Category: Lodges

Hi Italo,I hope this finds you well. You’ve helped me out once before when I asked for some tips when doing a fly-in trip to Bonar Lake a couple of years ago, and I’m hoping you can help me again. This year, some friends and I are flying out of Hearst, and going to Hillman Lake. We will be going the last week of August, and was wondering if you could offer any tips for the walleye, pike and perch that are reported to be in the lake. Will the fish still be in their summer locations or will they have started to transition since the weather starts to change a little earlier that far north? Any insights you can offer will be much appreciated. Thank you! Rob

Posted on April 8th, 2021

Hi Rob, nice to hear from you. Yes, all three species will still be in their summer pattern and should be easily located and caught fishing fairly shallow water in the 5-10′ range. Make sure to check out the center of bays especially if they are a mud bottom, rocky points that go out from shore, around islands and especially around any weedbeds. I don’t think you need to take a lot of tackle. A good assortment of 1/8-3/8 oz. jigheads, an assortment of 1″-4″ soft-plastics like paddle-tail minnows, curly-tails and the Italo’s Minnow from Fishing Compete should work well there. I would recommend you also take some 3-4″ casting spoons, 3/8 oz. white Colorado & Willow-leaf spinnerbaits, a couple 3/8 oz. black buzz-baits and definitely some Rapala Husky Jerk #14 and X-Rap for Pike. Hope you have an excellent trip…God bless you.

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Good morning Italo, can you suggest a location for an upcoming fishing trip that i will be taking this summer? I live in Vaughan and am willing to travel between 4-5 hours north or north east. I am looking to fish for largemouth bass, pike, walleye and musky. Any inside tips/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.thank youPino

Posted on March 11th, 2021

Hi Pino, Check out either Mashkinonje Lodge or Paradise Cove cottages on the west-arm of Lake Nipissing. I have shot many TV shows there and the fishing is excellent for all the species you are looking to catch. Speak to Regan Thompson who is the owner and he will answer any questions you may have. He also guides for many guests and knows exactly where and how to catch multi-species. Fish with a Passion. God bless you, Italo

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Hi Italo , I would like like to take my wife on a fly-in fishing adventure in northern Ontario for the first time. Would like to target walleye, pike & bass. I know there are lots to choose from and really wouldn’t know if there as great as they say they are. We would prefer numbers of fish over size so that my inexperienced wife can enjoy catching these fish. Of course we want respectable accommodation ( housekeeping) to go with it. Could you give your suggestions for a pleasant week of great fishing with a spouse? Would plan on going in July.Thanks and much appreciated Barry

Posted on July 9th, 2020

Hi Barry, Kesamagmi Lake Lodge is at the top of my list and also Air Ivanhoe. Check their websites to make sure they are operating with this Covid stuff going on. Fish with a Passion. God bless you, Italo

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Hi Italo,in the middle of july my son and l have the oppertuniyy to go to Dog lake in the Wawa area.Do you have any idea if the pike and walleye fishing is good in that area at this time of year,thankslooking forward to your reply.

Posted on October 22nd, 2018

Hi Russ, I have not fished Dog Lake, ON so I can’t comment specifically but I have fished several lakes services by Air Dale (Ontario Wilerness Vacations_, out of Hawk’s Junctiion. We fished walleye, pike and even some brook trout and lake trout lakes. All were very good. July is a good month to fish and the fish should be easily catch-able in the shallow water around weeds and structure.

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Italo, Hope all is well. It’s always an enjoyable experience following your fishing excursions, shared stories while educating and passing your knowledge and expertise on to the fishing community. My brother and I were thinking of taking some vacation time to fish. We were thinking the first week of September. Would that be a recommendable week in terms of fishing, or typically is it still usually too warm and fish less active? We enjoy fishing with live bait, spinners, and harnesses targeting bass, walleye, pike, and hopes of Musky. We were also torn between locations and unsure if one with bode better than the other. Buckhorn in the Kawarthas, Bay of Quinte/Waupoos, Lake St Clair, and even been inquirying about MashkinonjeLodge on Lake Nipissing. Being a fisherman, obviously nothing is ever guaranteed but looking for whatever advice you can provide. Your fans,CHRIS + BEN LEUSERHAMILTON

Posted on July 30th, 2018

Hi Chris & Ben, thank you for your kind words, glad you enjoy following all the posts and videos we release to try and help anglers catch more fish.  First week in Sept. is an excellent time to fish to fish most of our waters in Ontario. From all the locations you have listed, all of them are good for certain species of fish and for using specific presentations. My first choice for you based on that you like to fish live bait, spinners, and harnesses targeting bass, walleye, pike, and the possibility of hooking a musky, would definitely be Mashkinonje Lodge on the West Arm of Lake Nipissing, ON. I was there last fall and I have phenomenal fishing for walleye using “slow-death” hooks/night-crawlers trolled slowly along the bottom in 20-30′ of water close to the lodge and amazing smallmouth bass fishing using 3-4″ swim-tail grubs like the Swimmin Ribster by Lunker City on a 1/4 oz jig-head in water as shallow as 2-3′. We did not target musky on that trip or pike, but they also have great fishing for both. I would encourage you to call Mashkinonje Lodge and talk to Regan Thompson the co-owner. He is a passionate angler as well as operating the lodge and can give you the most recent fishing information…God bless you.

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Hi Italo I scheduled fish Bow Narrows camp in Red Lake Ontario August 4-11. Any info you can share on the camp and any tips for fishing Red Lake? Thanks.

Posted on June 7th, 2018

Hi Paul, I have not fished there personally, but I have fished the north of there. You should expect “classic” wilderness fishing for walleye & pike. I have a feeling that  all the regular tackle and presentations  will  work for both species;

Pike – casting spoons, 4-5″ paddle-tail swim-baits with 3/4oz swimbaits, spinnerbaits, topwater lures, etch.

Walleye – trolling Rapala minnows & jigging.

Fish should be in their traditional summer pattern. Both Pike & Walleye will be feeding near weeds, points, shoals and reefs. Hope you have a great adventure…God  bless you.

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Hi Italo hope all is well with you. My question is I am looking for some drive in lodges in Ontario. I plan to bring my own boat brand new Ranger 620. I don’t want to drive on 30 miles of gravel road. Lodge needs to have a boat launch and docks that could handle docking a large heavy glass boat. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I like to fish for walleye/northern pike and smallmouth bass.

Posted on May 11th, 2018

Hi Michael, I would encourage you to review Elk Lake Resort, ON, Mashkinonge Lodge, West Arm Lake Nipissing, and Red Pine Wilderness Lodge, Lady Evelyn Lake, ON. both are about 2 1/2 hr. north of North Bay and offer walleye, pike and smallmouth bass. Mashkinonge Lodge is north of Perry Sound, ON. Elk Lake is right on the highway and to get to Red Pine Wilderness lodge you drive to Cobolt, ON, launch your boat, run to the base of the dam where a truck and trailer is waiting to trailer you over the dam and your in Lady Evelyn Lake. Both have good walleye fishing all season, best bass fishing is in Oct. Pike can be caught randomly anywhere fishing for walleye and bass…God bless you.

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Hey Italo!We are planning a fishing trip to northern saskatchewan pulling our new 12 foot boat and trailer.We are looking for the best walleye fishing that is accessible by trailer. Looked at a few lakes, and most seem to have no quality views. Looking to find a great camping amd fishing duo. Any secret spots that you know of? Willing to drive really far.

Posted on April 15th, 2018

Hi Jeremy, I have fished Reindeer Lake and can attest that it has excellent fishing for trophy pike, walleye and lake trout. I would encourage you to check-out http://www.grandslamlodge.com/?page=home ….God bless you.

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Dear Italo…you have helped in the past and thank you…2 older fishermen from N.E. U.S. wanting to do a housekeeping camp with good fishing that we can drive to in mid-September in southern Quebec or Ontario. Unfortunately we cannot go earlier. Is this too late in season for walleye…We have never fished walleye and would like to. Any advice regarding season, fishing and suggested camps will be very appreciated. . Thanks very much and best wishes to you

Posted on April 16th, 2018

Hi Mark, glad I was able to help you in the past. I can suggest two locations; Maskinonje Lodge, http://www.mashkinonjelodge.com/ . about 4 1/2 hrs north of Toronto, ON has good walleye, bass and musky fishing on the West Arm of Lake Nipissing. I have shot several TV shows there and can confirm the cottages and fishing is very good.

If you want a little more remote location that’s about a 7 1/2 hr drive from Toronto I would suggest Ritchie’s End of Trail Lodge, http://www.ritchiesendoftrail.com/ .   They offer rustic cabins and plenty of eating size walleye. I have also shot several TV shows there and can confirm it is an excellent location….God bless you.

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We would like to rent a cabin or stay at a lodge on the French river. We would also like to hire a guide for a day in the same area. Where and who do you suggestThanksAlden

Posted on February 1st, 2018

Hi Aden, not sure if you intent on fishing the lower (Georgian Bay), or upper (lake Nipissing), French River arm. If it’s the Nipissing French River I suggest you consider Chaudiere Lodge. If it’s the lower French River, Wolseley Lodge .  Both can arrange for guides, both have cabins and boat rentals and offer good fishing for pike, bass, walleye, musky and panfish….God bless you.

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