How do you enjoy Northern Ontario fly-in fishing without a taking plane? On a boat-in adventure!

It’s easy to get hooked on backcountry fishing trips

I’ve loved fishing my whole life. As a kid I read about (and watched TV shows about) fishing trips to remote locations, full of big fish and wild adventure. But all the way up until my late 30s I always assumed it was something I’d never get to do. I thought it was too far away, too expensive and, as a single parent to a young son, my family responsibilities were too demanding. If only I’d understood about outpost trips back then. But better late than never, and now that I’ve gotten a taste for them, I hope to do one every year, as long I’m able.

By the way, there’s more to this story—a lot more. I’ll share the rest, including experiences that were double-bonkers, in Outdoor Canada magazine, sometime in 2024.

But after this trip to Northwind Lake, I can confidently say that it doesn’t matter how you get into the backcountry. As long as you go a little off the beaten path, and have cheerful and cooperative outfitters who, as Kanipahow does, carefully steward their waters, you can enjoy some remarkable fishing. And you definitely don’t need an airplane to experience fly-in quality fishing.

Finally, a huge thank you to Jamie and Josée, the affable owners and operators of Kanipahow for working with us to make this happen.

ABOUT THE OUTFITTER

Kanipahow Wilderness Resort & Outposts is located just outside Chapleau, Ontario, about 10 hours from Toronto, 11 hours from Ottawa and just four hours from the U.S. border at Sault Ste. Marie. As well as two boat-in outposts, Kanipahow has six full-service waterfront cabins on Chapleau Lake, which has walleye, pike, perch and lake trout, with brook trout, splake and smallmouth bass in adjoining waters. They also offer excellent moose, bear and grouse hunting.

For more information, see www.kanipahow.com, e-mail kanipahow@gmail.com or call 1-888-643-6678 or (705) 864-1846.