Fishing the Lake of Many Bays

Located in Northern Ontario on Kaby (Kabinakagami) Lake, Pine Portage Lodge has been operated as a fishing lodge for over 70 years! Since the beginning, they’ve lived by the philosophy of serving those who love the outdoors.

Pine Portage Lodge is steeped in history. After returning a hero from World War II, Dick Watson Sr. opened the lodge in 1946 with just a three-room cabin. He flew 90 missions and was shot down three times while serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

In the decades since, the lodge has expanded its operation from its humble beginnings to over 13 guest cabins and a 6,000-square-foot main lodge.

We arrived smoothly and in style on a DeHavilland Turbine Otter. Watson's Skyways offers flights to the lodge through their airbase in Wawa.

Kaby Lake covers 30,000 acres of beautiful Ontario wilderness. The name of the lake 'Kabinakagami' comes from the Oji-Cree Indigenous language, which translates to the lake of many bays. The waters provide top-notch fly-in walleye fishing, as well as northern pike, whitefish, and perch. It is the largest lake in the Algoma District, with 147 islands and endless fishing. Pine Portage even offers hunting for moose, bears, and birds.

I had the opportunity to spend a few hours fishing with Betty (Watson) McGie. She knows the lake well, and it didn't take long before we were catching some nice walleyes. She shared many amazing stories about her father and what life was like growing up in the lodge business.

Besides your favourite walleye tackle, be sure to bring your appetite. Each evening there’s a huge salad bar buffet, which features over a dozen delicious dishes like steamed mussels and bacon-wrapped dates (yum!). And no Ontario trip is complete without the obligatory shore lunch! That alone is almost worth the visit!

The lodge hill provides sunset viewing and vistas you just can’t get anywhere else. And, at night, it’s like sitting in a planetarium—there’s a good chance you’ll witness the blazing greens, reds, and purples of dancing Northern Lights. Lodge founders, Dick Watson Sr. and his wife, Edna, are buried on the hill as if still smiling at the beauty of the surroundings.

What more can I say? Pine Portage Lodge is a wonderful place: awesome fishing, deluxe accommodations, stellar food, friendly people, and remarkable natural beauty. Indeed, they live up to their mission statement of serving those who love the great outdoors. I know I’d come back in a heartbeat.

And yes, I even met a few unforgettable characters—like this groundhog, which I just couldn’t resist hand-feeding! 

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