Pickerel Arm Lodge

Guests of Pickerel Arm Camp, on Minnitaki Lake near Sioux Lookout, Ontario, rate it very highly. Most reviews are 5-star, and several come from repeat visitors who report 20 or 25+ trips. Some have stayed at other lodges in the area and returned to Pickerel Arm. One writer who has fished about a dozen Canadian lakes and resorts gave two 4-star reviews and plans to fish out of Pickerel Arm again.

Guests most often praise the walleye fishing, both at the base camp on Minnitaki and at the fly-in outposts, especially Kabi. One group of eight reported more than 800 walleye in four days, with regular 22-25" fish. Another group reported a 27.5" walleye, and a third described catching fish nonstop at 14-20". Northern pike also come up, including a 40" fish. Owners Lee and Julie Edwardson are friendly, flexible hosts who make sure guests have what they need. Reviewers call the cabins and accommodations "real nice," and one calls them the best he has seen. Reviewers also mention the variety of outposts and the quality of service. One reviewer says they ate walleye every night.

Complaints are minor. That writer found the fishing on a recent trip good but not as productive as a trip two years earlier. Cool weather had the fish holding in deep water, and most walleyes came from 20 feet or deeper. Weather can also affect results, as when a strong east wind made fishing tough for a day at Kabi. Kabi has sunken rocks and points, so guests recommend careful boating and a GPS. Some fly-in lakes have special limits and restrictions, so talk to Lee beforehand. Kabi has no smallmouth bass. The camp suits walleye anglers of all kinds, from trophy hunters to people who want steady action, and groups of friends fit in well. It also works for first-time Canada trips and for families, since one reviewer mentions taking a son along when he is older. Repeat guests choose between the drive-to base camp and the fly-in outposts.