Wabakimi Wilderness Lodge

Guests describe Wabakimi Fishing & Canoeing Outfitters very positively. Almost every review is 4 or 5 stars, and owner Bruce Hyer is repeatedly singled out as friendly, helpful and deeply knowledgeable about the Wabakimi area. Reviewers credit him with route planning, a good canoe rental offer, quick responses by email and phone, and careful questions about skill levels before he recommends a trip. The operation is based at an eight-bedroom lodge in Armstrong, Ontario, about three hours north of Thunder Bay, with outpost cabins reached by floatplane.

Guests consistently praise the remote setting and the fishing. They describe wilderness with very few other visitors, and one review says having a lake to yourself is normal. Walleye, pike and lake trout are described as plentiful and hungry, and several groups ate fresh-caught fish as shore lunch and dinner. The Armstrong lodge is called a good place to rest before and after a trip, with a lake view, a hot tub, a large common area and home-cooked meals. Outposts, such as the one on Shawanabis Lake, are described as private and well equipped. Details mentioned include a full kitchen with propane lights, a fridge and stove, hot and cold showers, a sauna, boats, canoes and kayaks, and two-way radio contact with base. Guests also like the floatplane flights, the maps and rental gear, and the Allanwater Bridge outpost, which the train stops in front of and which staff helped with canoe transport and inReach setup.

Reviewers raise few concerns. The main thing to be aware of is cost. One account says canoeists sometimes balk at floatplane prices, though they rave about the flight afterward. The paddling season is also short, running from roughly late May to mid-September, with October possible for those who can handle the cold. The destination suits anglers who want low-pressure walleye, pike and lake trout fishing, and groups of friends or families who want a private outpost. It also suits canoeists of any experience level, from novices to experienced paddlers, and first-time Wabakimi visitors who want an outfitter to help plan the route.