When I think of a Canadian vacation, the first two things that come to mind are fishing, of course, but also the incredible remoteness. Traveling to Ontario, for example, you experience Canada’s allure of vast wilderness areas, beautiful lakes and forests, and numerous locations where few have set foot over the ages. Being in places like this, spending time quietly with nature, inspires and helps renew my spirit.

Sure, the fishing is excellent in many lakes, with walleyes available at almost every rock hump, reef and point; along with giant northern pike or muskies that charge your lure from almost every weed bed. While many go north only for the fantastic fishing and the opportunity to catch fish on nearly every cast, others find that the combination of wilderness and fishing make a Canadian vacation so much more. 

The town of Red Lake sits at the very end of the farthest-north Highway in Ontario—HWY105. Above that… it’s all wilderness. The drive on Hwy 105 to Red Lake features scenic forests, lakes, and plenty of fishing resorts for miles and miles. If you enjoy scenic lakes and trees, wildlife and forests, then you need to travel this highway. 

Red Lake and the HWY 105 corridor encompass Vermilion Bay, Perrault Falls, Ear Falls, and the Red Lake District. In addition to remoteness, this vast area is home to abundant Canadian drive-to camps, boat-in operations and fly-in fishing resorts.

If you’re after fishing and vacationing in wilderness and remoteness, Red Lake has over 500 miles of rugged beautiful coastline to explore. It is known for its trophy-sized walleyes, northern pike, trout and whitefish. The community is also surrounded by abundant pristine lakes and waterways which makes the Red Lake region every angler’s paradise.  And that’s only one area of Ontario.

For me, Canada is a vacation destination, not just a fishing destination. Let me clarify that. The Midwest has an abundant number of lakes where you can catch trophy species. But when you can combine terrific fishing with Canada’s scenery, wilderness, remoteness, relaxation, and the “getting away from it all” mentality, it’s pretty hard to beat.

Canada, at least for me, is the complete fishing and outdoor experience. It’s being out in the open with wildlife, seeing the rugged and beauty of the land, having hardly anyone else around, or enjoying an entire lake all to yourself (or at least almost to yourself). It’s no phones, internet or television. It’s relaxing and taking it easya— simpler lifestyle. Canada is woodstove nights and stoking the fire during cool evenings or sitting around a campfire. It’s a hot cup of coffee in the morning and then going down to the dock to get the boat in order. It’s stopping to build a fire and having a shore lunch of freshly-caught fish. It’s taking the time to watch Canadian sunsets. It’s all that and even more. The fishing that comes with it is just the icing on the cake.

Now, that is just my own idea of Canada. One of the best things about planning an adventure over the border is that you can make it into whatever you want it to be. The huge variety of lakes, camps, and destinations offer a tremendous number of options to suit any particular tastes. The best way to make sure that a particular resort, lodge or lake is the right choice for your group is to do a little homework before you book your trip. For me, much of the fun begins with the planning of the trip and the anticipation of going.

I can’t tell you how many times someone has come up to me and asked where might be a good place to go in Canada. My first comments back to them usually come in the form of a few questions: “What kind of vacation are you looking for? What kind of fish would you like to catch? And a very important one, “What is your budget?” Answers to those questions give you a good place to start when beginning your Canada search.

Numerous lodges and fly-in outposts in and around Red Lake, and the whole of Ontario, cater to anglers, hunters and adventure seekers. If remoteness is at the top of your list, outpost operations oftentimes afford even more seclusion and solitude. But many outposts are not like they used to be, and have become to feel less remote due to the availability of satellite communication. Comfort is a huge deal, and fully modern amenities, indoor plumbing, and furnished cabins with internet access are more common than not these days. Friendly, knowledgeable camp owners can arrange for everything from guiding to outfitting and ensuring that your stay is truly relaxing.

Still, with all the modern conveniences, many outposts limit the number of individuals who fish and traverse some of the more remote locations. Depending on the body of water, you can still be the only group on any given lake and have the resources all to yourselves. Some destinations receive fewer than 100 individuals in any given year.

So, if you are looking for a remote adventure, with access to outstanding fishing, Canada and the Red Lake area is a good place to start your search. For a free map and vacation planning guide, visit HWY105.ca