Canadian Fishing Trip - Wild Eyes Wilderness Lodge

Lost Bay provides, bait and tackle, a map of the lake and boats/motors. Guests are required to bring personal flotation devices (Canadian law). See our printable checklist on ideas to help you pack.

Our boats are 16-foot aluminum with 20 HP Yamaha Motors. They have false flat bottoms so they are easy to stand in if you are casting. All boats are equipped with heavy-duty padded swivel seats; fish locators and trolling motors are also optionally available.

Cliff Lake supports one of the most complete number of fish species in Ontario! Because Cliff and all of the accessible lakes have such a multitude of different zones- deep clear, shallow stained, rocky and soft bottomed, sharp drop-offs and large weedy flats It has ideal habitat for all species.
Muskie	Our best kept secret: Cliff Lake has lots of Musky and is full of giants! That’s thanks to the conservation efforts practiced by Cliff Lake’s fishermen and the light fishing pressure. Nearly every week someone catches a Musky fishing for Walleye, Bass or Trout. The fish in Cliff Lake are not conditioned; they follow or strike more often, and nearly everything in your tackle box will work. Notes on Muskie Fishing
Walleye	If your looking for a trophy Walleye, then Cliff Lake is the place to get it – they grow big here! Because Cliff lake is so clear to catch the trophies you have to fish a little deeper mid day. There are many reliable spots for catching dinner, early or late in the day, on the edges of the weed beds or on the breaks in shallower water. The attached dark water lakes provide rapid action any time of the day and there is always some adventure getting there.
Northern Pike	Cliff Lake has its share of big Northerns. In the spring, they’re in the bays, as the year progresses, you’ll find them hiding in the endless weed beds and structures which exist throughout Cliff Lake. For nonstop action, or to keep the kids happy, cast the shallow bays, especially in the attached lakes for smaller but hard fighting Northerns.
Lake Trout	Lake Trout are plentiful in the main bodies of Cliff Lake. They’re at depth during mid summer and in shallower areas in the spring and fall. Cliff Lakes deepest spot is 116 feet. Trolling crankbaits with downriggers provides lots of action. We easily accommodate boats rigged for Great Lakes fishing up to 26’. Just as productive is vertical jigging. Big trout are easy to find, the active ones hang with the baitfish – these schools of baitfish show up on your electronics even at cruising speeds, Notes on Trout Fishing
Small Mouth Bass	Regardless of conditions, Small Mouth Bass are always available and they fight like they’re three times bigger than their actual size. Because the lake is so clear, you can always find Small Mouth with your bare eyes. They are abundant along the shoreline everywhere there is structure, rocks or downed trees, and will provide action for everyone all season long.
Perch	We do see big perch sporadically on a stringer of walleyes and occasionally someone comes in with a basket of them. They hang with the Walleyes and on the flats in some of the large bays.
Whitefish	In the early Spring or in the Fall Whitefish migrate to shallow areas often with current such as narrow flows in the lake system. Whitefish have very small and tender mouths so your best success is using really small hooks and minnows or really small jigs. When the May Flies start to hatch, the Whitefish stay just below the surface of the lake feeding on the hatching flies. When the May Fly hatch is complete. In the mid summer months the Whitefish go deep among the Trout feeding on Ciscoes. Whitefish caught in the cool clean waters of Cliff Lake, once cooked, is nearly indistinguishable from Walleye. They’re hard fighters and add a touch of interest to your Cliff Lake fishing enjoyment.

When is the best fishing and hunting times?
Spring, May & early June	Ice is out around the first of May and lake trout are right on the surface. Walleye, bass, and pike season opens the third Saturday of May. Excellent walleye fishing, lake trout are still up until mid-June. Small mouth bass fishing picks up, as they move into the shallows. Muskies are in the shallows where you see many of them but the season doesn’t open until later.
Summer Late June, July & August	Lake trout are deep and vertical jigging with spinning gear in 90-110’ of water is very productive. Muskie fishing opens the third Saturday in June and they are very active. The big Walleyes are now in water between 25 and 35’ Fall Bear hunting begins mid-August.
Fall Sept & Oct	Bass and Muskie are still active and lake trout begin to move out to the deep holes. Walleyes move into deeper water. Roughed grouse season opens mid- September, along with Bow and arrow moose season. Lake Trout season closes the end of the month. October; Snow possible at any time. Rifled moose season opens second week.

BAIT

Canada allows nite-crawlers in bedding, frozen or salted minnows (no live minnows or leeches)

TACKLE
Lake Trout	Gear for trolling consists of a 7’-9’ rod and reel combination, with 14# test line. For jigging, your walleye spinning gear works great. Trolling with spoons and rapalas, bottom fishing with ciscoes or jigging with 2 ounce jigs, swedish pimples. Just to name a few.
Walleye	Walleye gear includes 6 ½’ rod with spinning gear, loaded with 10# test line. Trolling with crank baits, drifting with crawler harnesses, or jigging with jig heads and minnows, 1/8 to ½ oz.
Bass	The same spinning gear can be used as with the walleyes. Methods include tube jigs and minnows, Mr. Twisters, small crank baits, worms, and small spinners. 6 # test line works well.
Musky	7 ‘ rod with a quality casting reel, spooled with 36# mono line and 20” 100# wire leaders (or mono). For trolling, an 8’ trolling rod and reel combo, spooled with 60# fishing line, and a 40” 100# wire leader (or mono). Spinner baits, bucktails, crank baits, and top water baits all work well, with colors ranging from bright for sunny days to dark for cloudy days, It is recommended that you have a cradle net.
Pike	6 ½’ Rod with spinning gear spooled with 20# test line, 20” 50# wire leader (or mono). Live baits with ¼ to ¾ oz jigs, spinner baits, and spoons all work well.

SEASONS
January	First Ice Fishing for lake trout opens.
March	Temperatures moderate and the ice fishing for lake trout is at its best.
April	Ice Fishing as long as the ice is good, usually through the first week.
May	Ice is out around the first, and lake trout are right on the surface. Walleye, bass, and pike season opens the third Saturday.
June	Excellent walleye fishing, lake trout are still up until mid-June. Small mouth bass fishing picks up, as they move into the shallows. Muskie fishing opens the third Saturday and they are very active.
July/August	Lake trout are deep and vertical jigging with spinning gear in 90-110’ of water is very productive. Fall Bear hunting begins mid-August.
September	Bass and muskie are still active and lake trout begin to move out to the deep holes. Walleyes move into deeper water. Roughed grouse season opens mid- September, along with Bow and arrow moose season. Lake Trout season closes the end of the month.
October	Snow possible at any time. Rifled moose season opens second week.

Notes On Trout Fishing

Several times a year we host guest that primarily fish the Great Lakes for Trout or Salmon, some of them bringing fully rigged out boats, downriggers, planer boards and all, up to 26’ long. Typical comments we hear: “Plenty of fish” “ No lines at the dock” “Never crossed lines” “Its lonely out there” “Sure beats looking at a city skyline” “We saw a Moose” “ nobody get queasy” “Nailed a huge Musky-that was a blast” “Started fishing quarter mile from the dock.” To date, our biggest trout under present management, 22 ½ pounds caught right outside the bay.

There are five deep areas of the lake, the deepest 116 feet. Your electronics will mark numerous schools of baitfish; within those schools will be arcs – Mostly Trout and a few Muskies. These are the active fish they’re usually between 35’ and 55’ of depth. There will be many marked on the bottom but they aren’t as active. These bottom dwellers are occasionally hooked vertical jigging.

From Ice out until mid June the Trout are in the shallows. We have many guests that fish Lake Trout from shore; using a boat they drag a line with a chunk of cut bait or a frozen Cisco out two or three hundred feet and let it soak. Relax on shore drinking your morning coffee, (or beer) when the line goes out give it a few minuets and presto a Trout – occasionally a big Walleye or Musky.

A final comment: The trout are delicious! Never the oily, fishy flavor or risks of mercury like those from some areas of the Great Lakes. At camp we often fry up a mix of Walleye, Bass and Trout; excepting the slight difference in look and texture the flavors are indistinguishable.

Notes On Muskie Fishing

If you’re contemplating bringing your big and prized Musky rig we can safely accommodate it – and there is no extra charge for launching, mooring or charging batteries. As the name infers; Lost Bay is the Ideal camp for big rigs, the bay we’re in is like a harbor, it never sees the big waves so your boat won’t get beat up. The pier can accommodate 3 boats in the 20’ plus range and multiple boats in the 17’ range. Unlike most of the giant Canadian Shield Muskie waters, Cliff Lake has only a handful of mid-lake hazards and they are all well marked – all of them are great fishing spots!

Cliff Lake is both a numbers lake and big fish lake- It is an ideal lake for action – simply put it has a high concentration of Muskies in all age classes and because it doesn’t receive near the fishing pressure that heavily promoted LOTW, (Lake Of The Woods), Lac Seul or Eagle Lake does the Muskies are not conditioned and hit a wider variety of baits more often. Moreover your fishing will be more enjoyable under Cliff Lake’s less crowded conditions – Remember Just two Outfitters on our 8000-acre fishery!

Stories abound about giant Muskies “second caught” when fishing for other species. This event has been several times documented and shown on Butch Furtman’s Sportsman's Journal a Sunday Morning fishing show on Fox Sports North. This profoundly exciting situation happens nearly equally when fishing either Walleye, Small Mouth or Lake Trout, often times the first catch is quite large – seldom are these muskies landed because of the light tackle being used. When “second catching” happens trolling for Lake Trout in the open water, the muskies are huge – bring your big bait!