Walleye Fly in Fishing Ontario

Why Walleye? The Unmatched Numbers Game

Walleye (sometimes called “pickerel”) are the holy grail of Northwestern Ontario fishing. They fight hard, taste incredible in a shore lunch, and grow to impressive sizes in our remote lakes.

Here’s why our fly-in trips are the ultimate way to target these prolific fish:

You Get the Whole Lake to Yourself

When we drop you off at one of our five exclusive outpost cabins, you’re the only group on that entire lake. No competing with other boats for the best spots. No wondering if the fish have been hammered all week. The walleye are there, they’re hungry, and they’re waiting for you.

This is the secret to our success. Low fishing pressure means healthy, aggressive fish that are ready to bite.

The Catch Rates Will Blow Your Mind

Some of our guests report catching 50 to 100 walleye per day. Yes, you read that right. Some groups catch so many fish their hands get tired from reeling them in.

This is not an exaggeration. These aren’t once-in-a-lifetime catches; this is a typical day on our remote lakes.

Trophy Potential Is Real

While you’ll catch plenty of eating-size walleye (16-20 inches), our lakes consistently produce true trophies. Fish over 24 inches aren’t rare—they’re regular visitors to the boat. A true trophy is considered 27+ inches on our waters, and because we practice strong conservation, the trophy potential keeps getting better every year.

Gordon Lake has become particularly famous for producing these big walleye. Our guests regularly land personal-best fish, and we’ve seen walleye over 28 inches released back to fight another day.

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Our Best Walleye Lakes: Finding Your Honey Hole

All five of our outpost lakes offer excellent walleye fishing, but each has its own personality. Here’s a focus on our premier walleye destinations:

Lake	Flight Time	Primary Focus	Other Species
Gordon Lake	36 min	The Trophy Hunter’s Choice	Northern Pike, Muskie
Cleftrock Lake	35 min	Classic Walleye Water	Northern Pike
Ajax Lake	25 min	The Five-Lake Adventure	Northern Pike, Bass, Lake Trout
Loonhaunt Lake	19 min	Most Popular All-Around	Pike, Bass, Trout, Muskie

Gordon Lake (36 air miles) – The Trophy Hunter’s Choice

Our newest cabin (built in 2018) has quickly earned a reputation for consistently producing big walleye. This relatively small lake has interesting, deep structure that seems to hold larger-than-average fish. If you’re chasing a personal best, start with Gordon Lake.

Cleftrock Lake (35 air miles) – Classic Walleye Water

Cleftrock Lake is a 3-lake system where you’re the only cabin. The tea-colored water (ideal for walleye) runs about 80 feet deep in spots, with plenty of bays and structure. This is pure, traditional walleye country.

Ajax Lake (25 air miles) – The Five-Lake Adventure

Ajax Lake connects to a five-lake system with portages between them. The variety of water means you’ll find walleye in different moods and sizes throughout the system. Great for groups that like exploring new water every day.

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Techniques That Guarantee Walleye Bites

The good news? These fish haven’t seen much pressure, so they’re generally not overly picky. But a few techniques are consistently more effective.

Jigging Masterclass (Most Effective)

The vast majority of the walleye you catch will be on a jig.

• Tackle: 1/4 to 3/8 oz jigs are perfect for our waters, tipped with minnows or soft plastics.
• Location: Work rocky points, drop-offs, and weed edges. In 8-20 feet of water, you’ll find the active fish.

Deep Dive Tip: Want to perfect your presentation? We cover the best colors and sizes for our specific lakes in a dedicated post.

The 5 Best Walleye Jigs for Northwestern Ontario

Trolling & Casting Strategies

• Crankbaits and spoons are excellent for covering water quickly and locating schools. Focus on main lake points and transition areas.
• Once you find them, switch to jigging to maximize your catch.

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Seasonal Walleye Patterns

Understanding the season will determine where you find the biggest numbers:

• Spring/Early Season (May-June): Walleye are concentrated and feeding aggressively near river inlets, outlets, and shallow, warming bays (6-12 feet). This is when you experience those 100-fish days.
• Mid-Summer (July-August): Fish move to deeper, cooler water during the day. Target deep points and humps (15-30 feet). Don’t quit at midday—our deep lakes keep walleye active.
• Fall (September): Trophy Time! Walleye feed heavily before winter. The bigger fish are more aggressive.

Plan Ahead: For a detailed breakdown on where to find fish throughout the year, check out our seasonal guide.

Seasonal Walleye Patterns: Finding Fish from Ice-Out to Fall

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The Walleye Shore Lunch Tradition

No walleye trip is complete without a shore lunch. This is more than a meal; it’s a century-old tradition and the highlight of any trip.

1. Catch: Keep a few smaller, eating-size walleye (16-18 inches are perfect for the pan). Release the big ones!
2. Find: Locate a nice rocky point or sandy beach on your lake.
3. Cook: Fire up the portable stove or build a fire, fillet the fish fresh, and fry them in butter with some potatoes and beans.

Walleye caught an hour ago and cooked on a remote Canadian lakeshore might be the best meal you’ll ever eat.

Be Prepared: Need tips on filleting, packing, and cooking?

Walleye Shore Lunch 101: A Guide to the Best Recipe and Gear

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Planning Your Walleye Trip with Northwest Flying

We provide everything you need to focus solely on fishing—from high-quality logistics to comfortable accommodation.

Comfortable, Modern Outpost Cabins

“Roughing it” doesn’t mean suffering. Our outpost cabins are fully equipped.

Full details on our Rates, Cabin Amenities, What to Bring (Gear Weight Limits), and Booking Process

Ready to Book Your Walleye Adventure?

If you want to experience walleye fishing the way it’s supposed to be—remote, productive, and uncrowded—a fly-in trip with Northwest Flying delivers.

You’ll catch more walleye than you thought possible. You’ll have an entire lake to yourself. And you’ll make memories that last a lifetime.

Call us today to secure your dates for 2026 or 2027:

The walleye are waiting.