Whitewater Retreat

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.