What is the experience of fly-in fishing at Oak Lake Lodge?

A view of Oak Lake Lodge's fishing cottages from the lake.

A truly one-of-a-kind fly-in fishing experience.


Our remote fly-in fishing trips offers you the best fishing experience in Ontario, Canada. There are no roads into this area, Oak Lake is part of the pristine English River System, and we are the only lodge on the lake. When you visit us, you definitely will have plenty of fish to catch. 


  • abundant walleye, smallmouth bass, and northern pike
  • tasty home-made meals in our main lodge
  • excellent hospitality
  • service with attention to detail
  • clean and comfortable accommodations
  • well-organized trips
  • professionalism and expertise at every corner
David, a fishing guide at Oak Lake Lodge, holding a walleye fish on a sunny day.

A pristine river system produces healthy fish.

An aerial view of the forests, lakes, and rivers surrounding Oak Lake Lodge.

The English River System, in upper northwestern Ontario, is filled with an abundance of food and nutrients for the walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, and muskie that live in the lakes.


The waterfalls surrounding our lake make boat access impossible, keeping out adventurous weekend fishermen. And to be honest, if there were roads to Oak Lake, the drive would be too far. 


View Oak Lake Lodge on Google Maps where we have entered our longitude and latitude so you can get a true sense of our location. Oak Lake is big and remote and filled with fish. 


Visit our lodge or outpost and be guaranteed great fishing.


We are the only lodge on the lake.

Green strips of forest surrounded by lots of untouched fishing lakes.

Our remote Canadian wilderness fly-in fishing lodge is the only lodge on all of Oak Lake. This is an oxygen-rich lake, fed by a provincially protected-waterway called the English River System.


There is no industry at all along any of the river systems that flow into Oak Lake. You will experience a pristine environment and catch healthy fish from a clean river system.


Our lodge provides the comforts of home. We are a small lodge, a boutique lodge, that caters to no more than 32 guests at a time.


Oak Lake Lodge is also a catch and release lake which is another reason our fish populations are so high. You'll be astounded by the number of fish you can catch in a Canadian lake that is secluded, without road access, and deep in the majestic and life-giving Canadian boreal forest.


Even though we are a catch and release lake, we do cook your morning walleye catch as part of a special "shore lunch" all guests love. 



All these factors ensure that you will catch an abundance of fish on your fishing trip to Ontario, Canada.


Hearty home style meals.

A whole chicken dinner with corn and mashed potatoes served at Oak Lake Lodge in the main dining hall.

Three meals a day and pre-breakfast coffee delivery:


  • morning coffee is delivered to all cottages,
  • a full breakfast is served in the main dining room,
  • your morning walleye catch is cooked on the shores of Oak Lake and is served with side-dishes and beverages (guided trips),
  • a hearty supper is served in the main lodge.


Types of meals we serve:


  • prime rib, 
  • turkey,
  • steak,
  • lasagna,
  • chicken kebob or grilled chicken,
  • pork back ribs, roast pork, or tenderloin,
  • full hearty breakfasts,
  • a shore-lunch of walleye prepared by your guide and complimented with items from the dining room.

After an enjoyable day fishing, you can relax with your friends before joining us in the dining room. Your lodge vacation will be carefree because we do the work so you can relax. Why should a vacation be any work at all? Come to our American Plan lodge and enjoy yourself.


Great boats and new motors

Lund boat with two men fishing, sitting on swivel seats.

Oak Lake Lodge provides 16 foot Lund Rebel boats for guests and 17.5 foot Lund Outfitters for guests who hire a guide. All boats are equipped with Yamaha four stroke motors, flat floors and comfortable pedestal seats. 


Our docks are maintained and in great condition with slip-resistant material for your protection. 


Comfortable accommodations with the modern amenities.



A family group sitting in the living room of our modern cottage.

Your cottage is kept spotless. You have heat, electricity, filtered running water, hot showers, flush toilets. We vacuum and scrub to ensure that your living space is clean. The cabins are carpeted and well furnished. 


The main living area includes a large dining table so you can enjoy those late-night cards games, etc., a refrigerator for your beverages, a wood-stove — with chopped logs (we even light your wood-stove if you visit when the morning start to get cold), sofas, armchairs, tables.


Screened in porches because nobody enjoys swatting insects.



A group of friends after their day of fishings sitting in the screened-in porch of their fishing cottage.

The porches are screened in so you aren’t swatting away any flies while you chat with friends after fishing.


Enjoy the incredible sunsets from our lounge chairs. The bedrooms include beds with clean linens, blankets and pillows, bedside lamps, curtains on the windows and dressers.


So, settle in!

Clean, modern bathrooms.

A modern bathroom with clean shower stall, flush toilets, and filtered water.

Fishing Guides really make a trip better

We have an option to add a fishing guide to your trip. You will be using bigger boats, your guide will bring you to the best spots on the lake, and they will get all your gear ready before fishing and clean up after fishing.


Guides also prepare your shore lunch of walleye fish. To find out more about guides, check out our PDF below.

Shopping

We have a tuck shop which sells Oak Lake Lodge t-shirts and sweatshirts as well as some gift items. 


The tuck shop also sells: pop, beer, fishing equipment, minnows, and fishing licenses. 


Telephone Access


In the tuck shop, we also have a radiophone for emergency calls.


We organize well-thought out trips with attention to detail. 


Our Canadian wilderness fly-in fishing trips are well-planned. 


Our flights arrive very early in the morning so that you are getting the most “bang for your buck”. 


How does it work? 


We get you out on the lake fishing very shortly after arriving at our lodge. You fly to International Falls, take a van service over the US/Canada border to Vermillion Bay, ON, Canada. 


You stay overnight in Vermillion Bay. The next morning, in the very early a.m., you are on a floatplane headed for Oak Lake Lodge. 


Shortly after your arrival, you are on the lake fishing!


Fly in fishing business trips


A group from University of North Dakota standing on the Canadian shield on the shores of Oak Lake.

Catch and Release Fishing ensures excellent fish stocks for year after year.

We are a catch and release lake; however, you enjoy a fish-fry shore lunch of walleye prepared by your guide, if you choose to hire a guide.


The shore-lunch is complimented by food and beverages from the main lodge.


Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass and Muskie are catch and release only. 


A Recap: What is included in a Lodge trip?


  • flight from Vermilion Bay to our private lake on a float plane,
  • three meals a day including the popular shore lunch experience,
  • 100% guaranteed excellent fishing. Our lake is fly-in only meaning weekend fishermen cannot access the lake,
  • daily maid service to tidy your cottage,
  • morning coffee delivery before breakfast,
  • modern amenities - hot showers, filtered water, linens, towels, flush toilets, fridge, private screened in porches, private living rooms, wood burning stoves, and more,
  • excellent quality boats and new motors,
  • guiding is available as an additional option,
  • an option to book the all cottages for a large family or business groups.

Your shore lunches, and lodge meals are carefully prepared and expertly served

May 2, 2020
When you vacation, finding access to food is always an issue, especially when you're traveling with a big family. Having many people along on your trip also means dealing with some picky eaters. When you ultimately can't find the food you want while traveling, it only makes your vacation more of a frustration than a relaxing experience. This is all the more reason why you should try our fly-in fishing vacation package here at Oak Lake Lodge. Meals are never a problem at our lodge because we prepare in advance to make your experience the best it can possibly be. You'll also appreciate our attention to something other vacation spots don't always do: Making sure you never go hungry while still making the food healthy. If the word "healthy" sounds like it shouldn't go on vacation, having a hearty meal already means eating well. You have to keep your energy level up to fully enjoy the pristine nature around you here at Oak Lake Lodge. While providing relaxation for you is our goal, you'll have the privacy of Oak Lake where all-day fishing excursions are available at your leisure. The same goes for archery hunting out in the wilderness that's untouched by excessive amounts of tourists or industries. Despite you vacationing in one of the most undisturbed natural locations on earth, being out in the great outdoors always works up an appetite. It's why we place special emphasis on creating meals we know you're going to love. This includes some of the amazing and large fish you'll catch in Oak Lake that you can enjoy as part of a shore lunch. Take a look at what kind of meals you'll experience for every meal of the day, including the ability to snack when you want to.
Oak Lake Lodge view of docks and cabins.

Comparing fly-in Fishing Vacations

May 2, 2020
When you hear the term "fly-in fishing", no doubt you immediately picture thoughts of a hideaway vacation. While accurate, you've perhaps created a new definition of what a hideaway vacation is. You've possibly become overly cynical about the term because so many hideaway vacations your family visited in the past didn't live up to expectations. This was even more disappointing considering you paid a significant amount to commune with pristine nature and a promise of few tourists. In reality, there aren't any truly pristine tourist areas left in the world other than deserted islands and uninhabited jungles. Only a few places still exist on earth where you'll get some exceptions. We're fortunate to tell you that we provide exceptions here at Oak Lake Lodge thanks to long-standing stringent plans on limiting tourists. Here in Ontario, Canada, we still have some pristine natural environments left not invaded by excess tourism or industry. The land around our lodge received government approval to stay as pristine as you can get while still allowing limited visitors at a time. We only allow 32 people in every few weeks, so you're never experiencing excess tourists. You'll also find many other differences compared to other so-called hideaway vacations. Maybe you know about other secret locations where you can essentially get lost, at least in the off-season. Even if you can sometimes successfully escape crowds in those places, they don't offer the amenities we do. Let's take a look at some of those differences and why we frequently get singled out as one of the best vacation spots within Canada and the United States. We'll help you redefine what a hideaway vacation really is.
Pork back ribs served at Oak lake Lodge, a fly-in fishing lodge in Canada.

Enjoying Traditional Food During Your Fly In Fishing Trip

May 1, 2020
There isn't any question that food is a top concern when traveling on vacation. You've probably had more headaches over what to eat than anything else when visiting hideaway resorts, hotels, or even bed & breakfasts. What makes this all the more problematic is the kind of food you'll find in the places where you stay. If you're staying overseas, it sometimes means consuming exotic items you've never had before, which only brings elements of risk. While the above is exciting for some people, it can bring some dangers to your health. The last thing you want is food that could potentially make you sick in a foreign location where medical facilities aren't the greatest. Here at Oak Lake Lodge, we decided that food needed a strong focus on our vacation packages. We knew that when people travel to a vacation destination, they wanted food that's substantive, yet also not overly offbeat to a point where it could cause illness. Also, based on the response of our customers, we understood that most people enjoy having traditional food. Yes, traditional food gives you a sense of home, despite being served here in a remote location where pristine nature surrounds you. Let us show you the kind of traditional food you'll find for your fly-in fishing vacation. We'll show you why it's safer and even healthier than many other foods found in other tourist destinations.
A view of Oak Lake Lodge from the lake. A fly-in fishing lodge in Ontario, Canada.

Shopping During Your Fly-In Fishing Trip: Finding Essentials to Enhance Your Experience

May 1, 2020
When you decide to experience our fly-in fishing vacation package here at Oak Lake Lodge, you'll immediately notice the sense of peace and quiet you'll have in comparison to other vacations. We'll remind you that when you arrive here, you're a long way from any industry. This means miles and miles of natural surroundings and not the loud bustle of traffic. With our limitations of 32 people per visit, you also eliminate concern about excessive tourists. You won't find many vacation spots on earth that don't have an excess of tourists clogging streets, or even on lakes. This sense of peace might sound like we're too far away from providing outstanding amenities. Keep in mind we fly in and provide more amenities and supplies than most lodges do that exist away from civilization.
Main dining room at fly-in fishing lodge.

Working Up an Appetite During Your Fly-In Fishing Trip: Hearty Meals to Maintain Energy

May 1, 2020
Experiencing autumn during your fly in fishing vacation here at Oak Lake Lodge is like no other nature experience available in the civilized world. Even if you already live near natural areas and love doing activities in the outdoors during the fall or winter, you probably have to experience an excessive amount of people in those places. Plus if it's a vacation spot, you probably work up a considerable appetite after excessive physical exercise. The problem with the two situations above is that being in nature with too many people already ruins any claims of the surroundings being unspoiled. At a vacation resort, it also means crowded restaurants, leaving you having to wait for food when you want food immediately. You won't find either of the above unfortunate scenarios here at Oak Lake Lodge. The nature here is truly pristine because there isn't any industry around for miles. We also have limitations on how many people we let in at a time, so getting food when you want it isn't a problem. Moreover, you'll have more food here than you can probably digest. Our meals are extremely hearty and generous in their servings. The question is how much of an appetite can you generate while visiting us? When you have cooler weather, invigorating fishing, and hunting all together, you can probably get as hungry as the black bears and moose are when they forage for food this fall.
Muskie fish caught at Oak Lake Lodge

Enjoy Fishing in Canada without "Roughing It"

April 30, 2020
You've probably heard of that term "vacation from the vacation" more than once and maybe only thought of it as facetious.
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