The Fly-in Walleye Experience

What would you consider a bucket-list fishing trip to Northern Ontario?

Is it the countless wilderness lodges or resorts with all kinds of trophy sportfish?

Do trophy-sized bass intrigue you to pick up the phone and make your reservations?

How about king-sized muskie or giant lake trout?

Do any of these options make you open your computer and search for Ontario fishing lodges?

For us, we have been blessed to experience all of the above, but one particular option that garners a lot of angler attention and certified bookings is the walleye fly-in experience. To some, this is the real Ontario fishing experience. Just you and your buddies, one hundred fish days, catching right off the dock, pristine surroundings with hardly another soul in sight, with fresh caught walleye shore lunches after a memory-making kind of day? These are the exact reasons we sought after our own fly-in walleye trips, and let us share these experiences with you.

In no particular order, each location offered its own unique attraction and still does today for the viewers who watched our episodes from these exact locations and still enjoy all that a fly-in walleye vacation has to offer.

From Dockside Jigs to Shore Lunches

Our first walleye fly-in experience was to Kesagami Wilderness Lodge near Cochrane, Ontario, where, amid a sprawling and unspoiled wilderness, lies incredible Kesagami Lake – a premier trophy northern pike and excellent walleye numbers lake. Shallow (averaging 7 feet), stained and rimmed with weedy bays, Kesagami has become very well known for the incredible walleye fishing just about everywhere you fish on the lake, including evenings, casting jigs and jerk baits off the lodge dock. Kesagami Lake offers exceptional walleye fishing where rocky shoals, islands and points always hold numbers of fish in the 1 to 4-pound class. Built in the mid ’80’s, the fly-in “American Plan” lodge is welcoming and luxurious beyond expectation. Handsomely appointed rooms and rustic cabins, a spacious recreation area/lounge with a massive fireplace and stained-glass windows, offer guests relaxing moments and social activities when they are not fishing.

At Kesagami, boats are huge, stable, square-back Scott canoes with plenty of room for anglers, their gear, a shore lunch box and camera equipment. Guides are available through the outfitter, and a hearty shore lunch built around just-caught golden walleye fillets should be part of any trip here. Kesagami Wilderness Lodge welcomes individuals (no “double occupancy” surcharge), families, and physically and/or developmentally challenged persons. The lodge staff will enthusiastically prepare for and attend to the special needs of anglers and guests to ensure a memorable visit to Kesagami in Northeastern Ontario. Visit the lodge at https://kesagami.com/ 

Private Outposts and Multi-Species Action in Wawa

The second walleye fly-in trip was to the Wawa region of Ontario at Air-Dale Fishing & Hunting, who offer both main lake fishing and back lake walleye fly-in packages. At Air-Dale There are a total of 11 private cabins on our property, plus 2 bachelor suites & a penthouse, which are attached to the main lodge. They have 1 to 3-bedroom lakefront cabins to choose from. The cabins are cozy with a complete kitchen, dining area and bathroom. They are situated on two of the most scenic lakes in Northern Ontario. Manitowik Lake & Whitefish Lake. These lakes flow into the Michipicoten River all the way to Lake Superior and are part of the famous Voyageur Canoe Route chain that ranges from Hudson Bay to Lake Superior. These waters offer some of the best walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, lake trout, speckled trout, whitefish and perch fishing in Northern Ontario. A total of 34 miles for fishing, boating and snowmobiling.

They offer fly-in trips and packages to nine-plus camps on pristine lakes in wilderness settings. These remote camps offer walleye fishing for both numbers of fish in the one to three-pound range, or camps with larger walleye for the guests who choose these remote camp options.

Is your group size smaller than four?

If your group size is smaller than four people, you are still able to fly into one of their outposts at the same cost as a group of four. Flight bills have increased substantially and is cost prohibitive for group sizes of less than four people.

Outpost Camp Equipment includes 14-foot aluminum boats with Swivel Seats, Yamaha 4hp-9.9hp outboards, unlimited gas and propane, propane fridge, stove, fish fryers, BBQ & lights, fully equipped kitchen, all cookware and utensils, hot and cold running water, indoor shower, outdoor privy, wood-burning fireplace and Garmin inReach satellite device.

During our visit to one of the Air-Dale fly-in walleye lakes, we mainly fished tapering island points close to deeper water with ball head jigs, worms and minnows and had no problem finding fish to cooperate within the first hour of fishing and replicated similar areas with more golden walleye coming into our boat.

The wilderness setting, combined with the opportunity to have the entire lake to ourselves, made our trip that much more magical for the buddies we brought along for the experience, and we would highly recommend Air-Dale Fishing & Hunting fly-in walleye to our followers.

Visit Air-Dale here at https://www.air-dale.com/

100-Walleye Days and Total Northwestern Seclusion

Our third walleye fly-in experience was with the great folks from Clark’s Resorts and Outposts in Northwest Ontario near Vermilion Bay. With over 25 pristine locations to choose from, they offer the perfect balance of seclusion and comfort for your wilderness getaway. Most of the cabins are the only ones on the lake, allowing you to enjoy unparalleled privacy and the true meaning of a remote fishing experience. The fully equipped and modern accommodations include everything you need—hot and cold running water, comfortable beds, well-maintained boats, and even live minnows—to ensure your trip is both convenient and unforgettable. Explore Ontario’s rugged beauty, cast your line into some of the best fishing waters in Northwestern Ontario, and immerse yourself in the peaceful solitude of untouched nature. No cell phones, no traffic—just you, your group, and the adventure of a lifetime.

And, one-hundred walleye per day for you and your group.

Our trip was a short one, but as smooth as smooth gets. The Clarks are a remote fly-in machine with so many staff contributing to ensuring every guest has the best possible experience that they have ever had in the remote wilderness of Ontario’s north. The pilots and planes offer smooth landings and professional service. Their Float Plane base is at Northern Lights Resort on Cedar Lake, Ontario, twenty-five miles north of Vermilion Bay. The diverse fleet—including two Cessna Caravans, two DeHavilland Beavers, and a DeHavilland Otter—meets a wide range of customer needs. They maintain top safety standards with two trusted maintenance facilities, and, along with fly-in outpost services, they offer year-round charters, aerial sightseeing, photography, surveying, and more. Clark’s Air Service can take you to the most remote locations across Northwestern Ontario.

Please note that at each Clark’s remote fly-in camp, each person may pack 100 lbs of gear or less. This includes EVERYTHING that will be going on the plane with you (i.e. food, beverages, fishing supplies, personal gear). There are no exceptions to this weight limit, regardless of how many people are going on the plane; 100 pounds per person is max.

• The most important thing you will pack is LOTS of 1/8 oz lead head jigs (any colour).

• If possible, put your fishing rods in tubes and make sure all lures are off the lines.

• Your bags of ice will be flown in with you (at no extra charge).

• Live bait (minnows) will be flown in with you as well (at no extra charge).

• You will be checked on periodically to replenish your supply of live bait and ice (at no extra charge).

Visit Clark’s Resorts and Outposts here at https://www.clarksresorts.com/flyinoutposts

Are the remote walleye fly-in vacations for you? Search for these fly-in camps and see for yourself, they truly are an experience like no other!

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