Spring Fishing For Smallmouth Bass At Melwel Lodge

As an avid angler with a passion for camping, hiking, and exploring the outdoors, I’ve never been one to shy away from experiences that include roughing it or rugged accommodations. If the views are spectacular and the fish are biting, I’ll be there. However, with that being said, there’s nothing like coming off the water after a long day of fishing to comfortable, luxurious accommodations. It can be a challenge to find this style of accommodations, that are easily accessible, cater to anglers and outdoor enthusiasts, and of course, are located near great fishing. In Algoma Country, Ontario, this style of lodge was unheard of… until recently!

During a spring fishing trip with my father, Colin McKeown, I had the pleasure of being a guest at Melwel Lodge, a luxury lodge located in one of my favourite areas of Algoma, not far off Highway 17 North, near the town of Iron Bridge, Ontario. Previously a private facility, Melwel is under new ownership and has recently been opened to the public! As someone who visits this area regularly, I was thrilled to hear of a new, luxurious type of accommodation. The best part? Melwel Lodge is located on one of the largest lakes in the area, Big Basswood. A spring-fed lake with crystal clear water, Big Basswood can reach depths of 235 feet and is known for producing large smallmouth bass. 

Upon our arrival at Melwel in mid-late May, my dad and I were greeted by incredibly high winds, and dark rolling clouds…not ideal conditions for fly anglers! Lucky for us, the comfortable accommodations and warm, welcoming main lodge were the perfect escape while we came up with a plan. One of the best aspects of this area of Algoma, known to many as Trophy Alley, is that there is no shortage of fantastic fishing opportunities available within a short distance. We were able to drive and launch our boat on another nearby lake that was significantly more sheltered from the westerly winds and enjoy a fantastic first afternoon and evening of fishing together!

Despite our hopes, the weather remained virtually the same on our second day, so we packed up the boat and headed off to explore another local lake -- this time, one of my dad’s favourites! Many of the lakes in this area are known for holding trophy-sized smallmouth bass (hence the nickname of Trophy Alley), and this lake was no different. We were hopeful to find big females sulking in deep water, adjacent to spawning beds. At this time of year, due to the weather Algoma had been experiencing since ice out, many of the lakes in the region were at various stages of the spawn. 

The smallmouth bass spawn is very dependent on water temperature, typically triggered when the lake reaches a consistent 57 degrees Fahrenheit or above. There are many different factors that can determine when in the season a lake may reach this temperature, including depth, water colour, bottom colour, and of course, the weather. Keeping this in mind is essential to determining where larger smallmouth may be located. 

On the final day of our long weekend trip, the winds died down and we were able to head out on the main lake at Melwel, Big Basswood! I could hardly wait -- despite having fished many lakes in Algoma, this was my first time having the opportunity to fish on Big Basswood. The gin-clear water of this lake made it a memorable experience -- there’s truly nothing like spot fishing to huge smallies. I was amazed at how even at depths of 12 to 15 feet, you could still see straight down to the bottom. 

We spent the day exploring different back bays around the lake, searching for cruising bass in depths between 3 and 12 feet. On this trip, my father and I used 6- and 7-weight rods, at 9- and 10-foot lengths. As usual, we came prepared with a variety of floating, intermediate, and sink tip lines, in order to properly explore the water column depending on weather conditions and water temperature. It was a fantastic day, full of exploring the lake and locating fantastic smallmouth bass. 

There are few things I love more than getting the chance to go fishing with my dad. Being together on the water, exploring new lakes, and sharing in the highs and lows of angling are memories that I hold close to my heart. Having the opportunity to stay at Melwel Lodge, with all its comforts and luxuries was an incredible treat and the perfect choice for our long weekend fishing getaway.

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