Fishing in Lake of the Woods & Northwest Ontario

1. Lake of the Woods (Muskie, Walleye)

Kenora area

Lake of the Woods is one of North America's premier fishing destinations with over 14,000 islands providing endless fishing for walleye, bass, pike, and muskie.

2. Rainy Lake (Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye)

Fort Frances area

Rainy Lake offers excellent walleye, smallmouth bass, and northern pike fishing. The lake straddles the Ontario-Minnesota border.

3. Sioux Narrows (Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye)

Sioux Narrows area

Sioux Narrows on Lake of the Woods offers exceptional fishing with numerous lodges and outfitters.

4. Eagle Lake (Smallmouth Bass, Walleye)

Dryden area

Eagle Lake is known for excellent walleye and smallmouth bass fishing in clear waters.

5. Lac Seul (Walleye)

Ear Falls area

Lac Seul is widely considered one of the best walleye lakes in Ontario. The flooded timber holds trophy fish.

6. Wabigoon Lake (Walleye)

Dryden area

Lac Seul is one of Ontario's premier walleye lakes, covering 1,557 square kilometres of flooded timber and structure. The lake is renowned for producing trophy walleye over 10 pounds, with fish in the 3-6 pound range common. The lake's flooded timber provides exceptional habitat, creating perfect ambush points for walleye.

The lake also holds excellent northern pike and smallmouth bass populations. Lac Seul is accessible from Ear Falls, Sioux Lookout, and several fly-in lodges. The lake has numerous islands, bays, and channels providing endless fishing opportunities. Despite its popularity, the lake's vast size means anglers can always find quiet water.

Spring and fall offer the best walleye fishing. The lake's stained water provides good fishing during daylight hours, unlike clearer shield lakes where walleye fishing is best during low light.

7. Dinorwic Lake (Muskie, Walleye)

Dryden area

Dinorwic Lake offers excellent walleye and muskie fishing with less pressure than Lac Seul.

8. Separation Lake (Smallmouth Bass, Walleye)

Vermilion Bay area

Separation Lake offers excellent walleye and smallmouth bass fishing connecting to Lake of the Woods.

9. Clay Lake (Northern Pike, Walleye)

Near Vermilion Bay

Clay Lake offers excellent walleye and northern pike fishing with healthy fish populations.

10. Manitou Lake (Northern Pike, Walleye)

Near Ear Falls

Manitou Lake offers excellent walleye and northern pike fishing in a remote setting.

11. Savant Lake (Northern Pike, Walleye)

Savant Lake area

Savant Lake offers excellent walleye and northern pike fishing in a remote, less-pressured area.

12. Cedar Lake (Northern Pike, Walleye)

Near Kenora

Cedar Lake offers good walleye and northern pike fishing close to Kenora.

13. Oblong Lake (Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye)

Near Dryden

Oblong Lake offers walleye, northern pike, and smallmouth bass fishing near Dryden.

14. Little Vermilion Lake (Smallmouth Bass, Walleye)

Near Vermilion Bay

Little Vermilion Lake offers excellent walleye and smallmouth bass fishing.

15. Big Vermilion Lake (Northern Pike, Walleye)

Near Vermilion Bay

Big Vermilion Lake offers excellent walleye and northern pike fishing.

16. Burditt Lake (Smallmouth Bass, Walleye)

Near Vermilion Bay

Burditt Lake offers walleye and smallmouth bass fishing.

17. Rowdy Lake (Northern Pike, Walleye)

Near Vermilion Bay

Rowdy Lake offers walleye and northern pike fishing with good access.

18. Pipestone River (Northern Pike, Walleye)

Near Atikokan

The Pipestone River offers walleye and northern pike fishing in a scenic setting.

19. Sturgeon River (Northern Pike, Walleye)

Near Atikokan

The Sturgeon River offers walleye and northern pike fishing in northwestern Ontario.

20. Lac Seul (Ear Falls)

Ear Falls area

Lac Seul is one of Ontario's premier walleye lakes with trophy fish over 10 pounds. The lake's flooded timber holds massive walleye populations.

21. Calm Lake (Atikokan)

Atikokan

Calm Lake offers walleye and northern pike fishing near Atikokan.

22. Wabigoon Lake (Dryden)

Dryden

Wabigoon Lake offers excellent walleye and northern pike fishing near Dryden on the Trans-Canada Highway.

23. Clay Lake (Dryden)

Dryden

Clay Lake near Dryden offers excellent walleye and northern pike fishing.

24. Sioux Lookout Area Lakes (Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Walleye)

Sioux Lookout

The Sioux Lookout area has hundreds of remote lakes offering walleye, northern pike, and lake trout.

25. Abrams Lake (Sioux Lookout)

Sioux Lookout

Abrams Lake offers excellent walleye and northern pike fishing.

26. Rush Bay (Lake of the Woods)

Kenora area

Rush Bay offers excellent walleye and smallmouth bass fishing.

27. Whitefish Bay (Lake of the Woods)

Kenora area

Whitefish Bay offers excellent walleye, bass, and muskie fishing.

28. Sabaskong Bay (Lake of the Woods)

Sioux Narrows

Sabaskong Bay offers exceptional walleye, bass, and muskie fishing.

29. Atikokan Area Lakes (Lake Trout, Walleye)

Atikokan

The Atikokan area has hundreds of lakes offering walleye, pike, and lake trout.

30. Sturgeon Lake (Atikokan)

Atikokan

Sturgeon Lake near Atikokan offers excellent walleye and northern pike fishing.

31. Ignace Area Lakes (Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Walleye)

Ignace

The Ignace area offers walleye, northern pike, and lake trout in hundreds of shield lakes.

32. Red Lake Area (Lake Trout, Walleye)

Red Lake

The Red Lake area offers remote fishing for walleye, pike, and lake trout.

33. Howey Bay (Red Lake)

Red Lake

Howey Bay on Red Lake offers excellent walleye and northern pike fishing.

34. Lake St. Joseph (Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Walleye)

Near Sioux Lookout

Lake St. Joseph is one of the larger lakes in northwestern Ontario, covering over 493 square kilometres near Sioux Lookout. The lake offers excellent walleye, northern pike, and lake trout fishing in a remote shield setting. Lake St. Joseph has several lodges and is accessible by road from Sioux Lookout. The lake's clear waters and rocky structure provide excellent habitat for all three species.

35. Caddy Lake (Northern Pike, Walleye)

Kenora area

Caddy Lake is a smaller lake in the Kenora region offering walleye and northern pike fishing. The lake is less known than the major Lake of the Woods basin but provides good fishing with fewer crowds. Caddy Lake is accessible from the Kenora area and offers a quieter alternative to the main lake chain.