On Your Next Vacation, Look North Not South

There's a winter paradise north of Hwy 17 in Elliot Lake, Ontario that provides the perfect getaway for the outdoor enthusiast.

When most people take a vacation in the wintertime they tend to look south, but my wife Kim and I are not most people. Kim is a winter outdoor lover who enjoys ice fishing, snowmobiling, and just being outside in the wintertime, so we decided to take our vacation up North in beautiful Elliot Lake, Ontario.

First off, I love this area as it has over 3,500 lakes within a couple of hours of Elliot Lake, and it is also near and dear to my heart, as my Mom moved there about five years ago and just loves it. With my travelling schedule, it isn’t too often that I get to see her, so it was a wise choice for our vacation.

We arrived at over 100 cm of snow that had been falling off and on all winter, and it’s a dream paradise for snowmobilers, that’s for sure, with miles of trails and restaurants. We stayed right on Popeye Lake, just about 20 km outside of town. When we first arrived, I met a couple of locals who were a huge help, and the thing about Northern Ontario people is that they would give you the shirt on their backs to help you.

So I was talking with Charlie and Denis, two guys that have been there for five generations, and they gave me the best advice that I could have ever received. If you are planning on going for a snowmobile ride, make sure you talk to the locals! With all the snow that had fallen, it had caused a blanket on the ice and under the blanket was slush… lots and lots of slush—so it was a good thing that we talked to the guys instead of just riding out on any lake with our snowmobiles.

After talking with these gentlemen, we decided to go ice fishing first and snowmobiling later. They suggested a lake called Quirke Lake, known for its Lake Trout, so we headed out there, and it offered packed trails to the fishing spot that these guys had made themselves.

The next morning, we got up and were out fishing by 8 am. By 3 pm we had seven Lake Trout landed, and it was a great way to start our vacation. From there, we decided to hit the snowmobile trails the next day and go for a great ride. As the week went on, we bounced from ice fishing and snowmobiling, and of course, curling up to a cozy fire at night. So when looking for a vacation, look towards Algoma Country and the Elliot Lake area and enjoy what winter in Ontario has to offer.

Accommodations in Elliot Lake

About Ron James

Ron has been fishing for over 35 years. He started fishing when he was just a youngster with his father Bill James (God rest his soul). He moved onto tournament fishing as his passion grew. With numerous wins and top finishes, the next step had to be taken. He met Leo, and the unstoppable force of Fish TV "is the best thing that has happened.

Recommended Articles

Horwood Lake Lodge

Summertime Bass and Walleye from Horwood Lake in Northeastern Ontario

Top 5 Baits for Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass

What baits do you use to target bass? Find out why these 5 are the best!

Piecing Together the Muskie Puzzle

How looking for loons can lead us to the big fish!

Don’t Be Afraid Of Muskies

Muskies are fish of 10,000 casts and are found in large bodies of water in Northwestern Ontario.

Land of Dreams

Why You Should Fish in Lake Ontario

WOW Summer Whitefish

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

A Remarkable Catch

Landing Walleye & Pike on Lake Ontario

5 Places to Shore Fish

Fish’n Canada shows you where to go shore fishing in Ontario.

Ontario Brook Trout

Fish these 10 sweet spots.

Igniting the Spark

Don't Overlook Carp Fishing in Ontario

Reaching Deep For Walleye

Fishing for big Walleye in Ontario's Bay of Quinte.

Top 5 Tips To Fish Smallmouth Bass in Ontario

Ontario has some of the top smallmouth bass opportunities. in the world.

Late Season Panfish

Catch panfish on hardwater with these tips and tricks.

10 Facts About Lake of the Woods

10 facts amazing about this massive Northwest Ontario Lake!

Ice Perchin’ Ontario

Providing Great Fun to Adults and Children Alike

Stalking Prehistoric Long Nose Gar

Fishing a unique fish species in Ontario.

Fishing Carp

German Fishing Superstar Babs Kijewski Visit Ontario

Long Nose Gar

A Fish for the Bucket List

5 Canoe & Kayak Fishing Destinations

Where to go canoe and kayak fishing in Ontario.

Awesome Algonquin

World Class Brook Trout Fishing in Algonquin Park.