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

The Eyes Have it

How to Use a Natural Resource as Bait

Legend of the White worm

Learn to Fish for Bass With This Lure

Six Species on Six Lakes at Slippery Winds

The Ontario Experience visits Sunset Country in sight of endless fish.

Fish'n Canada in The Rough

Pete Bowman of Fish'n Canada and Keith Beasley of Canada in the Rough Pair up for Some Wild Bass Fishing

White(fish) North

Ontario's Lakes Offer Unlimited Opportunities

Friends in Fishy Times

An ode to fishing buddies new and old.

Rainy Lake Walleye

Fishing at La Belle’s Birch Point Camp

Pro Fishing Photos

Helping You Take Better Photos of Your Catch

Crackin' The Code

Tips to Pattern Lake Trout in Ontario

Float Fishing

The Fast Track to Superior Steelhead

Tactical Trophy Trouting

Ice adventures for Lake Trout fishing across Northern Ontario

The Complete Wilderness Experience with Air Dale

Air Dale offers drive-in and fly-in trips for some of the finest wilderness fishing and hunting in Algoma Country.

Making Fishing Memories

There's no better way to start spending time with your family and friends.

A Walleye Fly-in Outpost

Fly-in to remote Wanzatika Lake with Hearst Air Service.

Five Star Fishing

Birch Island Resort in Sunset Country is a beautiful resort offering world-class fishing.

Wilderness Walleye

Bad Weather didn't stop the Walleye from biting on Mattagami Lake.

Fly-In Smallmouth

A Northern Ontario fishing trip to Hastie Lake.

Big Water Fall Walleye

Find out why Fall Walleye are a favourite for this Ontario fishing blogger.

5 Adjustments for Fishing Cold Front Smallmouth Bass in Ontario

Smallmouth bass are considered the weather watchers of fresh water.

Fly Fishing in Ottawa

The Ottawa River is famous for musky, bass, trout and garpike.