Cedar Lake Lodge: What to Bring for a World-Class Musky Adventure

Cedar Lake Lodge offers a premier multi-species paradise, but landing its legendary "true giants" requires a specialized arsenal of heavy-duty fly gear.
Fly gear

Cedar Lake Lodge, located in Northern Ontario’s Sunset Country, sits in the heart of one of the best musky fisheries in Canada. The lake holds impressive numbers of musky in the mid- to high-40-inch range, with true giants pushing the 50-inch mark. But Cedar Lake is more than a musky destination; it’s also loaded with big smallmouth bass, walleye, crappie, and northern pike. The lodge itself is clean, comfortable, well-run, and built for anglers. To make the most of this fishery, you need to come prepared.

Here are three essentials every guest should bring to Cedar Lake Lodge:

1. Bring the Right Flies:  Musky and Smallmouth Fly Patterns to Pack

Muskies aren’t picky about colour as much as they are about movement. Your fly needs to push water, kick, pulse, or glide; that’s what triggers a follow into a strike. Bring:

  • Musky flies in a variety of sizes, colours, and profiles
  • Patterns that move big water or create strong action
  • Flies that imitate baitfish, suckers, and wounded prey
  • Don’t forget smallmouth flies: Clousers, crayfish patterns, poppers, and big baitfish patterns like sculpins.

Musky will make your heart race, but Cedar Lake smallmouth are no joke either, and some push the upper end of what fly gear can handle.

flies
Photo credit: The New Fly Fisher

2. Choosing the Right Fly Rods for Musky and Smallmouth

Casting musky flies all day takes horsepower. Bring rods that match the job:

  • A 9-weight for smaller musky flies or calmer conditions
  • An 11-weight for bigger flies, deeper lines, and windy days, it makes a huge difference.

A 7-weight for smallmouth bass. These smallmouth can be big, and a 6-weight won’t cut it. The 7-weight gives you the backbone to turn these fish and still enjoy the fight.

fly rod
Photo credit: The New Fly Fisher

3. Fly Lines for Every Depth

Musky are ambush predators, and where they sit changes day to day. You need lines that let you cover the entire water column. Bring:

  • A floating line for shallow bays, timber edges, and surface work
  • Multiple sinking lines for musky—these are key.
    • Lines that suspend around 8 feet

Heavier depth chargers to get your fly down 12–15 feet

sonar
Photo credit: The New Fly Fisher

Being able to control depth is often the difference between seeing no fish and having one appear out of nowhere.

Good luck out there!

Recommended Articles

Fly-in Fishing

Why You Need to Book a Fly-in Fishing Trip

Fishing and Foraging

Add some fresh foods and forage to your fishing adventures!

Mississagi Multi-Species Magic

Equipped for outfitting sportsmen and providing family fishing vacations.

Lake of the Muskies: An Angler's Paradise in Northwest Ontario

It’s not a question of will you catch a musky, but of how many.

Double Trouble Trout

Twice the Fun Ice Fishing

Yellow Perch Egg-Stacy

Hardcore perch anglers, read on!

Reid's Birch Island Resort

Discover fine dining and gourmet shore lunches on offer at this angler's paradise

The Eagle has Landed

If you're looking to make your Ontario fishing dreams come true, this is the place to do it.

The Tigers of Sunset Country

The most picturesque of all freshwater fish.

Bass Fishing at Agnew Lake Lodge

This family-owned lodge is the perfect base for excellent angling adventures in Northeastern Ontario.

Forget Skinny Smallmouth

Chiblow Lake Lodge offers an all-inclusive experience on a smallmouth factory famous for 5-pound-plus bass.

The Lake of Many Bays

Fly-in Fishing at Pine Portage Lodge

Go Junk Fishing

Can't Find the Pattern? Do This Instead!

Salmon Fishing

The Michipicoten River is a Sleeper for Chinook

Top 5 Flies for Brook Trout

Favourite fly patterns from The New Fly Fisher

Ten Mile Lake Lodge

Enjoy Northern hospitality fishing for splake, brook trout and lake trout

Grand Tappattoo Resort: Fishing Adventures Near the GTA

A half-hour drive from Parry Sound = excellent pike and bass fishing.

Frequently Asked Questions About Grass Carp

Learn how to detect these fish species and how to keep them out of the Great Lakes.

Birchland Cottages: Modern comfort with classic Northern Ontario charm

This Clear Lake gem is a great for kids, and the fishing action is non-stop.

The Big Bass List: 5 Incredible Hotspots in Northern Ontario

From hidden back bays of Sunset Country to the legendary "wolf packs" of Lake Huron.