Travel lighter
Carry a compact system instead of another long rod or bulky stand.
Back 40 Fishing
Our Story
A father’s original idea, carried forward by a small Canadian family business.
Built from experience
An idea passed from father to son.
Back 40 Fishing grew from a lifetime spent venturing beyond the easy-access spots in search of quiet, pristine lakes untouched by crowds.
As a child, I fished lakes across northern Alberta and Eastern Ontario with my family. Many of those trips took us off the main roads and deep into the backwoods. They taught me that some of the best fishing often begins where convenience ends.
As I got older, fishing took me even farther—from British Columbia and Alberta to the North Pole, the East Coast and back home to Eastern Ontario. I have had the opportunity to ice fish along all three of Canada’s coasts—Pacific, Arctic and Atlantic—and catching Arctic char in the Far North remains one of the experiences that shaped my connection to remote fishing.
Different places bring different conditions, but one challenge remains the same: everything you bring must be carried, protected and relied upon. Bulky equipment quickly becomes a burden when you are heading into the backcountry.
The name
Why Back 40?
The name comes from a saying I remember hearing as a child: “Heading out into the back 40.”
To me, the back 40 meant leaving the easy-access places behind and heading farther into the woods—toward quiet lakes, rough trails and places that required a little more effort to reach.
That same idea defines Back 40 Fishing today: practical equipment for anglers who travel beyond the pavement, carry their gear into the backcountry and find their own place on the ice.
The idea behind the Nomad
Carrying the idea forward.
The original idea for the Nomad came from my father. Today, I’m proud to carry that idea forward through Back 40 Fishing.
The Nomad reflects the way we have always approached the outdoors: keep things simple, carry only what you need and make practical use of what the backcountry provides.
Pack light. Fish far.Keep it practical
Create equipment that is straightforward to pack, set and use on the ice.
Built from experience
Design gear around the realities of travelling and fishing beyond the shelter.
Small family business
Built close to home. Made to go farther.
Back 40 Fishing is a small family business being built one Nomad at a time. Every detail comes back to the same goal: dependable equipment for anglers who leave the easy-access spots behind, explore farther and make the most of what the backcountry gives them.
Pack light. Fish far.