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Outpost

Scotia Lake Middle Outpost

True North Airways

Scotia Lake, Ontario — Near Azilda

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Lake Size 2,046 acres

Max Depth 207 ft

Max Guests 8

Access fly-in

Pricing $

About This Outpost

Scotia Lake Middle Outpost sits on a 12-mile-long lake in northern Ontario, 40 miles by air from the True North Airways base at Azilda, near Sudbury. Guests fly in by float plane. The DHC-2 Beaver used on the route carries up to 1,200 lb in total and a maximum of 6 passengers, with gear counted in that weight, so a load of 4 passengers leaves room for about 400 lb of gear. The lake is long, but the far shore is always in view. It has sandy beaches, rock cliffs, rocky shores, weedy bays and many islands to explore. Shoals and varied bottom structure are common, and some spots drop past 80 feet. Lake trout run from 2 to 12 lb and can be found all season. Smallmouth bass are abundant and include trophy fish. Northern pike fishing is best at either the south end or the north end of the lake, and walleye are also present. On the east shore, native pictographs are painted on a flat-faced rock. Scotia Lake has two camps. The Middle Camp sleeps 5, and the North End Camp sleeps 8 in bunk-style beds. Capacity across the two runs from 6 to 8, and both camps have a sauna. A BBQ is also on hand. Away from the water, a walking trail leads to Friday Bay, about 20 minutes each way. You can take either a steep, hilly route or a flatter one. The trail passes a sand beach, large trembling aspens and old-growth white pines, and mushroom picking is common along it. The package is priced per person. A full week costs $1375 and a half week costs $1350 (CAD). Available stay days are Saturday to Saturday, Wednesday to Wednesday, Saturday to Wednesday and Wednesday to Saturday. A midweek transfer for a split week costs $250 per person for groups of 2 to 3 and $200 per person for groups of 4 or more. Fuel is priced separately. Besides fishing, guests canoe, hike, photograph wildlife and take in the old-growth forest.

Accommodations

Lodging Type

Cabin

Max Guests

Beds

Amenities

Electricity: Yes - solar lighting

Running Water: No

Drinking Water: No

Toilet: outhouse

Heat: Wood stove

Cell: No

Mid-week check flight

Sauna

Dock

Fish Cleaning Station

Other: Propane grill, walking trail to Friday Bay, sandy beaches, rock cliffs for climbing, native pictographs on east shore, canoeing, hiking, mushroom picking, wildlife viewing, photography

Fish Species

pike smallmouth bass lake trout walleye

Portage Lakes: Yes - walking trail to Friday Bay (two trail options, ~20 min each way) (1 lakes)

Boats & Equipment

Boats Included

Boat Length

12-14 ft aluminum

Motor

8 HP 4-stroke

Motor Brand

Yamaha

Seat Type

boat cushions

Gas Included

Lake Information

Scotia Lake is 12 miles long and has a wide variety of sandy beaches, rock cliffs, rocky shores, weedy bays, and many islands. Lake trout 2–12 lbs found all season. Trophy smallmouth bass are abundant. Northern pike fishing is best at the south or north ends. Some good sized brook trout are also available in the lake. There are native pictographs along the east shore. There is a walking trail to Friday Bay, located just to the west of Scotia Lake.

Lake Name

Scotia Lake

Province

Ontario, Northern Ontario

Lake Size

2,046 acres

Max Depth

207 ft

Avg Depth

58 ft

Water Clarity

Clear — can see fish approach the boat; over 80 feet of water in places

Lake Structure

Shoals, interesting bottom structure, deep holes over 80 ft, sandy beaches, rock cliffs, rocky shores, weedy bays, many islands

Fishing Pressure

Low - there are two fly-in outpost cabins on this lake long lake

Meals & Services

Meal Plan

Housekeeping

Meals Included

Guide Service

not available

Reviews & Reputation

4.5

Based on 2 reviews from across the web

Review Highlights

Guests rate this outfitter very highly. Most reviews are four or five stars, and a few are three stars. Reviewers frequently refer to the operation as Sudbury Aviation, and it flies out of a base near Azilda, Ontario. Several repeat customers have returned for years, and one reports using the outfitter for 15 years. Owner Marg and her staff are named repeatedly as friendly, professional and easy to deal with.

Guests consistently praise the staff and service, the cabins and equipment, and the fishing. Cabins are described as clean, well equipped and no-frills. Typical features are propane fridges, stoves and lights, a wood stove, bunks, and a separate sauna. Boats and motors are called good. One reviewer reports that the outfitter flies in mid-week to check on guests and is punctual on fly-out day. Another notes the short drive to the base from Toronto or Ottawa, about five hours. Smallmouth bass fishing is the most consistent highlight, especially on Kennedy, MacSmith and Scotia lakes. Reviewers report 1 to 3 pound bass in good numbers, and one group reports 50 to 75 bass per angler per day. Pike are common, and 30 to 36 inch fish were reported. Pickerel in the 16 to 20 inch range were also caught. Walleye are described as more variable, with some reviewers calling them spotty or harder to find. One group reported 30 to 40 fish per person over a week.

The main things to be aware of are the basic accommodations and some gaps in camp supplies. One detailed review found missing kitchen items, no oars, too few paddles, and no boat safety kits or enough certified PFDs, and advised guests to bring their own. Water has to be carried up from the lake. Fishing results vary by lake and season. Early-season weed growth made fish harder to locate at Scotia, and one reviewer found the fishing to be mostly 2-foot pike. The fishing is described as more about numbers than trophy size. This destination suits groups of friends and anglers who want a quiet, remote outpost with lots of bass, pike and pickerel, including first-time fly-in guests who are comfortable with simple cabins. It suits trophy walleye anglers less well. Small groups of two to four are the best fit for the smaller camps such as MacSmith.

Read all 2 reviews

Scott Gardner (Outdoor Canada) Aug 25, 2026

Blog

Think backcountry fishing means an endless drive? Think again. This fly-in adventure was just hours from the city

Trip report from four anglers flying from the Azilda base to Scotia Lake. The drive from Toronto or Ottawa is about five hours, and the floatplane dock is right at the base. The camp had a good cabin, boats, a barbecue and a sauna, and True North left the group alone to fish. The fish were hard to find at first because the weeds were not yet developed, but a 35-inch pike came on the third cast and a 36-inch pike on day 1. Walleye were 'spotty, but very cooperative', and the group also caught smallmouth. The author says the location saves a day or more of driving compared with other fly-in trips.

This lake

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Troy Lindner (The Canadian Experience / The Ontario Experience) Feb 18, 2021

Blog

Sudbury Aviation

Filmed at Scotia Lake, which has two camps. Both have a propane fridge, lights, a big cozy stove, a propane stove and a sauna just steps away, which the author used a couple of times. A group leaving the lake just before the author's flight in said they had been coming for years and caught easily 50 to 75 smallmouth bass a day per angler. The author's group caught some walleye but mainly targeted the abundant smallmouth. They released all their catch, and the camp has pots, pans and utensils. The author recommends it for bass, trout, pike and walleye.

This lake

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