Wilderness Walleye

Fly-in Fishing with Glassy Bay Outfitters

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have an entire lake that is known for excellent walleye fishing all to yourself, for days on end? I know what that feels like now since our road trip to Elliot Lake this past summer visiting with the gracious hosts of fly-in camps called Glassy Bay Outfitters.

aerial landscape elliot lake

Our fly-in fishing experience began at the docks of the Sea Base in Elliot Lake. After the plane was loaded, we embarked on our journey to our ultimate fly-in fishing experience.

bushplane

On our flight to Bark Lake, we saw picturesque sights below as we flew over remote lakes, dense forests and wildlife. Once landed on Bark Lake, we taxied up to our camp and dock. From there we unloaded and the hosts gave us a quick tour of our camp for our stay. Bark Lake is very remote and we had the opportunity to catch an abundance of Walleye.

The sea base is located on Elliot Lake, the central meeting point for parking and floatplane departure. If you are travelling from out of town and need somewhere to spend the night, they also have a lodge that is available for you!

bushplane and outpost camp

We stayed at Middle Bark/Grey Owl, Located on Bark Lake, 40 miles north of Elliot Lake. Bark Lake is known for its outstanding walleye fishing but also offers Northern Pike and lake trout. The Grey Owl camp is located in the middle section of Bark Lake. The camp is named after a historical, well-known author named Grey Owl. Grey Owl was a British-born conservationist, fur trapper, and writer who disguised himself as an Indigenous man in the 1930s. Here lies one of his camps he would escape from civilization to pursue his interests in fur trapping, canoeing, and writing. His camp is dated, but only 100 meters from our main outpost camp.

According to the outfitters, the walleye don’t really start to turn on till early to mid-June and continue to be good throughout the season. The early season can be fantastic!

angler fishing walleye

Most find that trolling slowly with jig heads with a tail and worm works best. Worm harnesses work well as well. The daily limit is four per person and four in total possession.

We decided to slow troll with a worm harness and split shot weight combination on the edges of breaks between fourteen and eighteen feet of water bouncing our worms off the bottom a fair distance behind the boat and had no issues finding both walleye and northern pike on several locations with similar characteristics which were large boulders and gravel tapering to deeper water or along long tapering rock points off islands.

angler fishing walleye

The pristine wilderness surroundings with not another soul in sight for three days felt incredible, like a cleansing from social media, the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and the sights and sounds of nature ensured a great night’s sleep between fishing excursions to different parts of the lake.

angler fishing boat

Looking for something different this year?

Consider a wilderness, remote trip with Glassy Bay Outfitters, it definitely was an amazing experience I will never forget.

Contact the Outfitters

www.glassybay.com

Special Teaser to inspire you 

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

Ice Fishing in Northeastern Ontario

Year-round lodges that offer everything from DIY to fully outfitted ice fishing operations.

What to Pack for a Fly-in Adventure

These items are sometimes overlooked but come in really handy on a remote fishing trip.

Eagle Lake Fall Muskies

Discover why in the late fall Eagle Lake is a prime location to catch giant muskies in Sunset Country.

Catching Bass Can Be Crystal Clear

Head to this Northwest Ontario resort for an opportunity to catch your personal best smallmouth bass.

Fantastic Fishing At Melwel Lodge

A father daughter fishing trip for smallmouth bass in Ontario's Algoma Country.

A Fly-in Adventure for Walleye and Pike

Where Comfort Meets Wilderness on Esnagi Lake

WOW Summer Whitefish

Whitefish hit harder in the open water season than in the winter

Ice-out glory 

Fish you can target as soon as the ice leaves the launch

New Horizons

How Fly Fishing Tricked Anglers into Enjoying New Species

World Class Walleye

Fishing Day Trips on the Bay of Quinte

Spring Fishing Tips For Any Angler

Increase your chance of fishing success

7 Ways to Land Your Catch

With a little patience and a little know-how, landing fish doesn’t have to be a nail-biting experience.

Musky Mayhem in the Kawarthas

Experience top notch musky fishing on Buckhorn Lake in the heart of the Kawarthas.

Go Vertizontal in Northern Ontario

A World Class Ice Fishing Technique

Spring Has Sprung

Grassroots organizations like the Georgian Triangle Anglers Association have stocked trout in Georgian Bay for over 30 years.

Perfect Fall Fishing

Fishing Bass in Kawarthas & Northumberland

Fish Photos 2

Learn to take bolder photos with these tips!

Coffee, Fish, Repeat

Fishing for Smallmouth Bass and Muskie

Buck Lake Lodge

Fishing Walleye at Witches Nose

Hawk Lake Lodge

Drive-in fishing with giant fish results