Review Highlights
Guests rate Elk Island Lodge on Gods Lake in northern Manitoba very highly. Nearly all the reviews are 4 or 5 stars, and many come from repeat guests. Several people say they have returned for years or have already booked the next season, and one says they have been to most of the Manitoba lodges and rank this one the best. Guests often mention Greg Dick, the owner, as a hands-on host who is on site and responsive when problems come up.
The fishing is the most consistent praise. Guests report large northern pike (many 40" or more, with some at 44" to 48"), lake trout, and plentiful walleye. Several groups caught Master Angler-sized fish, and some guests describe days of 60 to 70 fish. More than one guest recommends the brook trout fly-out to God's River. Guests describe the guides as knowledgeable, patient, friendly, and good at finding fish. Daily shore lunches cooked over an open fire from the day's catch come up again and again as a highlight. Guests describe the cabins as clean, comfortable, and well maintained, with lake views, hot water, and 24/7 power. They call dinners hearty and plentiful, and boats and motors satisfactory to new. Beginners and families also report good experiences, including a daughter who caught 56 fish and guests who caught their first fish ever. Repeat guests praise the Edmund Lake outpost for its amenities, such as WiFi, satellite TV, an ice machine, and a satellite phone. Reviewers there also note that outpost-style equipment problems were fixed quickly.
Things to be aware of: the lodge and outposts are remote, so guests describe food and accommodations as good but not gourmet or luxurious, and some equipment breakdowns can happen. One reviewer noted that the lodge is oriented toward gear fishing rather than fly fishing. The guides tried to accommodate fly anglers, but he advised that they should know what they are doing. Early-June visitors mention fierce mosquitoes and recommend good rain gear and bug protection. The lodge suits trophy pike, lake trout, and walleye anglers, groups of friends, and father-child trips. It also works for first-time fly-in guests who want guided fishing with shore lunches, and for anglers who accept a remote-outpost level of comfort.
Read all 19 reviews
Cyle F
Jul 10, 2025
Google
I just came home from a week up at Elk Island lodge. Any trip to God's lake is a trip of a lifetime. Myself and the group I was with had a blessed week on the water, the 8 of us brought in 12 trophy Pike and Trout. Our lead guide Mark did an amazing job putting us on the fish. The food and drinks were very good the cabins were well furnished but there isn't much you want to do once you get off the water other than eat and sleep! The daily shore lunches prepared by the guides were delicious, our guide Jimmy has perfected the art of frying walleye and Pike! If you ever get the chance go, it's worth every penny!
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Brett (Canada Fishing Tips)
Oct 5, 2023
Blog
Fall Fun at God's River Lodge 2023
September 2023 trip with a group of 7. The new GM arranged an evening charter. The lodge is a full-service American Plan lodge. Food was excellent in 2022 but breakfasts and dinners were not as good in 2023. Pike fishing was easy, with roughly 500 pike on the last day and fish up to 46 in. Lake trout were slower than in 2022 after a weather shift. Walleyes averaged 21+ inches. He landed 13 brook trout, biggest around 20 in, including a day 20 miles downriver at the rapids. Ratings: Fishing Very Good, Camp Good, Travel Easy, Guides Good, Value Excellent.
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Curtis R
Jul 15, 2023
Google
We had an awesome time at Elk Island lodge! The accommodations were very comfortable, cozy and clean. We had the most beautiful view every morning and the best sleeps at night. Food was awesome and the guides were phenomenal. My wife and I each caught our very first fish ever in our lives and we both had the opportunity to try our very first shore lunches that were absolutely fabulous! We can't wait to go back!
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Brett (Canada Fishing Tips)
Oct 2, 2022
Blog
The river of my dreams – God's River Lodge 2022
September 2022 trip with his son on a 50%-off-second-person fall deal ($4350 for two, 5 days, guided, from Winnipeg). Said the lodge is easy to reach via a scheduled flight from Winnipeg. Newer triplex cabins have satellite TV, and the food was very good. Lake trout fishing was amazing, with 100+ trout days. The river was a raging torrent from lake levels 4 ft above normal, so he got only 5 brook trout. Rough fall weather, flaky commuter flights and a short fishing window were listed as negatives. Overall: 'Amazing' lake trout fishing, good accommodations, very good food, exceptional price.
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Dan S
Jul 11, 2022
TripAdvisor
Great Father-Daughter Trip
My daughter and I had a wonderful time at Elk Island Lodge. My daughter caught 56 fish including a 39" Pike while fishing less than half the time. I fished hard and caught 161 fish including a 43" Pike. The Lake Trout fishing was off the charts every time we tried for those. Our guide was great, our cabin comfortable, and the service and logistics were excellent. I would highly recommend Elk Island Lodge to anyone who wants a relaxing fishing vacation with plenty of action.
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Fishing in God's Lake, Manitoba - trip report
July 2022. A wonderful father-daughter trip with my older daughter to God's Lake in Manitoba. We stayed at Elk Island Lodge and had a wonderful experience, with my daughter really mastering her casting and catching 56 fish all by herself, highlighted by a 39" Pike and several nice Lake Trout. I finished with 161 fish including a 43" pike. Calls it the excellent Elk Island Lodge.
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Gary S
Jun 2, 2022
Google
Just got back from a four day trip. I have done plenty of fishing trips over the years. This one ranks among the best. It honestly exceeded my expectations. Craig is a great host and truly goes beyond to accommodate his guests. His staff at the lodge was great. Our group rotated through three different guides. They all worked tirelessly to be sure we caught fish. The pike were so much fun to catch. For lunch the guides would take us to shore, make an open fire and cook up a gourmet meal of just caught pike and walleye along with potatoes and beans. If you want an experience to last a lifetime you have to go to Elk Island Lodge. I will definitely return.
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Janet
Jul 23, 2019
TripAdvisor
Fishing trip Elk Island Lodge
Loved ever minute of it. Accommodations great, food great, fishing fantastic and Greg Dick was an excellent host. I already want to book for next year. Fishing was new to me and with the help of our knowledgeable guide Eddy I did really well and enjoyed myself not to mention the shore lunches prepared by our guides Eddy and Milton fresh fish we had just caught prepared over an open fire wow I can still taste it
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WWAndrews
Jul 10, 2019
TripAdvisor
Good bang for the buck
I'm always looking for a good value and Elk Island Lodge didn't disappoint. The fishing was top notch. 6 of the 8 in our group caught Master Angler sized pike and 3 others caught Master Angler brook trout. The guides and staff were very friendly. We were mostly fly fishermen, and the lodge is more oriented to gear fishing. Even so, the guides did their best to work with us and learn what we needed. Still, I'd say you should probably know what you're doing. The food and accommodations were about what you'd expect for a remote outpost - good but not gourmet or luxurious. But after a day of catching trophy pike, the food tasted great and the beds welcoming. Nearly all of us are returning next year.
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Fishing CEO
Jun 30, 2019
TripAdvisor
Not as Great to Everyone just the Chosen Few
Visited June 2019, just after ice-out. Says the fishing is absolutely fantastic, and the staff and guide were fantastic. Criticizes the owner (Greg) as unwelcoming and disinterested. Says a fly-out request was brushed off. Says the Beaver floatplane on the fly-out day was grossly overloaded and the pilot said he had told the owner. Says the food was barely edible and repeated every 4 days on an 8-day trip. Says a stated shrimp allergy was ignored, and the cook complained about special orders. Concludes: if you just want to fish this is your place, but not if you expect a gracious host who cares about you and your safety.
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richard e
Nov 1, 2018
TripAdvisor
Best Lodge ever.
I have been to most of the Lodges in Manitoba but Elk Island is the best. This year, I was unable to find a fishing partner but Greg is allowing me to come up by myself. Most Lodges won't allow this because they lose money on one person occupying a cabin. Greg has even offered me my regular guide Tom who is always in great demand. The eight day trip is the best because it is not too long or too short of a stay. I'm going to keep going until I can convert Greg from a Packers fan to a Colts fan.
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troutfan
Sep 20, 2017
TripAdvisor
Fishing God's River is a unique experience
For my 4th visit to God's River Lodge, I went in early August 2017. The lake offers terrific fishing for lake trout, pike and walleyes, but it is the river and its brook trout that are the draw for me. I'm over 50 trophy brookies from God's River in my 4 visits, plus a lot of walleye and pike. I got 9 trophy brookies on my August 2017 visit. God's River Lodge holds a definite spot on my hope to return list. It has the absolute best access to the river, and for me it is a very pleasant and reasonably priced place to visit. I enjoy revisiting the people that work there. Tip: They are building new cabins to replace older ones; the new ones are quite nice but I was always comfortable in the older ones also.
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richard e
Aug 14, 2017
TripAdvisor
Elk Island Lodge Gods Lake Manitoba
I have been to many fishing Lodges over the years but Elk Island is just the best. This year I caught two Trophy Northern over 41". The guides do a superb job getting your shore lunch ready every day. Tom was our guide for the second time and he was really great with JoAnn. The nice thing is they also have Golf Carts to get you from your cabin and down to the Lake. I have already booked 2018 for their 12 days trip. Greg just does a nice job of taking care of his guests and we had absolutely no complaints with the service. Everyone was just so friendly that we will always remember our trips to Gods Lake.
This lodge
MrPat4642
Feb 28, 2017
TripAdvisor
Maybe the best in Manitoba
I am one of the many repeat guests at Elk Island. Greg is now the owner operator and he runs a great operation. This place is all about the guest and our experience. The lodge is in great condition. The rooms are simple but functional, with 24/7 power and a shower and toilet in each cabin. Dinner is served family style and different each night, and the highlight is the daily shore lunch cooked by your guide. The fishing on Gods Lake is awesome. I have caught trophy Pike, Walleye and Lake Trout here. It's not unusual to hear guests talking about catching 60 or 70 fish in a day. Returning July 2017.
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If you are looking for a fantastic Fly-In Fishing Lodge, I highly recommend Elk Island Lodge on God's Lake in Northern Manitoba. I chose the eight-day trip, June 4 - 12, 2016 but you can do four-day trips. God's Lake holds large Lake Trout, Northern Pike and Walleye. You can take an add-on fly-in trip to nearby God's River and catch 18" plus Brook Trout all day long. My brother-in-law and I caught over 25 large Brookies, eight in the 20+" range. Meals (breakfasts, shore lunches, packed lunches, dinners) are super, not camp meals. The cabins are clean and very well maintained with daily staff service. I was particularly impressed with the quality of the guides.
This lodge
Kristin G
Jul 1, 2015
TripAdvisor
Fishing heaven (or just heaven period)
This is a fishing lodge, and it is some of the best fishing in the world. Of all the guests, my father and I were the only new guests; everyone else was a repeat guest. The trip was well-organized, with plenty of fishing time and options for fly-ins and evening fishing. We took the 4-day package, which includes the flight from Winnipeg, meals, lodging and a guide with boat. Staff and owner Greg were responsive, friendly and attentive. Our guide Freddie was amazingly patient. Fishing was incredible in volume and size (northern pike, lake trout, walleye). Cabins have lovely lake views and plenty of hot water. Bring hardy rain gear and bug protection; early-June mosquitoes were fierce. Food was hearty, tasty and plentiful.
This lodge
Scarab29
Mar 17, 2010
TripAdvisor
Awesome fishing - Wouldn't go anywhere else
The fishing is THE best you could ever hope for. The laker I posted was 42" and probably 35 lbs. Our guide took us out in rain and 40s weather when most guests stayed in. The rooms are nothing special but spacious enough. The fly out to Semmons is a must at least once; my buddy and I caught over 100 northern that day, with 10 masters between us. The brook trout fishing is world class, with fish 20" to 25" or bigger. The guides are quiet and non-talkative, but not mean or angry. The fishing overshadows any minuses. I've been there twice and I will not go anywhere else; there were many other repeat customers there. God's lake is definitely in God's Country. (Stayed June 2008, with friends.)
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Travelor5
Jun 24, 2007
TripAdvisor
Great Fishing, Poor Lodge
God's River Lodge is located on famous God's Lake. We weren't disappointed by the fishing: it was the best of our lives, and we each recorded master angler walleye (28") and northern pike (41"). However, the individual cabins were terrible: tiny rooms, doors that did not close, and no heat when the temperature dipped to 32 degrees. The service was poor, with no welcome, no directions to orientation, a rambling general manager briefing that pushed a $375 fly-out package, and a late first-day start (about 3.5 hours of fishing on day one). Staff gave no eye contact or smiles. Other fishermen felt the same. Atmosphere was depressing, and without the terrific fishing the experience would have been a total loss.
This lodge
Excellent Northern Manitoba Lodge
Greg and his team are professional and experienced and understand how to provide a top notch wilderness fishing experience. This is certainly the best lodge on Gods Lake. Food and accommodation are very good and the lodge staff is excellent. I had an issue with my guide and Greg was quick to resolve the situation. I was at the lodge for eight days and saw every type of weather in July. Fishing ran from slow to exceptional as the week progressed, with one afternoon producing over 60 pike, half over 30 inches. In my opinion a fly out for brook trout on Gods River is a must, the fly out for pike not so much. I've been to numerous lodges across western Canada and I will return to Gods River Lodge. (Reviewed Feb 2019; stayed July 2018.)
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