Heat: wood stove

WiFi

Cell: No

Satellite phone and Starlink internet

Laundry

Lounge Area

Dock

Fish Cleaning Station

Fish Freezer

Tackle Shop: No

Shore Lunch Kit: No

Other: Propane grills, ice machine, coolers, coffee maker, fully stocked kitchen

Fish Species

walleye pike lake trout grayling whitefish

Boats & Equipment

Boats Included

6

Boat Length

16.5 foot custom boats with casting decks

Motor

20 and 25 hp four-stroke motors

Motor Start

Pull

Motor Brand

Yamaha

Seat Type

Padded swivel seats with backrests

Gas Included

Yes

Lake Information

Bain Lake is an ultra-remote, sprawling, and expansive sub-Arctic fishery in Northern Manitoba that functions as a massive, high-flow convergence point on the North Seal River system. Connected to sister lake Belsham and fed by five distinct river systems, the massive multi-basin watershed covers over 50 miles of interconnected water featuring deep structural holes, rocky narrows, and current-swept choke points. This constant, nutrient-rich flow creates a world-class "Grand Slam" fishery supporting exceptional numbers and trophy sizes of Northern Pike, deep-water Lake Trout, aggressive Walleye, and hard-fighting Arctic Grayling. It would take all year to fish this system thoroughly.

Lake Name

Bain Lake

Province

Manitoba

Fishing Pressure

Minimal – massive system with only a single fishing camp.

Meals & Services

Guide Service

not available

Reviews & Reputation

4.3

Based on 8 reviews from across the web

Review Highlights

Guest sentiment about Gangler's North Seal River Lodge is strongly positive. The large majority of reviews are 5-star, and many come from repeat guests who report returning for 10, 18, 20 or 25 years. Owner Ken Gangler is mentioned often, usually for greeting guests at the plane and for his hands-on hosting. Lower ratings are a small minority, and most of them concern outpost camps rather than the main lodge.

Guests consistently praise the fishing. They describe large numbers of pike, walleye, lake trout and grayling, with days of 40 to 100+ fish common. Many report trophy or Master Angler pike of 40 inches or more, and several mention completing the Grand Slam. Fly-out trips to remote, lightly fished lakes are repeatedly called a highlight, and fly fishers say pike, trout and grayling take flies well. Guides are described as knowledgeable and personable, and several guests kept the same guide all week. Food is widely called excellent, including shore lunches, and dietary restrictions and allergies were handled well. Cabins are described as comfortable and clean, and Starlink internet is mentioned favorably. Camp managers at the outposts (Maria, Bain, Clifton, Burnie) are often singled out for friendliness and hard work. Many reviews also praise the eco-tours and northern lights viewing, with wildlife sightings (wolves, caribou, bears), esker hikes, ATV rides and kayaking. Non-anglers rate these highly.

Recurring concerns are mostly about outpost camps. Several reviewers report worn or leaking boats and motors, and rocky lakes (Bain, Burnie) where boats hit rocks and motors were damaged. A few guests were upset by repair charges or by a lack of acknowledgment from the owner afterward. The owner disputed some of these accounts. A few Maria Lake guests said the advertised portage lakes were unavailable, and one said this was not communicated beforehand. Some reviewers said outposts and mini-lodges are comfortable but rustic and do not match the "five-star" description. Other practical notes: early-season weather can be windy and wet, a late ice-out can slow fishing, black flies and mosquitoes can be a problem at certain times, the tackle shop is limited, and travel is long because the lodge is remote. Guests also mention that the fishing is expensive, though some feel it is worth it.

The destination suits trophy pike, walleye and lake trout anglers, and fly-fishing enthusiasts who want a lot of action. It also suits groups of friends and father-son or family trips, including first-time young anglers and older guests. The main lodge, with fly-outs, is the most consistently praised option. Non-fishing travelers who want northern lights, wildlife and guided hikes are well served by the eco-tours. Outpost guests should expect simpler facilities and should check boat and motor condition and which portage lakes are actually accessible.

Read all 8 reviews

Mike Borger Mar 12, 2020

Forum

Gangler's Bain Lake Outpost - Video

Last year my son Brendan and I fished Gangler's Bain Lake outpost camp in northern Manitoba for two weeks and not surprisingly it was an amazing experience! Despite battling some really inclement weather, east winds and historically low water levels, we caught a stupid number of fish. Plenty of trophy sized pike, and once we figured out the program trophy lakers as well. Walleye were as easy and abundant as I've ever seen. The camp was great, the boats were great, the food was great - no complaints on that front at all. Although what's described as a 5 star outpost is most definitely not. It has lots of amenities and is quite comfortable for being so far north, but it's NOT 5 star!

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RichJohnStan Jul 18, 2013

TripAdvisor

An experience of the unspoiled wilds of northern Manitoba while staying in a comfortable and friendly lodge.

Paraphrase: Spent four days at the main lodge and three at the Bain Lake outpost while doing bird surveys. Saw good bird diversity and signs of wolves, caribou, bears and more, and found the eskers great for hiking. Rates the lodge, food and staff as excellent. Bain was more rustic but comfortable, with well-kept boats and a helpful manager.

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Ian Banfield

Outfitter

Mike Borger Bain Lake Summer Slam

Paraphrase: A 2024 guest on the Mike Borger hosted Bain Lake trip says it was his favourite trip to date, with amazing multi-species fishing and flawless logistics. The page also praises camp manager Cory Burke.

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Ron N

TripAdvisor

Bain Lake was Awesome!!

My cousin and I had the opportunity to spend a week at Bain Lake Outpost Camp in July of this year. We had a 4 person cabin all to ourselves. There were 2 other groups at the camp that week, but Bain is so big, we rarely saw anyone else out on the water. There's shallow bays for pike, moving water for walleye, and deep holes for lake trout. And the fish did not disappoint. We've been all over Canada and this was one our best trips. The cabin was nice and the camp manager kept things humming along.

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Julie C

TripAdvisor

Bain Lake was disappointing - not the same experience as others at other Gangler sites.

My husband and I booked our trip and had reservations in that the only communication we had pre-trip was with a representative based in Florida. We had been advised that guide service would be available. Upon arrival, the camp manager informed us that he was not familiar with the lake and could not guide us. The camp manager arrived on the same flight as us, so the cabins were not ready, and meat was delivered frozen. The locations that we were advised of to try for grayling were impossible to access. Between the four of us we caught a total of four lake trout. The walleye fishing and northern fishing were fine, but not exceptional. In visiting with other guests at the main lodge or other outposts, their experience was far better. We all truly wish that we had experienced Gangler's at another location other than Bain Lake. (Owner responded Feb 13, 2023, apologizing.)

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Thomas V

TripAdvisor

Fishing at Bain Lake

This was our 11th year at the Bain outpost. We find the camp always in great condition and our new camp manager Cory was FANTASTIC!! Ken Gangler always seems to find great people to run his Bain outpost. It's very organized, ready to go and well run. For the food provisions there are plenty of options for the week to go along with the fish we catch. The non-stop service from Winnipeg to North Seal River was a great upgrade this year.

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Fred S

TripAdvisor

Finally had time!!

I finally had the time to fish with my 2 boys and a lifelong buddy from high school. Ganglers could not have done a better job of hosting us at their Bain Lake outpost camp. Fishing was unbelievable !! The walleye numbers were incredible as well as huge pike caught multiple times daily. The camp was well stocked, the boats clean and reliable and Cory the camp manager could not do enough to make sure our stay was hassle free. Terrific experience and 'the boys' are already planning our next trip back.

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Duane D

TripAdvisor

Gangler's- Bain Lake Outpost- Good staff and Scenery, aging equipment and a questionable motor charge ruined the trip

Our group of eight traveled to Gangler's Bain Lake outpost in July, 2026. The transportation from Winnipeg to the main lodge and then to Bain Lake was smooth, and the staff at the lodge were friendly. At the outpost, Cory (camp manager/chef) and Ryan (guide) did a solid job all week. Meals were good. The equipment, however, was noticeably worn. The 16' boats leaked enough that we had to drain them every morning. The 25 HP Yamaha motors showed clear signs of heavy use. Bain Lake is full of rocks, and every boat in our group hit rocks at some point. After the impact, the motor wouldn't engage. We were first told the repair would cost around $100, later $650, and on the final day $1456. Fishing was generally good for lake trout and decent for walleye, though not very many were trophy sized. Pike fishing was below expectations. Personally, I would not return to Gangler's. (Owner responded Aug 11, 2026, disputing the equipment and damage claims.)

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