My 2008 Q trip is canceled for multiple reasons.  I have a friend interested in doing an Ontario fly-in.  He's not up for Q or BWCA.  Any suggestions?  I'd like someplace that has Smallies, Walleyes and Northerns... not a trout guy.  I'd also like to feel like I'm in Q, as much as possible.

I apologize for the off topic nature of the post, but I thought someone might be able to put me on to something.

A lot of the fly-in fishing resort are just a little too far north for smallies.

It's not the same as Q. The 8 hp motors kill the quiet mood. Lots of times you hear something then look to see what it is. Not so with motors running.

But I have done a few fly-ins that way cause that was what the group wanted. Chimo Outfitters in Red Lake can take you to some good walleye lakes.

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Try   (You need to Login or Register located just East of Quetico. A fly-in resort that specializes in smallie fishing and even offers daytrips into Quetico via Mack Lake.

Woodland Caribou Park might be the ticket. Smallies are only in the southernmost lakes. Lakes tend to be walleye only or trout only lakes so you can avoid those nasty lakers. Northerns are in most lakes. A few have muskies. There are multiple fly-in possibilities. Just check with outfitters in Red Lake, Ontario.

I went here a number of years ago with a bunch of buddies who do not like to paddle:

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In my opinion, they ran a top notch operation.  They have outpost cabins which will bring you closer to an outdoor experience.  You fly out of Nestor Falls, which is about 1 hour north of Ft. Frances.

One caution:  They did not take credit cards back in the day....perhaps this has changed.

There's nothing bad about a cold blue while motoring.

beefman

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Thanks for that link Beef!  ...looked intersting.....my girl and I are pondering a 3 day there.  I believe one can paddle through there on a circular route N out of Crow, working your way up to Regina bay/Lake of the Woods, and back S further to the East.

I met a snowmobiler pulling a lot of gear to the far SE end of Crow....I swear he was going to a cabin, up past Rowan...I think there are a series of unimproved portages connecting alot of that water.

Gorgeous spot indeed.

I don't really think one can go wrong with a Canadian fly-in trip, but here's a place I went last summer with my old man. It's called Slippery Winds, and it's a 45-minute hop in a puddle-jumper from Rainy Lake in Fort Frances, ON. You should be able to find it with a Google search, or check out the pictures on my Website (see below).

The lodge is on Yoke Lake, and it's little more than a smaller main lodge with a few cabins spread about the shore, where the guests stay. It's a smaller outfit, which was nice, because there was never any issue with conflicting agendas. There were never more than 10-15 other people (2-3 other groups) with us at any one time.

But there are six undeveloped, multi-thousand acre lakes to choose from, all with boats waiting, maintained by the guides. One lake is reached via a 75-yard trail from the main lodge, and another is reached via a creek, two different boats, a beaver dam crossing and a waterfall - so there's something for everyone with regards to portage difficulty.

And I don't think I need to comment on the fishing, which is incredible. It's all catch and release, unless you want to keep a few for a shore lunch. They have little "campsites" spread out among the lakes, so there are lots of choices for lunch stops.

But enough of my ranting. I have some pictures from this trip up on my Website, see them at losthighwayphoto.com/triplogs/ontario/

You drive to Mathison Island N of Winnipeg on Lake Winnipeg....(near the "pinch").  You fly 30 minutes up the Bloodvien river....farther if you desire.  You paddle the Bloodvien back to the mouth.  Take the free ferry service back accross to Mathison Island.

The local air charter can place you 5 days, 7 days, 10 days, any number of days up river.  All the Smallies, Monster Pike and Walleyes you can shake a stick at.

If you've got 3 weeks...than drive to Red Lake, Ont....and paddle all the way to Lake Winnipeg.

Go to Google Earth and find Mathison Isle.  Straight accross the lake is the native village of Bloodvien.  You can follow the river all the way back to Woodland Caribou if you desire.

Here, here for Wally's suggestion. Bloodvein is a great paddle, the more time you have, the farther upriver you fly and the more lakes you get to paddle. Great fishing, scenery, good whitewater (with portages available if conditions  or mood dictate).

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We have used Northern Wilderness Outfitters Ltd. out of Fort Frances.  Vic Davis is the owner and has done well by us.  He has ~15 lakes that he has the only cabin on.  The smallmouth are only in the most southern lakes like Dasant, Pipio and Shikag.  Check with him at
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Marc