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Almas Bay Outpost - Smoothrock Lake

Thunderhook Fly-Ins

Smoothrock Lake, Ontario — Near Armstrong Station

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Lake Size 27,114 acres

Max Depth 155 ft

Max Guests 10

Access fly-in

Season May – September

Pricing $$

About This Outpost

Almas Bay is a large, three-bedroom cabin that sits in total seclusion at the farthest northwest corner of Smoothrock Lake (24,000 acres) in Wabakimi Wilderness Provincial Park, with fishing for walleye, northern pike, and lake trout. At only 25 air miles from base, this is the closest Thunderhook outpost. Smoothrock Camp is on the same lake, a 45-minute boat ride away for supplies or staff contact. The camp is solar powered. Guiding services available. Almas Bay combines the seclusion of a remote outpost, the trophy fishing of a large lake, and the convenience of being close to assistance.

Accommodations

Lodging Type

Cabin

Max Guests

Bedrooms

Amenities

Electricity: Yes - solar

Running Water: Yes

Hot Water: Yes

Drinking Water: No

Shower: Yes

Sink: Yes

Toilet: outhouse

Heat: Wood stove

A/C: No

Cell: No

Satellite phone

Lounge Area

Dock

Fish Cleaning Station

Other: Covered deck, large screen porch, wooden patio with propane grill and fish cooker, beds and bunks, satellite phone, axe/saw, cleaning supplies, dishes/pots/pans/utensils, ice and ice trays. Boats are equipped with swivel seats, paddles, bailer, nets, anchors, emergency boat kits, life jackets, and minnow buckets.

Fish Species

walleye pike lake trout

Fishing Regulations

Fishing Zone

Ontario FMZ 2

Boats & Equipment

Boats Included

Boat Length

16ft Lund

Boat Brand

Lund

Motor

20hp 4-stroke

Motor Start

Electric start

Motor Brand

Yamaha

Seat Type

Swivel seats with cushions

Gas Included

Yes

Lake Information

Many miles of long and narrow bays and channels, allowing for sheltered fishing even on windy days. The narrow western channel of the lake has steeply breaking shorelines that plunge into the deepest portions of the lake. Trolling this portion of the lake with deep diving baits can help locate lake trout. Smoothrock Lake is known for Walleye, Northern Pike, and Lake Trout, which are both abundant and attain large sizes.

Lake Name

Smoothrock Lake

Province

Ontario, Wabakimi Provincial Park / Northwestern Ontario

Lake Size

27,114 acres

Max Depth

155 ft

Avg Depth

35 ft

Lake Structure

Large lake composed of long, narrow bays, channels, and islands which provide shelter rom wind, and abundant fish-holding structure. The lake has many stream and spring inlets

Inflows

Ogoki River from Wabakimi Lake on the West, and numerous small streams

Outflows

Ogoki River to Whitewater lake on the Northeast

Watershed

Albany River

Fishing Pressure

Moderate - the lake is home to a small fishing lodge and two outpost cabins. Catch & Release policy enforced; trophy fish must be released.

Meals & Services

Meal Plan

Housekeeping

Meals Included

Guide Service

optional

Reviews & Reputation

4.7

Based on 9 reviews from across the web

Review Highlights

Guests rate Thunderhook Fly-Ins very highly. Reviews are mostly 4 and 5 stars, with one 3-star review that praised everything except the fishing. A Facebook page reportedly shows 22 reviews and a 100% recommendation rate. Reviewers fished Smoothrock, Attwood, Moonshine, Linklater and Funger, and several said they had returned or planned to. The owners, including Drake Dill, are described as friendly, and the operation as well run and well organized.

The most consistent praise is for the amount of walleye action. Guests described "walleye factory" fishing, with some reporting around 100 fish a day per boat or per person, many doubles, and plenty of northern pike mixed in. Most walleyes were reported at 14 to 22 inches. One first-time guest also landed a 44-inch northern and a 36-inch walleye. Guests also liked the cabins, which were called clean, comfortable and well equipped. One reviewer mentioned a long sand beach at the camp, a fish cleaning house, and 16' Lunds with 20hp electric-start Yamahas, padded seats, nets and tanks topped off each morning. Others praised the staff, guides and outpost hosts, and the base at Armstrong Station, which has a lounge, free hot dogs and sausages, coffee and rental rooms. The flight to Smoothrock was described as about 20 minutes. One guest reported a total of $1,469 with tax for a 7-day fly-in.

The recurring caveat is size. Several reviewers said they caught lots of fish but few large ones, with no trophy walleyes over about 25 inches. One guest got only one big pike in September, which they said can be tough. Weather and cold snaps were also said to slow the bite, and one guest said fishing started slowly on an unfamiliar lake. One reviewer warned of a large submerged rock shelf east of the west camp on Attwood and suggested going around the island to the north. The trip suits first-time fly-in anglers, families with kids, and groups of friends who want steady walleye and pike action, comfortable cabins and good support. Anglers focused mainly on trophy-sized fish may find the fishing less satisfying, based on several reviews.

Read all 9 reviews

RichA$1970 Sep 17, 2023

Forum

Thunderhook Fly-ins Smoothrock camp

Just got back from a week at Smoothrock Lake with Thunderhook out of Armstrong Station. Thunderhook's base in Armstrong Station is really nice, lounge room, free hot dogs and smoked sausages, coffee and they do have rental rooms. They have 2 Otters and 2 Cessnas, around a 20 minute flight. The camp is on a big sand beach that must be 200 yards long. There were 3 of us but they gave us 2 16' Lunds with 20hp Yamaha electric starts, no problems plus padded seats, nice nets, anchors, life jackets, & tanks topped off every morning. Fish cleaning house was also really nice. Fishing started slow as we were new to the lake, it was rocky as it was down around 3-5' and prior to getting there the temperature had a big drop. Owners were great and total cost with tax for a 7 day fly-in was $1,469 which isn't bad. I will go back to Thunderhook as I was really happy with everything they provided.

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DPG (guest) Jan 14, 2010

Forum

Thunderhook/Smoothrock

Fished Smoothrock Fly-in last summer. Great people and service. Super cabins and all amenities. Everything was absolutely great but the fishing. Lots of smaller walleyes, no heavies or trophies, though. Weather was rough for part of the week, but not so great fishing.

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Scott Stankowski

Blog

A Canadian Fly-In Adventure

First-ever Canadian fly-in trip with sons via Thunderhook Fly-Ins out of Armstrong Station, flying by float plane to an outpost camp on Smoothrock Lake in mid-August. The author met co-owner Drake Dill and stayed in the bunkhouse the night before. The fishing was outstanding: about 100 fish a day between two boats, walleyes 14 to 22 inches in 5-22 feet of water, a 44-inch 23-pound northern on the first night, and a 36-inch walleye later in the week. Outpost host Debbie Alexander supplied leeches and minnows, and kayaks for the boys. He writes: 'I would highly suggest checking out Thunderhook fly-in fishing adventures, as they provide the much needed resources for a first time fishing trip to Canada.' Coming back to a cozy cabin, friendly staff and first-rate facilities made it the trip of a lifetime, and they plan to return.

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Eli R. - Bagley, MN

Outfitter

Has come to Smoothrock for years and has never been disappointed. Earlier fly-in trips with other outfitters were mostly disappointing, and this outfitter turned it into a family tradition.

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Brian Z.

Outfitter

Most remarkable fishing he has experienced. At Smoothrock Lake he boated his four largest northerns, his first lake trout and more walleyes than he could catch in a season at home. Only bad part was leaving.

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Dave - Perham, MN

Outfitter

Thanks Mike for being good hosts on a trip to Smoothrock Lake. Fishing was terrific, even rookies caught nice fish, and his 38-inch lake trout was the highlight.

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Bruce - Tulsa, OK

Outfitter

Has been to Canada for 31 years and had not caught the number or size of walleyes they caught in July on Smoothrock. Plans to return in May.

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Forum

Loved Smoothrock with Thunderhook – Great September Pike Trip

I fished Smoothrock last September with Thunderhook Outfitters and loved it. Only got one big pike (September can be tough), but the fish my boat partner caught had a head as big as an alligator LOL!

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Forum

Multiple Great Trips via Thunderhook – Outposts and Smoothrock

Are you going through Thunderhook Fly-ins? We used them for multiple trips to different fly-in outposts (Moonshine, Linklater, and Funger). Funger is actually on the same system and connected to Smoothrock. If you go up the arm of the lake between Smoothrock and Funger most of it will be fairly shallow (3 to 6 feet deep). But you will hit one stretch that is deeper, probably 25 or 30 feet deep. The walleyes and some northerns were just stacked in this hole. Each person could catch 100 walleyes a day if you wanted to (we did for a couple of days). The fish were not big (most 14 to 19 inches) but the action was non-stop, many, many doubles. The owners are really nice and we always had a good experience on their trips. We typically did not get any really big fish (over 25 inches for walleyes) but always had lots of action.

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Videos — 2 clips from YouTube

Thunderhook Fly-Ins Part 2 Smoothrock Camp - YouTube

YouTube

Midwest Outdoors TV Show #1523 - YouTube

YouTube

What's Included

Included

Round-trip fly-in, cabin accommodation, 16ft Lund boat with 20hp Yamaha electric-start 4-stroke motor, swivel seats, life jackets, landing nets, gas for outboard, propane for cabin and BBQ