My Partner Loves Fishing, I Don't. Will Tincup Work for Us?

Photo credit: Meinrad Humm, Tincup Wilderness Lodge
 

My partner loves fishing, I don’t. Will Tincup work for us?
 

Short answer: yes.
Tincup works exceptionally well for couples where one person loves fishing and the other doesn’t. The experience is designed to balance time apart with meaningful time together—without either person feeling like they’re compromising their idea of a great wilderness trip.
 
 

Yes, it really works

This is one of the most common dynamics at Tincup:
one partner is passionate about fishing, while the other has little or no interest.

Tincup isn’t something you have to make work in this situation. It’s designed for it.

You spend parts of the day apart, each doing what you genuinely enjoy. You come back together for meals and evenings. Neither of you has to pretend. Neither of you has to compromise.

How the days naturally unfold

For your fishing partner

• Morning: Breakfast together, then out on the water fishing
• Midday: Return to the Lodge for lunch
• Afternoon: Back on the water or joining you for another activity
• Evening: Dinner, campfire and time together

For you (the non-angler)

• Morning: Wildlife hike, solo canoe, sauna and hot tub, photography or quiet time
• Midday: Lunch together at the Lodge
• Afternoon: Paddle, hike, nap, read, sketch or explore nearby trails
• Evening: Shared dinner, stargazing and conversation

The rhythm is simple:
separate mornings and afternoons, shared meals and evenings.
Both experiences carry equal importance.

Why this works at Tincup

No pressure to fish

At many fishing lodges, non-anglers feel like spectators. Not fishing isn’t an exception. It’s normal.

Activities are equally supported

Fishing doesn’t receive all the attention while everything else feels secondary. Canoes, kayaks, trails, sauna time and support are fully available to non-anglers throughout the stay.

The wilderness is the focus

Tincup isn’t a fishing lodge with extras. It’s a wilderness lodge where fishing happens to be outstanding. That distinction shapes the entire experience.

What non-fishing partners actually do all day

Morning options

• Wildlife hikes (moose, bears and eagles)
• Solo canoe or kayak exploration
• Photography outings, from landscapes to macro details
• Wood-fired, lakeside sauna sessions
• Coffee and reading on the dock

Midday

• Lunch together
• Unstructured time for journaling, sketching, resting or wandering

Afternoon

• A second hike or exploration
• Scenic boat rides (no fishing required)
• Shoreline walks and nearby trails
• Another sauna session

Evening

• Family-style dinner
• Campfire, conditions permitting
• Northern lights viewing in late season
• Stargazing and long conversations

Real Couples, Real Experiences

“My husband fished every morning while I hiked. We had lunch together, then I’d paddle while he fished again. Every evening, we reconnected. Best vacation dynamic we’ve ever had.”
— Guest review, TripAdvisor

“I was dreading this trip because I thought it was all fishing. Turns out, I had the better wildlife sightings—grizzly, moose with calf, bald eagle nest. My wife caught fish. We both won.”
— Guest review, TripAdvisor

“I’ve never fished in my life. I spent five days kayaking, hiking and reading. My partner caught his personal-best lake trout. We both came home saying it was the trip of a lifetime.”
— Guest review, TripAdvisor

Why the midday reunion matters

Lunch becomes the anchor point of the day.

Your partner returns energized from the water.
You return with stories from the trail, the lake or the sauna.

You reconnect without either of you feeling pulled away from what you enjoy most. That balance—autonomy paired with daily reconnection—is what makes the experience feel restorative rather than negotiated.

Can you change your mind and try fishing?

Yes—and many people do.

Some non-anglers decide to try fishing mid-trip out of curiosity. Others never do. Both choices are completely fine.

If you decide to try it:

• Gear is ready
• Instruction is patient and pressure-free
• Catch-and-release removes expectations

If you try it once and decide it’s not for you, you simply return to hiking or exploring.

If your partner hopes you’ll finally like fishing

Sometimes fishing-obsessed partners quietly hope this will be the trip that converts you.

Maybe it will. Maybe it won’t.

Tincup removes the tension either way. Your partner can fish without guilt. You can enjoy the wilderness without pretending. Shared meals and evenings provide connection without obligation. Most couples realize by day two that the setup works exactly as it should.

Will I be lonely while they fish?

Short answer: no.

• There are usually other non-anglers or casual fishers around
• Solitude is optional, not imposed
• You reconnect several times every day

Quiet time here feels intentional, not isolating.

Things you can do together (if you want)
 

• Scenic boat rides
• Tandem canoe or kayak trips
• Wildlife hikes
• Evening campfires
• Northern lights viewing

You control the balance. Togetherness is available, not mandatory.

What to tell your fishing-obsessed partner

If they’re worried you’ll be miserable while they fish:

“I’ll hike, paddle and explore while you fish. We’ll eat together, talk every evening and both come home happy. This is one trip where neither of us has to compromise.”

Non-angler packing essentials
 

• Waterproof hiking boots
• Layered clothing, including rain gear
• Binoculars
• Camera
• Book or journal
• Daypack
• Sunscreen and bug spray (early season)

The bottom line

Tincup isn’t a fishing lodge that tolerates non-anglers.
It’s a wilderness lodge that fully welcomes them.

Your partner will fish.
You’ll explore.
You’ll meet again at the table with stories to share.

That’s not a compromise.
That’s the point.