Later this month, I have an opportunity to either head for Crooked Lake or head to a drive-to and boat-in fishing opportunity in NW Ontario. Based purely on fishing, what do you think would be better - NW Ontario or Crooked Lake?

I know there are many variables in canoe vs. boat, camping vs. cabin, nature and solitude vs. people. I am interested in the differences purely on fishing, specifically walleye fishing.

What would you do and why? Thanks!

Well, it depends. When I drive down logging roads in NW Ontario, I've had 100-fish-per-person days. When I've taken my dad to fly-in lakes, the fish run smaller and fewer. I've heard many fishers allege that the pressure of one fishing party per week doesn't affect the fishing quantity and quality of a lake. My experience says otherwise.

Which lake in NW Ontario?

I will add that if you're going to a cabin and that cabin's lake has portage lakes, those portage lakes can upgrade your fishing. You'll be fishing from a smaller boat with a smaller motor, but you'll likely catch bigger fish.

Thanks. We are headed about 50 miles or so north of Kenora. We have done many fly in trips in the past, but never a drive to and boat in trip. My assumption is the fishing will not be as good as a fly in trip. However, my assumption is based primarily on $$ at this point. Sounds like from the people who chimed in that fishing in NW Ontario > BWCA.

Have never caught more or bigger fish than on fly in trips (18-20 trips)
Next would be long drives down logging trails to access a lake for fishing.
Most of the time the more remote, and less accessible, means the least fisherman and the best fishing.
Similar to the BWCA and Quetico. Most often the farther you go, and the Tougher the portages means less people and better fishing.
This is not an absolute, but over the last 30-40 years with 50-60 fishing trips that has been our experience

Mobility and the ability to fish multiple techniques makes fishing from a boat hands down better than a canoe. Your ability to fish in wind is much better out of a boat as well.

I would go to NW Ontario. Have you been to this lake before? Have you been to Crooked before?

AmarilloJim: "Mobility and the ability to fish multiple techniques makes fishing from a boat hands down better than a canoe. Your ability to fish in wind is much better out of a boat as well."

Good points, Jim.

Mutz, I was surprised to read that you've had better fishing at fly-in lakes than logging road lakes.

missmolly: "

AmarilloJim: "Mobility and the ability to fish multiple techniques makes fishing from a boat hands down better than a canoe. Your ability to fish in wind is much better out of a boat as well."

Good points, Jim.


Mutz, I was surprised to read that you've had better fishing at fly-in lakes than logging road lakes. "

Are they just lakes off logging roads that you fish missmolly, or are they dead-end road lakes? There are quite of few lakes in northern MN that I have found traveling logging roads while grouse hunting. Not just swamps, but decent sized lakes that aren't even in MN lakefinder. Always wondered about them holding fish.

missmolly: "

AmarilloJim: "Mobility and the ability to fish multiple techniques makes fishing from a boat hands down better than a canoe. Your ability to fish in wind is much better out of a boat as well."

Good points, Jim.


Mutz, I was surprised to read that you've had better fishing at fly-in lakes than logging road lakes. "

Our fly in trips have all been out of Chapleau, Foleyet and Timmons Ontario. We always fly to single camp lakes, some very big, most smaller. The advantage to this is the fly in operator has control over the lakes to include size limits. The ones we used never allowed you to keep trophy fish and asked that you only eat walleye under 18 inches and pike under 26 inches. When you have a combination of a max of 4-6 people a week fishing a lake, and no one keeping any trophy size fish, you almost always end up with more catch and release trophy fish.

Thanks for the info, Mutz. I haven't done as many fly-in trips as you. I only started doing them when my father became too wobbly to portage and paddle. When I become too wobbly to paddle and portage, I'll be sure to only fly into lakes with limits.