Surface Sizzle Smallmouth

Fireside Lodge on Little Vermillion Lake is a place truly far and beyond any ordinary resort.
kkalonka_firesidelodge_smbass.jpg

They say where there is smoke, there is fire, but this kind of fire is exceptionally HOT! I'm talking about the incredible fishing on Little Vermillion Lake in Northwest Ontario in Sunset Country at Fireside Lodge.

This place is truly beyond just an ordinary resort.

From the moment we arrived at Fireside Lodge, we got the impression these folks were as serious about the fishery as they were about catering to their guests’ every wish for an unforgettable wilderness lodge experience.

fireside lodge aerial

Lodge owners and hosts Alan, Audrey, and staff sure know how to make people feel relaxed and well-fed, but I'm getting ahead of myself. I'll mention the incredible meals soon enough.

The lodge is located on Little Vermillion Lake, which is the largest of an eleven-lake system, approximately 16 miles long. It is a long, narrow body of water with an upper and lower section. These spring-fed waters are deep and cold with numerous bays, reefs, shoals, and deep weed beds that have created an excellent fish-holding structure. The lake forage consists of whitefish, cisco, suckers, perch, various minnow life and crawfish, an absolute smorgasbord for the trophy smallmouth bass, northern pike, and musky that call these waters home.

fireside lodge lake view

Fireside Lodge has a strict catch and release program that protects this trophy resource and combined with all of the above-mentioned forage base, fish habitat, and literally unpressured waters, Fireside Lodge and Little Vermillion Lake offer its guests some of the best sportfishing Canada has to offer, year after year!

karl kalonka 2 smallmouth bass

The lodge has new modern log cabins that are nestled amongst the trees on the waterfront and are furnished like condos on the inside, providing a comfortable home-away-from-home atmosphere. With the American Plan, guests enjoy hearty home-cooked meals in the friendly atmosphere of the dining room in the main lodge while sharing stories of the day with other guests.

fireside lodge cabins
fireside lodge dining room
fireside lodge room

Ok, now about the meals. Absolutely mouth-watering.

The American Plan offers a breakfast that is completely “open menu,” meaning you can order anything you wish that is listed on the breakfast menu. The options are both hot and cold, and a great way to start your day. Lunches are packed to go. Shore lunches are an option with beans, potatoes, onions, whitefish, and walleye fillets provided by the lodge for an opportunity to enjoy a fresh fish meal cooked over a fire.

breakfast sign

As for the dinners, all meals are home-cooked quality with portions that satisfy any “Northwoods” appetite. How does steak with baked potato, saucy pork chops with roasted potatoes, teriyaki chicken and rice, roast beef with mashed potatoes, turkey and gravy, prime rib, and all the soups and salads your heart so desires sound?

fireside lodge rib dinner
fireside lodge prime rib dinner

How is the fishing?

It was everything as advertised.

We fished with our northern friend Josh Peacock, who brought his bass boat so we could explore the lake a little quicker with all the horsepower on the transom and electronics to assist us in navigation.

Mother Nature had her own plans for a low-ceiling kind of day with the threat of rain in the air, but also provided us with ideal conditions to fish for smallmouth bass with topwater baits over the deep weed beds, rock shoals, reefs, and endless island points that are virtually everywhere on this system.

Fishing with Strike King Sexy Dawg “walking style” topwater baits rigged onto braided lines and medium-action St.Croix casting rods, we came prepared for whatever decided to eat our offering.

strike king sexy dawg bait

The number of topwater strikes, hits, and misses was uncountable, to be honest. Regardless of where we stopped to fish, we either connected with smallmouth bass, northern pike and the ever-present musky that call these waters home.

karl kalonka smallmouth bass

Josh had some memorable follows by some very large toothy critters and was able to connect with a 40-plus-inch beast that destroyed his topwater bait right in front of the boat! We even caught multiple fish at one time on a single bait! Yes, two fish on one lure, that's how many bass are in this system.

If you're looking for an incredible wilderness adventure with all of the comforts of home and some of the finest fishing and culinary cuisine you’re ever going to experience, look no further than Fireside Lodge in Sioux Lookout in Northwest Ontario.

karl kalonka smallmouth bass

Give Alan and Audrey a ring and book your memorable vacation today.

Book This Trip

Toll-Free: 1-800-545-0815
Website: firesidelodge.com
Email: fireside@xplornet.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/firesidelodgefishing

(All photo credits: Karl Kalonka)
About Karl Kalonka

It's possible Karl's love for fishing began as early as the age of five. His parents took the kids on weekend trips across Ontario fishing for panfish, catfish, and bass. "I started with a bobber and worm from the time I was five years old," says Karl. These days, he has the enviable task of doing what he loves for a living, travelling across Ontario fishing, filming and producing two outdoor series, Extreme Angler and Crappie Angler TV.

Recommended Articles

Stalking Prehistoric Long Nose Gar

Fishing a unique fish species in Ontario.

Eagle Lake Island Lodge

A Boat-to Ontario Lodge Experience

Dropshot the Shallows

A Technique That Should Be in Your Fishing Arsenal

Chapleau Lodge: More Than Just Fishing

This great lodge is also one of Canada’s best commercial diving schools.

Memorable Panfish

Fishing Local Creeks With Shoreline Access

Irregular Lake Trio

Fly in to Woodland Caribou Provincial Park to fish for trophy muskie and northern pike.

Fly-in Fishing

Why You Need to Book a Fly-in Fishing Trip

The Pros Go-To Tactics

Tips to get the most of your Summer Bass Fishing in Ontario

Manotak Lodge

Trophy Muskie, Big Walleye and First-Class Hospitality

Guided Fishing on Lake St. Clair

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

A Fitting Final Fling

First days of spring present us with some of the best fishing.

High Water on the Woods

When fishing in high water, there are a few ways to navigate them and land your trophy muskie.

Ontario Multi-Species Fishing Lodges

High quality angling and top notch accommodations await at these fishing lodges.

Ontario’s Array of Fishing Opportunities

From drive-to, fly-in, and train-in lodges, to outpost camps in Ontario, here's everything you need to know.

10 Steps for Winterizing Your Boat

Essential Steps for Winterizing and Preparing Your Boat for Storage

Ontario Carp Championship

Is Ontario the Carp fishing capital of the world?

World Class Walleye Fishing at Vermilion Bay Lodge

Eagle Lake has over 68,000 acres of clear Canadian Shield waters with world-class walleye and muskie.

Making Mistakes with Muskie on the Fly

What I learnt the hard way chasing muskie on the fly.

Big Smallmouth Bass

Fly Fishing at Branch's Seine River Lodge

Easy Pickin's for Northern Ontario Panfish

Ice fishing for crappies on a lake in Northwestern Ontario.