Eagle Lake Island Lodge
Many of us have places we visit that we hold very near to our hearts. Whether for the amazing fishing, great food, the experience, breathtaking views or whatever trips that emotional trigger, some places on earth are just a tad more special. I have a few of those destinations I must visit every year, and Eagle Lake Island Lodge in Ontario's Sunset Country is near the top of that list.
It's typically not just one thing but multiple key things that make this place so important—driving me back on an annual trip. It starts with the people at Eagle Lake Island Lodge, but the list is long after that. The fishing on Eagle is for sure a close second, or maybe tied for first. One big reason for my annual return here is the simple fact that I've caught my biggest walleye and biggest musky in Ontario on Eagle Lake. I have caught so many walleyes over 27 inches on Eagle Lake that I've lost count. The amount of great fishing spots on the lake is hard to count. The fish are seemingly on every mud flat, rock hump, point and island you pull up on. The lodge is situated such that you could spend all day within an eyes-shot view of the lodge and catch walleye after walleye all day long. If you like to venture off, the fishing spots are endless.
My recent mid-July trip to Eagle Lake Island Lodge was spectacular. Fishing Eagle Lake in that mid-July time frame is always lights out no matter the species — walleye, northern pike, musky or smallmouth bass. On this trip, the focus was targeting trophy walleye, but catching several eater-sized fish for shore lunch and maybe a few to take home is always a bonus. The lake did not disappoint, nor did the excellent lodge staff with their first-class accommodations and service.
We spent much of the trip pulling bottom bouncers with spinner and butterfly blades and crawler harnesses, a deadly technique this time of year. After catching hundreds of walleyes with bouncers, we switched to ripping Jigging Raps and pitching 1/4 and 3/8 oz VMC jigs with paddletails, with much of the same success. Eagle Lake is a great place to throw lures you haven't used in your tackle box or have much luck trying. Eagle Lake will make you feel like the best fisherman in the world and a perfect spot to try everything in your fishing arsenal.
Each morning would start with a delicious energy-packed breakfast in the lodge before the day on the lake. Packed lunches or shore lunch options for your mid-day break to refuel, then back to fishing. After action-filled fishing each day, we would spend our evenings at the lodge enjoying amazing dinners, telling stories with other guests, enjoying a beverage from their full bar and playing a few games of pool or shuffleboard. The island is fully powered 24/7 and offers WiFi and satellite TV at the main lodge.
Eagle Island Lake Lodge sits on an 8-acre private island surrounded by 3,000 feet of lakefrontage with seven fully modern luxurious guest cabins and a 5-star main lodge, all with a panoramic view overlooking the lake that takes your breath away. The cabins have all been remodelled over the past few years and are extremely comfortable with full bathrooms and refrigerators.
When it comes to the lake, Eagle Lake consists of over 68,000 acres of water with countless islands, points, weed beds, mud flats, channels, rock humps and reefs. It would take you all summer to fish in every spot!
In short, if you're looking for a 5-star all-inclusive lodge with exceptional service, fabulous food, comfortable cabins, and amazing world-class multi-species trophy fishing that is all nestled on a private island in the middle of a lake, Eagle Lake Lodge needs to be first on your list! Get ahold of Jim and Char for a trip that will be forever etched in your memory. You better believe I'll be back EVERY year!
For more information on Eagle Lake Island Lodge, please visit www.eaglelakeislandlodge.com