Mashkinonje Lodge

Whether you're after pike, muskie, walleye, or bass, this scenic Northern Ontario lodge is your perfect home base.

What’s your favourite species of fish to target? Is it pike? Muskie? Walleye? Smallmouth or largemouth bass? Well, if the answer is, any or all of the above, you should consider a trip to Lake Nipissing.

Lake Nipissing is about a 3½-hour drive north of the city of Toronto and is the fifth-largest lake in Ontario. For my latest trip, I had a chance to visit Mashkinonje Lodge and spend some time with owners Regan and Goldie Thompson. They were amazing hosts and made our entire crew feel right at home.

Mashkinonje-Lodge-01

Mashkinonje-Lodge-02

They have a variety of accommodations available and run a really great operation. Regan is also a fishing guide so he can take you to whatever species of fish you want to target as he’s spent a lot of time on the water over the years. If you want to fish on your own they have boat rentals available, and there are plenty of secure dock spaces if you bring your own boat.  

Mashkinonje-Lodge-03

Mashkinonje-Lodge-04

Mashkinonje-Lodge-05

One of the cool things about Lake Nipissing is there is so much water to fish, being such a large lake. Where Mashkinonje Lodge is located is on the West Arm of the lake so it offers lots of protected water that’s close by if the wind’s blowing and if it’s a calm day and you want to venture out onto the main lake you can go for miles in search of fish. There are so many different options of species, structure and cover to fish on this lake.  

Mashkinonje-Lodge-06

Mashkinonje-Lodge-07

When I was up at Mashkinonje Lodge in late September we targeted mostly bass with a few bonus pike thrown in the mix. The bass were still shallow when we were up there and we got a variety of fish using soft plastic Berkley swimbaits. We even sight-fished a few as well. In some areas of the lake, it’s pretty clear so you can see some of the fish swimming around if you’ve got a good pair of polarized glasses. During our short stay, we caught and released several trophy smallies over five pounds. This is one of Ontario’s premier smallmouth bass fisheries and it has very little fishing pressure.

Mashkinonje-Lodge-08

This lake is also renowned for its muskie fishing and there is a lot of trophy-sized fish to be had throughout this body of water. We didn’t have a chance to fish for muskies while we were there but there were a number of folks out muskie fishing and, from what we heard, they were catching them.

Mashkinonje-Lodge-09

One of the things about a resort such as Mashkinonje Lodge is that it can house a number of visitors so whether you’re with a big group or a smaller one they can accommodate your needs. From basic one-bedroom, two-bed cottages suitable for two to four people, to fully-equipped two and three-bedroom units that house up to six, there’s no shortage of choices for visiting anglers or families. They’ve even got a massive 2,500 square foot, two-story, four-bedroom unit in the main lodge that features a pool table, foosball and a huge deck overlooking the water. Now that’s fishing in style!     

Mashkinonje-Lodge-10

Mashkinonje-Lodge-11

Lake Nipissing is a vast, somewhat shallow lake that has so much to offer—and that's why I like it. There is an abundant amount of weed cover that will always sustain a great population of fish, as well as countless islands and humps that will also hold fish. It’s really endless how much water you can fish on this massive lake with all of its different bays, tributaries and rivers. I can’t wait to get back up there and try some of the incredible walleye fishing and maybe even take a shot at catching one of the trophy muskies I keep hearing about!  

About Bob Izumi

Bob Izumi is a Canadian professional angler, and the host of Bob Izumi's Real Fishing Show. He is most known for his success in bass fishing, and was awarded angler of the year in 2004.

Recommended Articles

Don’t Be Afraid Of Muskies

Muskies are fish of 10,000 casts and are found in large bodies of water in Northwestern Ontario.

5 Places to Shore Fish

Fish’n Canada shows you where to go shore fishing in Ontario.

Baptiste Bass

Catching 5- to 6-Pound Smallmouth Bass Each Fishing Season

Pike Aplenty

How to select the right spot to catch pike in late fall fishing in Ontario.

Talon Lake Lunge

This 3500-acre lake holds trophy muskies and should not be ignored!

Catching Ontario Walleye

Pro Tips for Bait and Walley Presentations

Hidden Musky Gems

The Musky Hunter shares 3 favourite musky hot spots across Ontario.

Top 5 Baits for Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass

What baits do you use to target bass? Find out why these 5 are the best!

Eating Northern Pike

The Best Recipe to Cook This Fish

Fishing and Foraging

Add some fresh foods and forage to your fishing adventures!

Steelhead and Salmon of Northern Ontario

Ontario's north is home to tributaries of Lake Superior and Lake Huron—and many species of salmon and steelhead

Experiencing Prince Edward County - The Angler’s Way

Walleye fishing on the world-famous Bay of Quinte.

Tomiko Lake Lodge

An Outstanding Resort for Fishing and Families

St. Francis Titans

Fishing the Original Muskie Capital of the World

Mississagi Multi-Species Magic

Equipped for outfitting sportsmen and providing family fishing vacations.

World Class Walleye

Fishing Day Trips on the Bay of Quinte

Salmon Fishing

The Michipicoten River is a Sleeper for Chinook

Balsam Lake Walleye

How to use snap jigging to catch Ontario walleye.

Guided Fishing on Lake St. Clair

Captain Jim remembers over 600 muskies in a 3 month period.

Discover the 3 Best Bass Fishing Lakes in Ontario

Check out these lakes for hard-fighting smallmouth bass on your next fishing trip to Northern Ontario.