Canadian fishing destinations

Didn’t want to hi-jack the other thread but that one got me to thinking. Where are some good places to go for fishing trips into Canada? The question is purposely vague as I’d like to get a good variety of answers. I think personally I would prefer to go the remote camping route but the wife and some of my friends may prefer the more of a rustic resort type place.

Aside from the boundary waters when I was quite young the only time I’ve been fishing in Canada was a trip about 4 years ago to souix narrows. Fishing was decent (not lights out) but the campground was similar to what you might find down here with people 20 ft away from you. I didn’t plan the trip so didn’t have a say there.

What are some remote destinations with lights out fishing and great scenery that you like to visit? Is there a good website or group with different options listed?

You and I have been thinking the same thing. I also enjoyed being an onlooker of that other thread and it really got me thinking too. Very interested to see the replies. I imagine there will be a huge backlog and waiting list once Canada allows foreigners in but maybe a few years down the road I can take that trip.

In my opinion, nothing compares to a week-long fly-in trip around Ear Falls or Red Lake, Ontario. Most of them now have solar power, showers, propane for hot water and cooking. Still have outhouses, so the wife might object.
I also made several trips to Reed Lake, Manitoba, near Flin Flon. It’s managed for trophy pike, my best was 47-1/2″. That’s the photo in my profile here. It also has walleye and lakers. We went around the second week of June, hopefully just after ice- out. There’s a public campground there with a shower and outhouses.

We have a group that has gone on a fly-in out of Ear Falls on Kayair for years. The cabins have solar and propane and are very comfortable. It does have the outhouse but they are clean and solid. The fishing is outstanding most of the time with a big area offering multiple species. I doubt we will get up there this year either but still have a little bit of hope. It is incredibly relaxing when you are up there and well worth it IMO.

Anybody been to Reindeer Lake and more specifically Kinoosao? I was there on a lake trout / pike trip about 25 years ago and it was a pretty memorable experience. We did the trip with a regular cab pickup and a 16 foot tiller lund and hired a local guide to take us out. I know we caught quite a few large pike but the laker fishing was a little slow…likely because we did not have the right equipment for that time of year in deep water. This was before electronics were much of anything. We stopped at a little lake on the way and slayed the walleyes though. I recall average size was mid 20’s. If you are looking for an adventure, you can’t really go much farther north by road in Manitoba.

kbmwer wrote:

We have a group that has gone on a fly-in out of Ear Falls on Kayair for years. The cabins have solar and propane and are very comfortable. It does have the outhouse but they are clean and solid. The fishing is outstanding most of the time with a big area offering multiple species. I doubt we will get up there this year either but still have a little bit of hope. It is incredibly relaxing when you are up there and well worth it IMO.

We have done KayAir for 10 years! Peter is quite the character! We have done all of his outposts and like birch the best. We got into a couple of lakers on our last trip and are really itching to go back and try for them again.

I’ve never casted into a Canadian lake and want to get up there soon. When I do make my first trip I would like to do a fly-in.

I’ll be keeping an eye on this thread.

i’ve been to lake minnitaki in ontario, stayed in my dads RV

lac suel…..stayed at a resort in cabin. the resort was more of a flyin place but has cabins. it rained and stormed almost the whole time there but still managed to fish in between.

also went to lake sipiwisk, way up into manitiba. strickly camped. 60 mile boat ride to where we fished one way. i was not the guide!!!!! but the fishing was awesome.

I’ve driven to a family friend’s place on Lake Marmion near Atikokan, Ontario quite a few times. That area seemed real remote and we had solid fishing for walleyes and big pike. You could fish for a week and never touch the same spot or see more than one or two boats. Without GPS you’d be lost within minutes as everything looks the same and the waters with the maze of islands and narrows going to the horizon.

In recent years the Smallmouth populations have exploded. A lot of the “locals” cannot stand them. It seems even Canadian waters that are warming over time are shifting towards bass populations like some in Minnesota. I’d bet you could catch a SMB on 50% of your casts on some of the structure where we were if you cared to target them. We probably landed ~100 or so in a couple hours near one of the falls where they were stacked. Cast a jig and minnow into the face of the falls and set the hook as soon as you close the bail.

I too will be following this thread. We’ve got a group that’d love to spend 4 or 5 days chasing walleyes with a day chasing trophy pike someplace fairly remote.

I’d second Red Lake, Ontario as fly-out base. Check out Amik Outposts. Great website and John keeps a blog loaded with info. Good people too.

In my opinion one of the first decision factors is; do you want the luxuries of your own boat?

Fishing for a week without good electronics and a spot lock trolling motor makes that decision pretty easy for me.

I have a serious paranoia about underwater rocks so autochart/quickdraw/sonarchart live really help out!

Ron wrote:

I also made several trips to Reed Lake, Manitoba, near Flin Flon. It’s managed for trophy pike, my best was 47-1/2″. That’s the photo in my profile here. It also has walleye and lakers. We went around the second week of June, hopefully just after ice- out. There’s a public campground there with a shower and outhouses.

X2 on Reed lake. I have been there several times now. Keep in mind that this is only for those looking for a real Rustic Trip. I don’t think many Wife’s would enjoy this destination. As far as I know there is only one resort on the lake – REALLY expensive from what I’ve been told. The Campground right next to the public landing has no electricity ( You will need a Generator ) shower about 2X2 in size with a small solar panel that may get the water to 40 deg. on a warm day. About 1.5 -2 Hr’s one way to the nearest Gas station or store
( Better bring all the gas and food you will need for your trip ) Long drive to get there ( 14Hrs from St Cloud ) But the Fishing is Great. Unlimited amount of pike in the 30-34″ range with a good amount of 40″+ fish. Walleyes almost at will. Great Lake trout fishing if you arrive close enough to ice out. Not deep water Lake trout fishing but shallow water fishing. Lots of fish in the 8-12Lb. range. They are a blast on typical walleye or bass setups.

Owner of NW Ontario resort we go to insists border will be open by May.

This is who we have been going through for awhile. There is another outfit in Nestor Falls that I have heard is very similar. We fish only the smaller lakes that are remote and fly in only – check out Cleft and Gordon.

The real draw for me is it is reasonable and it’s only 90 minutes north of the border. You can be at a completely remote camp with a half days drive and 45 minute flight and it is reasonable. The fishing is lights out and the small cabins are great. Even though you are on your own the cabin has solar power and propane so you have a fridge and warm water.

https://www.northwestflying.com/

Lot of good options laid out here.

I have been to 3 of these lakes, Mahekun, which is the cushiest, wives would approve… inside toilets/showers, full kitchen, internet….then Brisebois (been there 7 times) and Carlson once. Brisebois and Carlson are rustic… there are generators, a outhouse and shower and hot running water in kitchen at Brisebois.. Carlson is more rustic with no shower or running water in kitchen. I like Brisebois the best for arms falling off walleye in the 15-24″ range and monster pike… over 40″ are common, our biggest was a 54′, my personal best is a 52″. Once the float plane drops you off… YOU ARE ALONE !!! Bring a sat phone for emergency. Only cabin on the lake. Lots of Loons and Eagles… the occasional Moose or Bear or Wolf. Now I want to go again !!! We drive all the way to Lynn Lake and then the 30 minute flight to the lakes. Its an 18 hour drive from St Cloud, MN.

Lynn Lake

I have fished canada extensively since 1983. Many tradeoffs for each destination. My advice would be first to decide who exactly would be going with you. Then list the priorities for the group. After that a visit to the northwest sport show in minneapolis would help. Or scour the internet and come up with choices and someone here has probably been there or know someone who has. Fly-in vs camping vs american plan vs housekeeping plan vs drive to by car vs drive to by boat. Lots of choices, all can be great, but the group’s priorities will narrow it down.

What seems like an insignificant decision, might not be. Drive to by car or drive to by boat? Generally drive to by boat feels much more remote, which some will really like. But it involves a lot of loading and unloading on both ends and getting your stuff from the dock to the cabin. If it is raining on your way to the resort or coming back from the resort and your boat is not covered it can be a real hassel. Like having to put everything in plastic garbage bags.

Sylvanboat wrote:

Owner of NW Ontario resort we go to insists border will be open by May.

He be wrong.

Sylvanboat wrote:

Owner of NW Ontario resort we go to insists border will be open by May.

As much as I’d like him to be correct. I think he probably should go see a mental heath professional if he Truly believes that

We go to Reel Em Lodge on lake of the woods. They do all the meals. You can bring your own boat or use one of theirs. We bring our own boat and its about 30 min boat ride from Morrison Ontario. It’s totally different fishing on the Canadian side of Lake of the Woods.

Sylvanboat wrote:

Owner of NW Ontario resort we go to insists border will be open by May.

Like others have said, no chance by May. Unless he meant May 2022 or May 2023.

Green Back Walleyes @ Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba! I have no clue where or what time of the year but,,,,

USA
Columbia River Washington or Oregon Walleyes

Lake Cascade MomboZilla Perch Idaho

Just bucket trips.

sipple31 wrote:

In my opinion one of the first decision factors is; do you want the luxuries of your own boat?

Fishing for a week without good electronics and a spot lock trolling motor makes that decision pretty easy for me.

I have a serious paranoia about underwater rocks so autochart/quickdraw/sonarchart live really help out!

Most fly-in cabins now have solar panels to run lights and water pump. We took portable sonars and tapped into the cabin batteries to recharge our sonar batteries. You don’t need anything fancy on fly-in lakes to locate fish, and the outfitters put jugs out to mark hazards and fishing spots. You can catch fish without even trying. Once I was sitting in the boat taking a break with my jig hanging over the side of the boat no more than 2 feet down and my rod started jumping. Fish on. Fly-ins are a great experience everyone who loves fishing should have.

Nice crossover idea…find a remotely located lodge that one can drive to, but way off the grid on a big lake in Ontario. Stayed at such a place on Eagle Lake almost 20 years straight. Used to be very hard to get a cabin and had to reserve a year ahead of time. Eagle had great quality fish and was big enough to get out away from the big camp guide boats. A good gps unit a must. Known for musky and walleye. Fairly reasonable price, good for everyone in the family. Not your hard core fly-in or bushwhack experience. For that take a canoe trip into the Quetico for a week.

We had a group that went to Eagle Lake in Ontario for about 15 years, massive body of water with great laker, walleye, pike & muskie fishing. We stayed at a resort with all the creature comforts. We’d be gone all day and have a shore lunch somewhere.