DLancer7676 Loc: East Tennessee

My fishing Buddy and I are planning to take a week long trip to Ontario. We’d like to fish for Walleye and Lake Trout. We’re older, so would probably prefer a lodge with an American plan. There must be HUNDREDS of lodges which makes it very confusing to select one. Just wondering if any of you guys have experienced any of the fishing lodges, drive-in OR fly-in that you’d recommend?

Joe Beaderman Loc: Adams Nebraska

My suggestion is Lake Anishinabi. Fantastic walleye and lake trout fishing. Have to port in or fly in.

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

We had gone to Canada for nearly 50 years and have fished in many different places. Some good, some bad. We haven't gone back since the Covid Outbreak. My advice; forget The Lake of the Woods if you want to catch quality fish, too much pressure, and too close, everybody goes there, including us, my brother and my two boys, ages 57 & 53, but, there are still my boys. We consider this as a family outing rather than a fishing trip. If I want to catch some walleyes I'll go down to the Miss. River. Anyway and anyhow, if you are going after quality, 25+" walleye, you have to get off of the beaten path. However that may happen, fly-in, drive-in, or boat-in. Preferably, only a few cabins on the lake. No big lodges. If your cabin is on a decent road, there is probably too much pressure on the lake. Do your research now and book as soon as you can. The good ones go very fast and it is probably too late now. Good luck!

Wolf Bay Loc: Al Gulf Coast

Oak Lake lodge is a great fly in lake for walleye, smallmouth (some really nice smallmouth) and northern pike. I have been to Oak Lake at least 12 times over the years including last year. Had always fished outpost until I went there; was so good I didn’t try anywhere else with American Plan.

Since I have been going there John has upgraded several cabins and built two new cabins and all new kitchen. Food is good and the guides fix shore lunch daily (you don’t have to use a guide to have shore lunch).

The lake is catch and release (besides it is just too much of a hassle to try to bring fish across the boarder) and John is the only outfitter on the lake (lake is about 21 miles long with miles of Bays).

I fly into Winnipeg and drive a rental car to Vermillion Bay to catch the plane. You can also fly into International Falls, but I have had some air connection issues with that. While a nice drive, staging out of Minneapolis is about eight hours I think (if you do, plan on spending an hour in Duluth for lunch or dinner).

Attached is a 39” northern I caught on an ultralight last June.

Contact me if you have questions.

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

Nice fish Wolf

Billy Bob Loc: Terre Haute,IN

We have been going to KaBeelo Lodge since 1988. 1st class people and accommodations. We do the fly in to an isolated lake, but they have very nice cabins and boat rentals if needed. You can drive to lodge. Confederate Lake which the lodge is on has walleye, northern, and lake trout. The fly in lakes have walleye and northern no lake trout. Last year on the fly in our group (8 guys) caught 1163 walleye, 156 northern, and had 79 walleye over 20" with the biggest being a little over 27".
You can check them out at KaBeelo Lodge.com Click on Lake Bertha and you will be able to see our results year to year. Barnes Party.

Wolf Bay Loc: Al Gulf Coast

How do you keep count. For the most part, we were too busy catching fish to count. We don’t make it a competition (except for longest) so it is much more relaxing.

Many double ups while walleye fishing and Oak Lake has the best smallmouth fishing I have ever seen. I like that one can fish all day and never see another boat- unless you want to.

johnklang Loc: Oakhurst, CA

[quote=DLancer7676]My fishing Buddy and I are planning to take a week long trip to Ontario.

I've been here twice, great food, great fishing, wonderful staff. I don't think there is a big lake trout fishery there, predominantly musky, walleye, small mouth. http://www.witchbay.com/

DLancer7676 Loc: East Tennessee

Thanks for the input and ideas. I’ve been looking at the websites for the lodges you’ve mentioned—even a phone call to John at Oak Lake. Nice guy!

Billy Bob Loc: Terre Haute,IN

Wolf Bay
We use to not keep count till one of the guys that went with us ask us to. Said his friends did not believe the amount of fish he was reporting. We have a guy who brings click counters and really is easy to do. I know it sounds a bit crazy, but has gotten to be a lot of fun to keep track of. I assure you we are all die hard fishermen, and our trip is not just about numbers. One guy who fishes with us is a retired math teacher and keeps all the records ie amount, depth, color etc. Now it has gotten to be so precise that the lodge collects our data and puts in on their web site. To view go to KaBeelo.com and click on lake Bertha/ Barnes party. I have folks going to the lake for the 1st time call me for all sorts of information about how/ where etc to fish the lake. We always share so everyone can have a great experience. With 5 guys fishing for 5 days, we have gone over 1500 several times. I wish the lake had Smallies, but we are too far north. Only walleye and northern. We are also the only cabin on lake and you never see another boat.

Wolf Bay Loc: Al Gulf Coast

We throw $20.00 into the pot and longest walleye and northern split the pot. Last June I won both. Felt a little bad about taking the money since only one of the other seven was really a fisherman, but you pays your money and take your chances.

Sounds like both places are good destinations. Is yours outpost? When younger I enjoyed outpost, but now, at 74, I like for others to clean the fish, cook the meals and have a clean room when I come in after fishing all day. I also enjoy the fly in.

Wolf Bay Loc: Al Gulf Coast

John does all he can to make the trip work.

Billy Bob Loc: Terre Haute,IN

Yes, ours's is an outpost with us being the only cabin on the lake. I am 76 and take care of the cooking and let the younger ones handle the rest of it. We also throw $20 in the pot for biggest walleye and northern. Lot of fun. Been going to same lake since 1988.

DLancer7676 Loc: East Tennessee

See ⬇️

DLancer7676 Loc: East Tennessee

Thanks again for all the great feedback. Another question—what’s the best repellent for BOTH, Canadian mosquitoes and biting flies? Repel 100 looks good at 98% DEET, but we’d like to use something we know would work. And please don’t say “Avon Skin So Soft”. I tried that hoax years ago in the backcountry. Skeeters just licked the stuff off before biting. Lol!