Bakers Narrows Lodge, one of Northern Manitoba's premier fishing lodges on Lake Athapapuskow, near Flin Flon, burned to the ground in an early morning fire yesterday.

Peg Baynton's Hill Valley Enterprises Ltd owns the 10-year-old lodge, renowned for its trophy fishing for lake trout, Northern pike and walleye. It was named "Outfitter of the Year" with North American Fishing Club in 2004.

The fishing lodge was located on Highway 10 between Cranberry Portage and Flin Flon. Industry Canada lists its annual sales at between $500,000 and $1 million annually.

The cause of the fire is unknown and the Office of the Fire Commissioner, along with police, are investigating, says Cpl. Miles Hiebert, an RCMP "D" Division media relations spokesperson in Winnipeg. "The building is reported to be an entire loss. A damage estimate is not available," Hiebert says. Police were dispatched to the fire scene just after 6 a.m. Feb. 4. "On arrival police discovered the Bakers Narrows Lodge completely engulfed. There were no injuries reported as a result of the fire. The building was reported to be unoccupied at the time," he said.