Canadian Question

[P. Norts]

Background: Have been fishing Rainy Lake (American side) with the family every summer for about 8 years. Love it, but it's taken a long time to learn it because it's so dang huge, and we still haven't fished all of it. Some days are good, and some days we get skunked (unlike the locals). We've learned how to use the electronics fairly well, but we're still not experts at finding and catching fish. There are bazillions of fish in that lake but we often struggle to find them. We do ok, but we're not the type who can consistently head out and find good fish. I'm not complaining - I just love being on the water, but they want to catch fish, and our inexperience shows on a lot of days.

My boys (20 and 21) and I want to have a "Canadian fishing experience," one of those in which you catch a lot of fish every day, including some monsters, and we would also like to catch some big Northerns (just because). It was on my mind to find something driveable (say within four to six hours of Int'l Falls) because of our comfort level with our boat (19' Lund) and the electronics. I spoke with a number of people at the All Canada show and I got some very interesting and contrary insights. I also got information overload - I must have picked up two hundred brochures, and it all looks great (naturally).

Some made the excellent point that if it's driveable, it's going to be much more heavily fished and therefore less rewarding. They also note that because some of those resorts house dozens, even hundreds, of fisherman each week, the pressure on those lakes diminishes the experience. And, it's worth noting that some of the more popular lakes, such as Lake of the Woods and Lac Seul, are as big as or larger than Rainy, and so all we may have done is to drive further north for the same experience - good, but not great. Those people say that fly-in and outpost experiences are the only way to go, and that having a lake all to yourself is an incredible experience (I can see that).

Others suggest that those places are better suited for "expert" fishermen who know how to find fish wherever they go, even without electronics, and that we would be more successful at a place further south, with our own equipment and access to a guide if we wish. They also suggest that smaller lakes mean smaller fish - not as many "holy cow" experiences. I did also notice that many of those remote places have boats that appear to be too small for three people, and I don't want to split us up.

I'm at a loss. I want to hook these boys on this now, while they're young, in the hopes that it can be something we do annually for the next 30 years. Going remote doesn't worry me a bit - I would love a remote outpost fly-in if I can be sure they will be hooked. I need a sure thing fish-wise as well as a life-altering experience for them. It can't be $3000 apiece either since I am paying for all three of us. (Hopefully that will change when they are out of college!)

Your thoughts? Drive or fly? Do I really need my own boat, or can we be sure of catching a lot of fish without it? Big lake or small, outpost or resort?

[Fred_G]

P. Norts,

Send me an e-mail.

[dented boat guy]

When I take my kids, ages 10 and 16, we go to Lac Seul. Yes it is big water, but the walleyes are everywhere and you don't need to go far to catch them. Lac Seul has many resorts from which to choose and many of them have guides if needed. With basic fishing knowledge you should do very well on Lac Seul. Don't let its size intimidate you. Another option is Lake St. Joseph. It is more of a trip distance wise but drivable to, also the number of anglers on St Joes is limited by the MNR so you will see very few other anglers. St. Joes was the first time we caught 140 walleye in one day(fishing in Wisconsin for 3-4 small eyes has never been the same since that trip to St Joes). St Joes is also big water but your boat is bigger than mine. Go to the Canada forum for other opinions

P. Norts, We fish LOTW Canada each year and have good and bad days just like you. The entire family goes in an RV and we do some swimming and tubing. Great location, good compromise for my boys, 14 and 18 years. They don't want to fish hard core all the time.

Before our outings tuned into family trips, I would do a "guys" trip every year. Fished Maintou, DogTooth, LOTW and others. The last and best trip that I took was to way north lodge. Fly in, remote as heck. North of Red Lake.

Let me give it to you straight. Take a look at the pictures on this site. They are no bull. It is catch and release only for pike and has been for years, so all those big pike pictured are still there. You can fish 6 lakes via fly in and portages. LOTS of LARGE pike, my arm almost fell off. We would catch about 10 large pike each per day. I was with my uncle and we went just for large Northern, so we did not do much walleye fishing. I did fish for walleye off the shore at lunch and would catch walleye every day. As you can see in the photos, they have walleye also, but the main course is big pike.

The resort is old, a good fish camp, not a fancy snobby resort. But I like it that way. The owners are young, full of energy and grew up doing this stuff, so they know what they are doing and good at it. I've been to resorts with nicer cabins, but never had fishing this great.

If its fishing you want, this is the place. Great trip and adventure and I will return and take my boys. (Once I think that can hack it!)

Id recommend a guide for a few days to get the locations and patterns down, and the rates for guides are very cheap, compared with US.

Make sure to take head nets for mosquitos. The bugs are bad.

Good luck and good fishing.

Take a look at http://www.waynorthlodge.com

[Jimmy Jig]

If you are fishing Rainy Lake you shouldn't have any trouble getting fish. Maybe you should try the Canadian side? Or, better yet get a GOOD guide. This would be much cheaper than going to a remote fly-in lake. All fly-in lakes are not a sure bet for lots of fish either. The pictures always look good at a sports show.

[freespoolin]

I recommend Red Lake/Keg Lake/Gullrock.
My experience has been over 10 years fishing Red and Keg. Others on this board have done very well on Gullrock.
We've always caught fish on Red Lake and there is very little fishing pressure. We stay at Sunset Lodge, very well run camp. Red is very good for walleye and pike and is steady from May to September.