I don't get very many chances to fish for big Northern Pike in my personal life, so whenever I get the opportunity, my answer is always an enthusiastic YES. Mar Mac Lodge, out of White River, Ontario, was my destination on this trip. I loaded the truck with my favourite Pike streamers and 8 weight rods and headed north. There are a couple of motels to stay at for the night in White River after a long day of driving from southern Ontario, and lucky for me, the airstrip was only a quick five-minute drive in the morning.
The flight was about 30 minutes, and I did nothing but take videos and photos; the view from the sky is stunning, with beautiful scenery as far as the eye can see. Upon my arrival at the lodge, owners Ken and Debbie were on the dock greeting us with the famous Northern Ontario charm.
The dock hands offloaded my gear and delivered it to my clean and cozy log cabin, and I was pleasantly surprised by an incredible view of the lake. Mar Mac Lodge offers three meals a day to guests with their American Plan, however, they also offer a House Keeping Plan, where guests can simply bring along their own food, and use the stoves and BBQs provided in every cabin to cook for themselves. With a cozy lounge perfect for swap fishing stories with other guests, shooting a game of pool or watching a game on the TV, it’s no surprise that the main lodge is a hot spot at the end of the day.
One of the main reasons I like chasing Northern Pike is because they are such a fly-friendly species. The setup on your rod couldn’t be easier, just attach a heavy mono to some steel bite wire, tie on a fly full of feathers and fur, and you are in the game. If you deliver the proper cast near a massive Northern, it’s not uncommon that they will strike from 10ft away, and even without a strike, it’s also common to have followed all the way to the boat- the action can be non-stop. This was the case during my trip to Mar Mac Lodge. I had a couple of days of non-stop Northern Pike action, with my biggest pushing 40 inches. What surprised me most about these Northern Pike specifically, was the size. The width and girth of these fish were just astonishing, and they fought very hard, which is always exciting when using a fly rod.
Mar Mac Lodge is situated on beautiful Lake Esnagi, a huge body of water brimming with countless bays and islands. If you have the opportunity to get into some of these bays, it’s even possible to sight fish in 3 feet of water. The casting platforms on the boats provided by the lodge give the anglers an amazing point of view- looking down into the clear water and seeing a Pike crush your fly is a jaw-dropping sight for even the most experienced anglers.
I had non-stop action throughout my trip, with most fish in the 32-inch range, and was even able to play around with poppers on the surface, with too much success. I'd suggest hiring a guide for at least the first day or two, and not just to key you in on the fishing. We had to navigate through some difficult narrows to get to some of the bays. and it's best to be taught how to do this safely by someone with experience on the lake. If I had more time at Mar Mac Lodge, I would have loved to join in on the exceptional Walleye fishing that the other guests really enjoyed. I'd also bring along my four-weight rod, as I saw Whitefish sipping Mayflies off the surface every night as I sat on the dock enjoying a nightcap.
The fishing opportunities at Mar Mac Lodge seem almost endless. All in all, I had an incredible trip, and by the time the float plane arrived to take me home, I felt as though gained not only memories but new friends.
