The owners of the Green Wilderness Lodge, Russell and Linda, here on the shores of Mattagami Lake, have done an excellent job in providing a very welcoming, casual atmosphere. This is a smaller family-owned lodge, with great cabins, and the main lodge is a perfect place to share stories, whether you’re inside having a delicious home-cooked meal or just relaxing outside on the covered deck.
If you are bringing the family, there are lots of activities available at the lodge, including swimming, kayaking, hiking, paddle boats, cliff jumping and a playground, just to name a few.
The cabins themselves have everything you need for preparing your own meals inside or just kick back and have a BBQ on your deck. We really enjoyed the fact that Green Wilderness Lodge has their own boat launch, and more than enough docking space with power available. If you don’t have, or don’t want to bring your own boat, they have plenty of rentals available.
Let’s talk fishing!!!! Everything is as advertised on the website. Lake Mattagami is full of hard-fighting and delicious walleye and pike, with the odd huge smallmouth mixed in. The lake has rocky points, drop-offs, islands and shoals.
I personally enjoyed catching a few walleye and some smaller pike right off the dock each morning, before we took off filming and fishing for the day. I have honestly never been on a body of water that had such incredible numbers of eating-size walleye. We were able to catch them pretty much anywhere we went on the lake, in 10 to 20 feet of water, within a few casts of shore. The weather was perfect for just casting or dragging a 1/4-3/8 oz VMC “Moon Eye” jig with either a Crush City “Jerk” or boot tail “Suspect”. And there is always live bait available at the lodge, if the bite gets tough.
Pike fishing was also a big numbers game; some came while walleye fishing, and others came exploring the little inlets and bays off the main lake. Spinnerbaits, swim baits, or your favourite spoon is all that’s needed. As advertised, there are some big smallmouth bass to be had, and I happily came in contact with a 6-pound-plus off a windy point in 3 feet of water. Wow, what a fish!
All in all, Green Wilderness Lodge is ideal for both families and friends who want a fantastic fishing experience!
