Fishing: Canada vs Alaska - Tips?

[praguehawk]

Considering a fishing trip to either Canada or Alaska. Wide open to ideas right now. Optimally would like to take my dad who is 81 and have it be a great experience for both of us.

Any tips or recommendations? Is there a drivable location that might be good? I'm in Ohio he's in Iowa.

 

[BrianNole777]

I would recommend not going during winter unless you like bitter cold ice fishing.

That's all I got. You're welcome.

 

[Scott559]

Northern Ontario is very nice, Rent a cabin and boat. I have done this a couple times, Scenery was excellent, Fishing was good. Would like to do it again.

 

[praguehawk]

Northern Ontario is very nice, Rent a cabin and boat. I have done this a couple times, Scenery was excellent, Fishing was good. Would like to do it again.

Can you share a place you actually were at? Name of a lake? Thanks!

 

[stillh8unlv]

Considering a fishing trip to either Canada or Alaska. Wide open to ideas right now. Optimally would like to take my dad who is 81 and have it be a great experience for both of us.

Any tips or recommendations? Is there a drivable location that might be good? I'm in Ohio he's in Iowa.

Went here a few years in a row with a group of guys - but haven't been back since like 2013 or so. Lac Suel, NE of Sioux Lookout Ontario

Mahkwa Lodge | Home

mahkwa.com

It was great. Fishing was outstanding. Caught my personal largest Walleye and Northern there. It was the tandem of both quantity AND quality fishing where we rarely, if ever, pulled up anything under 19" for 'eyes and under 32" for Northern. We'd catch 20" small mouth by mistake and be pissed it wasn't a walleye.

There was a road to the lodge that the owners used, but all guests boated in. There was/is a landing just around a few points where you'd drive to, get your boat in the water and park truck/trailer there for the week.

Last time we were there they told us they were they were improving the road and that you'd be able to drive in, haven't been back to verify.

 

[Colonoscopy]

Northern Ontario is very nice, Rent a cabin and boat. I have done this a couple times, Scenery was excellent, Fishing was good. Would like to do it again.

 

[Scott559]

Can you share a place you actually were at? Name of a lake? Thanks!

Accommodations | Modern Cabins, Tents & Trailers | Procyk's Lodge

Procyk's Lodge offers various accommodations in Modern & Semi-Modern Cabins and a Tent & Trailer Park. We offer services for groceries, live bait and more.

www.fishatprocyks.com

 

[stillh8unlv]

That appears to be more Boundary Waters/Quetico than Northern Ontario

 

[Colonoscopy]

That appears to be more Boundary Waters/Quetico than Northern Ontario

Could be. Came from here

Paddling

northernontario.travel

 

[FranklinHawk]

Depends on what you're looking for, as they are really completely different kinds of fishing.
Canada would primarily be walleye and northern pike, and a variety of ways to fish for them (casting, trolling, jigging, rigging, etc.). If volume is the desire or almost total peace and quiet are your thing, Canada is probably the choice. We used to go to a lake in Northern Manitoba where you may not fish near another boat the entire week.

Personally at this point I'd choose Alaska. Primarily salmon, halibut, rockfish, etc. and each has one pretty specific method of fishing for them. That said, if your Dad is 81, aggressively jigging a very large bait or hauling in a large salmon/halibut might be a bit more physically taxing than he'd like.

Both phenomenal places, just depending on what excites you.

 

[FranklinHawk]

BTW, I'll be heading your way in late May to fish the Western Basin of Lake Erie for walleye. Been going out there for over 30 years now.

 

[HawkMachine]

Well the most important question is what kind of fish do you want to catch?

Big difference if you want to cast for Walleye or troll for Halibut.

 

[noStemsnoSTICKS]

I've done a guided salmon and halibut trip in the Queen Charlotte Islands in BC Canada. It's along Canada's West Coast. Ocean fishing everyday, lodging is (or was) on a ship. You take 20-foot boats out to sea each day. We limited out each day. Guides do all the work as far as cleaning and flash freeze of the fish. Great experience.

The only thing is, the final flight is by sea plane, and it's small and cramped.

 

[HawkMachine]

BTW, I'll be heading your way in late May to fish the Western Basin of Lake Erie for walleye. Been going out there for over 30 years now.

Ever fished the Detroit River?

Or Lake St Clair?

St Clair is on my bucket list. Wife wants to take me this year sometime.

Going after trophy Smallmouth.

 

[BelemNole]

We fished the Kenai River in Alaska about 15 years ago with my dad. Fished for salmon in the am and trout in the afternoon. Cabins were right on the river. We did get out of the boat to fish for salmon, might be hard for your dad depending on his mobility.

 

[Scott559]

Depends on what you're looking for, as they are really completely different kinds of fishing.
Canada would primarily be walleye and northern pike, and a variety of ways to fish for them (casting, trolling, jigging, rigging, etc.). If volume is the desire or almost total peace and quiet are your thing, Canada is probably the choice. We used to go to a lake in Northern Manitoba where you may not fish near another boat the entire week.

Personally at this point I'd choose Alaska. Primarily salmon, halibut, rockfish, etc. and each has one pretty specific method of fishing for them. That said, if your Dad is 81, aggressively jigging a very large bait or hauling in a large salmon/halibut might be a bit more physically taxing than he'd like.

Both phenomenal places, just depending on what excites you.

Very good post and I think you did a nice job taking potential limitations for his Dad into consideration.

 

[IowaMeatMan]

Been to both many times, it’s all in what you want to fish. My favorite was a fly out fishing trout in Alaska with grizzly bears next to us,

 

[FranklinHawk]

Ever fished the Detroit River?

Or Lake St Clair?

St Clair is on my bucket list. Wife wants to take me this year sometime.

Going after trophy Smallmouth.

Nope. A friend has tried to get me on St. Clair when I've been in town for business, but it's never worked. He had a buddy who guided for giant musky. When we go is generally too late for prime time on the river.

 

[FranklinHawk]

Just another thought for OP. At least in my trips, Canada is a pretty laid back experience and if there's one thing I miss from those it's a fresh caught & cooked shore lunch.

Of course Alaska can be somewhat laid back if that's your thing. Personally, I'm the guy that once I've caught my fish on a charter I'm looking to help with downriggers, etc.