Chimo Main Lodge, Roderick Lake

Guests rate Chimo Lodge & Outposts very highly. Many are long-term repeat customers, with several reporting 24 or 25 years of trips and groups that have returned annually since the mid-1990s. Reviewers call it a well-run operation, with the owners (Chris and Tammy) and staff attentive. One guest said the efficiency was the best they had seen in 24 trips to Roderick. The air service (Superior Airways, with its newer Cessna Caravans) also gets praise. Ratings are mostly 4 and 5 stars, with a few 3-star reviews, mainly about the age of the facilities.

Fishing is the consistent highlight. Guests report large walleye catches across several outposts, including Roderick, Hornby, Bearberry, Keeper Lake, Miller, My Lake and Schultz Lake. One group reported 500+ walleyes and 50+ northern pike over a week on a lake they had to themselves. Another angler caught 35 walleyes of 22 to 30 inches in about four hours on a portage lake. Pike of 40 inches come from Roderick, Marvin and Culverson. Portage lakes hold bigger walleye, and one reviewer said Miller was better than Keeper River for fish size. Cabins, boats and motors are reliable, and one cabin had solar power and satellite wireless. Roderick is a good fit for anglers who want tea-stained Shield water, portages and simple accommodations.

The main concern is aging facilities. Guests call Hornby "tired" and "past its prime," and ask for a fish cleaning house and better walkways to the dock and ramp. The Keeper Lake cabin is older but functional, and it was crowded with nine guests in an eight-man cabin. Accommodations are generally simple and functional rather than luxurious, and one reviewer said anyone wanting American Plan service should go elsewhere. One long-time guest noted a few "bumps in the road," which the owner addressed. A wildfire in one season delayed some trips and damaged some Roderick buildings and at least one guest's gear, though fishing at Hornby continued without problems. The destination suits groups of friends, experienced and repeat fly-in anglers, and walleye and pike anglers who care more about fishing quality than amenities.