Girls’ Getaway!

Your biggest challenge may be getting everyone’s schedules in sync for this fishing trip of a lifetime.
WomensTrip_Header.jpg

If you and your girl tribe love fishing, you are long overdue for a fishing trip together. Are you done putting off the trip of a lifetime that will feed your fishing soul? Then listen up.

Northwestern Ontario has everything and anything you can dream of on a fishing trip. Adventure, relaxation, great food, species of fish to challenge your skills, and others that will stoke your confidence.

womens trip

Whether you and your ladies want remote or convenient fishing, the choice is up to you— and up here, the choices are limitless.

Get Together

womens trip 1

The most difficult part is likely gathering everyone with their busy schedules. If you’re all hard to tie down, you have a couple of options.

Option A: You give yourselves lots of preparation, AKA, start planning your late summer 2019 or 2020 fishing trip NOW.

Option B: Allow yourselves enough freedom to take off on a moment’s notice. This is a bit of a riskier option as lodges tend to fill up before March of each year. However, between a bit of luck and flexibility on your group’s part, you could make it happen!

My girls and I are fans of the latter, but we did manage to plan a fly-in trip for muskie later this year in advance!

Keeping Your Options Open

womens trip 2

As with all groups, everyone wants different things; don’t settle on a place that only offers one activity or one species of fish. Unless, of course, you’re all muskie-crazed women like my girls.

Thankfully, in Northern Ontario, it’s hard to find a place that doesn’t offer any variety. But perhaps some of you want multiple species, and amenities such as a hot tub to come back to? And who can forget about the amazing food options these lodges offer? Understanding the difference between the American Plan vs. Housekeeping should be high on your list, so you know what to expect when you arrive.

womens-trip3

American Plan (AP): All meals, cabins, boats, sometimes guides and more are included (these plans will be indicated on the lodge’s website, be sure to read off their AP list to see if it has everything you need).

Housekeeping (HK): Meals are not included. Your cabins are included, but you’re responsible for tidying. Sometimes boat rentals are included in your HK package as well, but as with AP, it’s best to check the lodge’s list to make sure you know what you’re signing up for.

Guided or DIY

womens-trip4

The amazing thing about Northern Ontario is the option to fish on your own or have full access to a guide. You can plan your trip to be fully outfitted and guided or DIY. You choose how much you want your lodge to be hands-on. Even if you want a guide for a day, or for your whole trip.

Some food for thought, guides are excellent teachers–– and I’m not referring to teaching in the way they’ll teach you how to cast–– I’m saying they can tell you what works and what doesn’t, what colours to use, what structure to try; after all, different places offer different fish behaviours.

Convenience or Off-Grid

womens-trip5

It’s a good idea to get an idea of how far everyone wants to be from civilization because there is everything from central to middle-of-nowhere options here in Northwest Ontario’s Sunset Country.

Your options are drive-in, boat-in, and fly-in lodges. There are also canoe outfitters who can supply everything you need for a paddling adventure of a lifetime, including flying into our wilderness parks: Quetico Provincial Park, Woodland Caribou Park, and Wabakimi Provincial Park.

The Next Step

womens-trip6

Now that you have an idea of what everyone in your group wants, it is time to get the ball rolling on your trip of a lifetime!

Gone are the days of having to wait for sports show seasons or cold-calling lodges using Google. I’m going to let you in on a not-so-secret resource that makes research an absolute breeze.

If you want the most convenient tool for Northwest Ontario lodges, check out visitsunsetcountry.com. This interactive website will allow you to add your chosen lodges to a bucket list, share with your friends, and even help you narrow down choices with its Accommodation Finder.

Send your girls the link and start planning this trip ASAP!

About Alyssa Lloyd

Alyssa Lloyd is a photojournalist based out of Kenora working with Ontario's Sunset Country. The outdoors has been the center of her work and personal life for as long as she can remember. As an angler, Alyssa spends most of her time chasing multiple species on both conventional and fly gear. 

Recommended Articles

Best of The Musky West

Have you fished these top 3 musky lakes in Northwestern Ontario?

Fly-in Fishing with Glassy Bay Outfitters

Wilderness and walleye await with this Northern Ontario experience.

La Place Rendez-Vous on Rainy Lake

Fish for big northern pike, musky, smallmouth bass and walleye.

Big Smallmouth Bass at Waterfalls Lodge

Waterfalls Lodge offers fishing on a chain of seven trophy lakes as well as remote lake fishing.

Rainy Lake Bass Blast

Camp Narrows Lodge

Lakers of Lower Manitou: Fishing Just North of the U.S. Border

Fantastic Lake Trout Fishing at Manitou Weather Station.

Escaping To Bass Wilderness

With Nestor Falls Fly-In Outposts

A Happy Fishing Place

Smallmouth Bass Fishing at Northern Skies Resort

Dive and Rise Muskies

Ontario offers the best muskie fishing anywhere—and fall is the prime time to catch your fish of a lifetime.

Hooked On Muskies

Ontario is blessed with the finest muskie fishing in North America.

Ontario’s Monster Northern Pike Fishing Adventures

Ontario is home to first-class accommodations and incredible fishing experiences.

Take an Ontario Vacation this Year

It's time to explore your own backyard.

Angling Escape to Edgewater

Just 3 hours north of Toronto, this amenity-packed resort has something for the whole family.

Expanding Your Horizons

A longtime angler shares why casting around in new waters is good practice

Mattawa River Resort

The perfect home base for not only anglers but couples and families.

Killarney Mountain Lodge

Discover this newly renovated luxury resort and marina in Georgian Bay.

The 2022 Northern Ontario Fishing Survey and Contest

Enter to win $1,000 in fishing gear.

An unforgettable family fishing trip

Led by Mom

Bobber-Whacky Magic

Don't Say Good-bye To The Bobber

Keeping You In the Fishing Game

Tips For What To Have On Your Boat