Mississagi Multi-Species Magic

In the heart of Northern Ontario's Algoma Country, which I affectionally title the “world-class bass” region,  is a classic 1938 fishing resort that has been fully restored and equipped for outfitting sportsmen and providing family vacations in the Cambrian Shield Wilderness. This lodge is called The Outpost Lodge, located in the Laurentian Highlands, in the valley of the Mississagi River (from the Ojibwe word for “river with a wide mouth”).

We had the pleasure of visiting with the gracious owners of the lodge, Ann and Jim Kehoe, on a road trip through the Algoma region while filming episodes for the new season of Extreme Angler TV, and with the local knowledge of lakes in the region, this lodge was a perfect location to base our angling work vacation.

This road trip report is about the awesome angling opportunities found in this region, but we must add that The Outpost Lodge is not, primarily, a fishing camp. It is a vacation resort in the true sense of the word.

It is in a magnificent location and is intended to give a service to those seeking something unusually good, yet affordable. It has every modern comfort and convenience, even though it's in a wilderness setting. The lodge and cottages have automatic heat and electricity as well as a modern water and sewage system.

The Outpost Lodge has a magnificent location high atop a 50-foot bluff overlooking Lake Jobamageeshig, a crystal clear, spring-fed lake.

It includes the main lodge with a dining room, great room, craft/games room, a library, seven full-service, private cottages, a sandy beach, and a boat launch on six acres of well-wooded forest.

The Outpost Lodge can be your hub for many activities, all free for you to enjoy at your own pace, and exactly what we’re looking for when planning our trip to this region, not to mention that this lodge offers mouth-watering family-style meals

The dinner bell rings at 6:00, calling one and all to the cozy dining room. The delicious meals are served family-style at your own table. Everything is hand-prepared from scratch by Jim and Ann.

Home-baked bread and fresh salads are followed by the evening's entrée and dessert. Coffee or tea, with pleasant conversation and stories of the day, are also important parts of your memorable vacation.

How Was the Fishing?

 We decided to fish for both walleye and smallmouth bass and chose two different lakes in the region.

Both of the lakes offered similar opportunities found across the Algoma region; that is, non-crowded, unspoiled locations with not a lot of angling pressure, easy access with your own boat, and good numbers of both walleye and smallmouth bass, with the occasional trophy thrown in for good measure.

 On our walleye adventure, we found good numbers of fish on the first breaks of a small lake with off-coloured water in approximately 12 feet of water; we caught some very nice fish in the 17- to 19-inch class with a few 20-plus-inch walleyes that made for some great photo ops. We fished with soft shad-like artificial baits on small jig heads and employed subtle jigging motions off the bottom, which consisted of pea gravel and broken rock with some scattered weeds in between.

As for the smallmouth bass outing, we fished another small lake in the region that had some deep water (40-foot depths) nearby, close to the rocky points and bars. We fished with a drop shot and tube jig presentations, and caught a boatload of quality bass in the 3- to 5-pound class, with a couple of fish pushing the magical 6-pound range.

Variety and Opportunity

 That’s one of the best things about fishing in Algoma Country and the Mississagi River area: there is so much opportunity and very little angling pressure, which obviously results in excellent catch rates with both numbers and quality of both walleye and bass.

Another reason to consider the Outpost Lodge, owners since 1987, Jim and Ann have guided many people, from beginners to experts, sharing with them their knowledge of the area's ecosystem.

You can have your choice here of how to fish—it's the where and when that they’ll help you with, from fly fishing, bait fishing, trolling, and spinning, to casting for smallmouth bass, walleye, whitefish, lake trout and salmon. There are lakes, reservoirs, and rivers, streams, brooks, and ponds to explore, all within a 7-mile radius, and these owners know the hotspots!

 When you arrive at the Outpost Lodge, they will supply you with maps and directions to all of their lakes and activities. They go over fishing strategies and bring you up to speed on current conditions. They also have fully equipped fishing boats on several good lakes, for the exclusive use of their guests, as well as canoes, and they offer a complimentary trip on the Mississagi River.

Talking about catering to their vacationing guests is very impressive.

If you're looking for some magical multi-species action this year, consider contacting the Outpost Lodge and let Ann and Jim Kehoe help you make your vacation a memorable one.

Contact Information

1.5 hours North East of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario 
The Outpost Lodge 
8572 Highway 129, Thessalon, Ontario 
PH: (705) 841-2518
Web: www.outpostlodge.com

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