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

5 Flies for Ontario’s Most Popular Species

In these northern waters live of the most revered fish anglers wish to target on fly.

Salmon Fishing

The Michipicoten River is a Sleeper for Chinook

Georgian Bay Salmon and Trout Excursions

Another Ontario angling adventure for your bucket list.

Balsam Lake Walleye

How to Use Snap Jigging to Catch Walleye

SPECTACULAR BASS

Fishing for Largemouth Bass in the Parry Sound District

Speckle Splake Spectacular

Ice Fishing for big Northern Ontario speckled & splake trout.

Delawana Resort

Bass Fishing on Southern Georgian Bay

Wind, Cloud & Walleye

How Weather is Important to Walleye Anglers

Abitibi Walleye Experience

Fishing for Walleye, Northern Pike and Jumbo Perch

Summer Fishing Patterns for Multi-Species

Bob Izumi discusses tips for different species and how to catch them when summer temperatures soar.

The Perfect Shore Lunch

Try this award-winning recipe on your next Ontario fishing trip.

True Colours

How important is your lure colour when selecting a bait?

Baptiste Bass

Catching 5- to 6-Pound Smallmouth Bass Each Fishing Season

Lost Lake Bass Blast

Experience Lost Lake Wilderness Lodge and fish on a remote lake filled with Smallmouth Bass.

Eating Northern Pike

The Best Recipe to Cook This Fish

Bronzebacks of the Whalesback

One of the top bass destinations in North America.

Leuenberger Air Service Is Your Ticket to Ontario's Best Fishing

Discover remote outpost fishing for northern pike, walleye, and whitefish

Cat Island Lodge

Fly-in fishing for walleye and lake trout

WOW Summer Whitefish

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

Perfect Fall Fishing

Fishing Bass in Kawarthas & Northumberland