
A Manitoba drive-in fishing journey may be very simple to entry and luxuriate in. Photograph courtesy of Viking Lodge.
July 05, 2022
All of us want these therapeutic getaways the place full detachment from stress and fear comes by the use of limitless pure splendor, rod-bending revelry, and relaxed reflection. Manitoba gives a number of such indulgences with drive-to fishing lodges ideally positioned for this angling remedy.
The Canadian Protect—uncovered Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks—impacts the panorama with a rugged magnificence that does nice issues for the fishing alternatives. With a smattering of lakes small and enormous guaranteeing range of habitat and species, anglers can pattern the menu or give attention to their faves. Protect lakes are plentiful and exquisite, however they symbolize solely a portion of the distinctive panorama and numerous fisheries that exist throughout Manitoba—lots of that are 100% accessible by way of paved roads. The alternatives are actually limitless.
Extra entry choices may embody a brief float aircraft journey or perhaps an ATV journey by a picturesque panorama avails one other species or a brand new backdrop for trophy catch images. Heaps to see throughout a day on the water. However there may be completely world-class fishing proper out from the docks at most drive-to fishing resorts and lodges—and you will not should get gravel-road mud in your boat or gear.
Right here’s a sampling of the place you’ll discover your pure nirvana.
Viking Lodge
Various habitat, breathtaking wilderness and spectacular fishing; that’s a reasonably robust mixture and Matthew Wiens stated that’s simply what attracts guests to his household’s lodge.
“Within the lake system right here, from one lake to a different, it’s a really important geological change,” Wiens stated. “From the granite rock of the Canadian Protect, you go into the following lake over and it’s principally a limestone system. There are additionally some fascinating multi-colored rock overlooks.

“The principle targets listed here are walleye, northern pike and lake trout. This space gives the possibility to catch a trophy in all of these species inside a 10-minute to a half-hour boat journey, that’s fairly unbelievable fishing.”
Relationship again to the Forties, the lodge sits on the Grass River, which served as an integral factor of the buying and selling routes of yesteryear. As he factors out, the river has lengthy been a preferred vacation spot for paddlers. Actually, with the lodge located on the headwaters of the Grass River (the Cranberry Lakes, significantly Third Cranberry Lake), these waters prolong as much as Hudson Bay.
Welcoming visitors who convey their very own boats or hire these onsite, Viking Lodge gives 16 absolutely outfitted lakeside cabins with kitchenettes and barbecues. There’s additionally an RV park with 18 full-service websites.
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“What’s good about this space is that after you get out on the water, you’re in an untouched territory,” he stated. “There are another cabins on our finish of the lake, however when you get previous that, you’re not seeing some other cabins. As soon as you allow right here, you’re within the wild.”

Wiens stated most purchasers convey their very own deal with, however the onsite retailer carries a broad choice of regionally relevant objects. The fishing at Viking Lodge follows the widely anticipated strategies, however the bait/deal with retailer retains an excellent stock of particular baits, colours, and many others. which have confirmed profitable.
“General, our facility is extra geared towards the do-it-yourself man, however we do have information companies out there,” he stated. “We attempt to accommodate no matter a visitor wants.”
Some guests fly into Winnipeg, which is about 450 miles south, then some might hop a neighborhood flight into Flin Flon and make the ultimate 20-minute drive to Viking Lodge. For probably the most half, nonetheless, visitors drive from their houses with boats in tow, or maybe hire a automotive from Winnipeg and benefit from the scenic 7 1/2-hour drive north. The perfect half is it is 100% pavement.
Extra details about Viking Lodge
Contact Data:
Viking Lodge
C/O Matthew Wiens
P.O. Field 190
351 Public Rd SE
Cranberry Portage, MB R0B 0H0
Telephone: (204) 472-3337
Electronic mail: data@vikinglodge.ca
Paint Lake Lodge
Anglers who go to Paint Lake Lodge will take pleasure in a nice mixture of high quality and amount. Simply ask Kathy Ruiter, who runs the lodge alongside together with her husband Barry.
“We positively have trophy pike, however for walleye, we’re not a lot a trophy lake, we’re a numbers lake,” Ruiter stated. “We’re a high-quality administration lake, so you possibly can’t maintain any walleyes over 21.5 inches, in order that we preserve these good numbers.”

Positioned inside Paint Lake Provincial Park, the lodge advantages from geological splendor. Straightforward on the eyes, it’s additionally fairly superior for the fishing.
“We’re on the Canadian Protect so there’s a lot of rocks and reefs,” she stated. “Additionally, Paint Lake has an entire bunch of different lakes round us. So, in Paint Lake, you possibly can fish for pike and walleyes and in a lake 5 minutes from us, you possibly can fish for smallmouth bass, rainbow trout and speckled trout and splake. Then, in one other lake 5 minutes from us, we’ve got lake trout.”
Friends will discover snug lodging with a full lodge constructing, 150-seat lakefront restaurant and a choice of just lately renovated cabins, with a few new ones. A full-service bait and deal with store gives the precise instruments for native fisheries, whereas an in depth lake map reveals the new spots and supply an orientation—as a lot for fishing and for navigational security.

On the water, Paint Lake retains it versatile with guided or self-guided fishing choices. Likewise, non-public boats are welcome in Manitoba’s largest marina (250 slips), however you’ll additionally discover tiller, aspect console and pontoon leases. The lodge has gasoline on land and water, together with a full energy sports activities mechanic store.
Positioned 20 minutes south of Thompson, the lodge is a brief drive from the Grass River’s well-known Pisew Falls. And if searching’s your fancy, Ruiter stated Paint Lodge can prepare a bear hunt with a neighborhood clothes shop.

Paint Lake Lodge gives a number of lodging choices from a 4-bedroom bunkhouse, to a cell dwelling to hilltop cabins with full kitchens, decks, barbecues and fireplace pits.
The drive from Winnipeg is a straight shot up Freeway 6, however a neighborhood flight into Thompson leaves a a lot shorter route.
Extra data about Paint Lake Lodge
Contact Data:
Paint Lake Lodge
C/O Kathy Ruiter
Field 327
Thompson, MB R8N 1N1
Telephone: (204) 677-9303
Electronic mail: data@paintlake.ca
Bakers Narrows Lodge
Close by Flin Flon, Manitoba was based in 1927 as a mining city to use native deposits of copper and zinc ore. So, it appears becoming that close by Bakers Narrows Lodge holds its personal treasure of pure sources. Thought of to supply a few of the best lake trout fishing on the planet, it’s a excellent vacation spot to seize a Grasp Angler laker—amongst different species. Deliver your individual boat or hire one, each will put you on track to tangle with large fish.

“The principle species are lake trout, walleyes and pike on Lake Athapapuskow, however close by lakes maintain brook trout, lake trout and smallmouth bass,” stated Lodge Supervisor Peg Baynton. “Visitor that need to fish a few of the different lakes can fly out on a float aircraft for day journeys. A brand new twist for us—we provide excursions the place individuals take ATVs into the lakes, the place individuals fish for the day after which come again.”
Complementing the stellar fishing, which has yielded spectacular catches—together with a 64-pound laker—Bakers Narrows gives guided mountain climbing excursions that discover native limestone cliffs.
“We’ve partnered with Flin Flon for guided excursions of town the place visitors be taught the historical past of the mining there,” she stated. “They keep right here and do the limestone cliff tour.”

A family-friendly property with the amenities to accommodate company retreats, Baker’s Narrows gives quite a lot of outside actions from kayak leases, to fat-tire bike excursions, to picture safaris. Lodging choices embody micro cottages with adjoining washroom facility and full-size log cottages with kitchenettes, coated porches and personal fireplace pits.
Baynton stated visitors are welcome to convey their very own deal with or hire what they want onsite. Private boats are additionally welcome, however information companies can be found as properly.

Flying to Winnipeg after which persevering with on to Flin Flon leaves solely a half-hour drive. Once more, many visitor will haul their private rigs north to Bakers Narrows Lodge, which is a 7 1/2-hour drive north of Winnipeg—all pavement.
Extra details about Bakers Narrows
Contact Data:
Bakers Narrows
C/O Brett Baynton
Hwy 10 South
Field 337
Flin Flon, MB R8A 1N1
Telephone: (866) 603-6390
Electronic mail: data@bakersnarrowslodge.com