Review Highlights
Guests rate Wilderness North very highly. Nearly every review is 5 out of 5 stars, and one is 4 out of 5. Many reviewers are repeat visitors, some returning for decades (one since 1997, another 13 trips across the company's lodges), and several say they have already rebooked. Others with experience at 25 or more fly-in trips in Canada call it among the best they have taken. The reviews cover several locations, including Miminiska Lodge, Striker's Point on Whitewater Lake, Makokibatan, Dawn Lake, Ogoki, Arril Lake and outposts such as Zig Zag and D'Alton Lake.
Guests consistently praise the fishing, the staff and the food. Walleye turn up in very large numbers, often 16 to 24 inches, with some reaching 25 to 26 inches. Several groups report catching hundreds or even thousands of fish over a trip. Guests often mention northern pike over 35 inches, with a few 40 to 45 inchers. Reviewers describe the staff as attentive, friendly and willing to handle any request, from firewood and ice to filleting fish and cooking shore lunch. They also mention staff setting up boats each day, and some say a first-time boat driver was coached through it. Meals are plentiful and excellent, including a hot breakfast, shore lunch and a multi-course dinner. Lodging is clean, comfortable and modern, and Miminiska has a variety of cabin types, a main lodge with a bar, and Starlink Wi-Fi. Reviewers also praise the pilots and the pre-trip communication and planning. Several mention surprise celebrations for birthdays or anniversaries. The setting is remote. One group saw only one other boat all week, and others report wildlife such as eagles, otters, beavers and bears.
Complaints are few. The most notable is weather delays on fly-in and fly-out days. One Miminiska group left Thunder Bay about eight hours late and was delayed again on the way out, which shortened their fishing time, though they said the fishing itself was still excellent. One guest noted very low water on Lake Miminiska, which called for care when exploring. One reviewer found the fishing excellent but saw no master angler walleye. The destination suits groups of friends, company outings, and multigenerational or father-and-son trips. It is a good fit for anglers who want high-volume walleye fishing with a chance at big pike, and for first-time fly-in guests who want full service. Fly anglers will also find it of interest, since a Trout Unlimited writer praised the fly fishing for walleye and pike at Striker's Point.
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gordy28
Sep 4, 2023
Forum
Quick Report. Miminiska Lodge w Wilderness North
Spent Aug 25 to Aug 28th at Miminiska Lodge. All in all an incredible trip but similar to a few posts we had bad weather on our fly in day (supposed to leave Thunder Bay at 830 AM and didn't get out until almost 5 PM) and delayed again on our way out (12 PM instead of 830 AM). This didn't impact the fishing though. With a shortened trip we fished hard for 3 days. Walleye and pike were on fire at our first spot. Most walleye I have ever caught in 3 hours fishing a spot called the walleye mine, a bay at the mouth of the Albany river inflow. In 7 feet of water it was almost a fish every drop, mainly 16 to 18 inch walleye but also some big pike. 4 over 36 w the largest being 38. We ran to an island for an awesome shore lunch.
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Bobhen27
Sep 1, 2023
TripAdvisor
Miminiska Lodge Fun
Our company trip event, consisting of 24 Industry friends, employees and associates was just completed August 28th. I'm 75 years old, and I can honestly say that I've NEVER, in my entire life, experienced better fishing. Wilderness North staffed the lodge with 6 experienced individuals plus two First Nation Guides from nearby Fort Hope, Ontario. Every day we were served a hot breakfast of our choice, a staffed shore lunch and a 3 course dinner preceded by a cocktail reception in the lodge bar. Cabins is a misnomer at Miminiska Lodge. Your cabins are either 2 story, multi-bathroom A-Frames, or small 2 BR homes. Wi-Fi is Starlink and outstanding. Wilderness North Ownership is strict and disciplined with staff. Service and attention are the way it used to be. It was a great trip. I frankly can't think of any way in which Wilderness North could have made it any better! We'll be back at Miminiska Lodge in 2024.
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Bobhen27
Sep 1, 2023
TripAdvisor
Miminiska Lodge Fun
Our company trip event, consisting of 24 Industry friends, employees and associates was just completed August 28th. I'm 75 years old, and I can honestly say that I've NEVER, in my entire life, experienced better fishing. But that's about the lake, Trip Advisor typically wants to know about the lodge and service.
We split up into two groups. One was 14, the other 10. Wilderness North staffed the lodge with 6 experienced individuals plus two First Nation Guides from nearby Fort Hope, Ontario. Every day we were served a hot breakfast of our choice, a "staffed" shore lunch and a 3 course dinner preceded by a cocktail reception in the lodge "bar". When we went out to fish after breakfast, staff cleaned the lodge and completely cleaned and restocked our cabin accommodations. Cabins is a misnomer at Miminiska Lodge. Your "cabins" at this lodge are either 2 story, multi-bathroom A-Frames, or small 2 BR "homes". There's also a 4 BR one story "house". With the exception of the 2 BR "homes" each facility has its own "gathering lounge" complete with a bar, excellent furniture and a fireplace.
The main lodge has a central gathering place with fireplace and satellite TV. Wi-Fi is "Starlink" and outstanding. Main lodge also has a "bar", "Tac Shop" (tackle, clothing, supplies), Pool Room & Table, a large "Meeting Room" and of course Dining Room.
Wilderness North Ownership is strict and disciplined with staff. Service and attention are "the way it used to be". Remember, I'm 75! LOL.
We came into the lodge from Thunder Bay in either their 8 passenger wheeled Cessna Caravan, or 8 passenger "Otter" Float Plane. Our accommodations on the night before our flights were at the convenient Valhalla Inn, right at YQT and were part of the "package".
It was a great trip. I frankly can't think of any way in which Wilderness North could have made it any better! Full disclosure, we've been flying customers and friends into Northern Ontario since 2001. We've been at Miminiska Lodge multiple times over the years. Further, we'll be back at Miminiska Lodge (God Willing) in 2024.
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Guest comment (Miminiska report page)
We have done 25 plus different fly in trips over the years in Canada and this year at Minimiska was the best we can ever remember all time! We have already reserved and paid deposit for 2020!
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Bobhen27 (Bob Hendry)
Oct 27, 2017
TripAdvisor
Heaven in Remote Ontario
We returned to Miminiska Lodge for the 6th time, week three of August 2017. Actually, we've been to all the Wilderness North Lodges a total of 13 times. Our other favorite is Strikers Point on Whitewater Lake. Mim is a surprise 5 Star Lodge on a lake formed as the Albany river makes its lazy way to the southern end of Hudson Bay. We were served a nice breakfast by the owner of WN, Mrs. Krista Cheesman. The boats were cleaned, fueled up, safety checked and ready to go. After fishing we came back for Happy Half Hour and a fantastic 3-course dinner. Mim has varied accommodations and my group stayed in all of them. We took advantage of Mim's optional guide service each day, and the guides prepared delicious shore lunch too! We'll be back in 2018 for our 14th time.
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basketcasejax
Jul 1, 2017
TripAdvisor
Bears, Beavers and beauty. Oh and we caught a fish
How humbling to be in a place of such peace and tranquility. We learned how to stand up paddle board and therefore could sneak up on beavers working on their lodges. We saw eagles and otters. Plus the lodge even had a visit of some bears. The accommodation we had (unit 5) is gorgeous. Krista and Alan have an amazing approach to make you feel welcome and part of their family. You fly in by float plane so it's very secluded. You get to catch your fish and have a sumptuous shore lunch. We loved our time and will be recommending to all. We are New Zealanders and think Ontario is stunning.
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A Father and Son Tradition at Miminiska Lake Lodge
Father-and-son fly-in trip: the author describes a full-service, family-run operation with amazing food and comfortable cabins. They caught hundreds of walleye each day, many doubles, and targeted trophy pike in the afternoons.
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Trip of trips to Lake Miminiska. Flew in from Nakina July 24-31st and what a trip it was. Water this year is extremely low so much care is needed when exploring the lake. We trolled Lake Miminiska for 7 days and the fishing was unreal. Unlimited Walleye and Northern Pike. The flight in was about 45 mins and smooth. We had cabin 6 and it was a great little space. Sleeps 4 and is super modern & spotless inside. Staff on site were fantastic and our boat helper Yug was great. Dinners were unreal and more than plentiful daily. Communication prior with Krista was very quick and easy. All in all best fishing trip I've been on and makes you want to come back each year.
This lodge
Fly in Fishing doesn't get any better
Stayed 5 nights in a group of 4. Accommodations were great (4bd room cabin), the lodge, eating area, and bar were great. The fishing was better than you can ever imagine. We caught more fish (we think close to 2800+/- for the group) and never had one walleye smaller than 13 inches. We caught 20"+ all day long. Every member of the group caught at least one 40+ pike. One 45" and numerous 35"+. Miminiska is in the middle of nowhere. We saw one other boat of 2 people in the week. (Stay dated July 2019; review posted Feb 2020.)
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Boats & Equipment
