Text & photos by Nick Pujic

Have you ever thought about taking a fly-in fishing trip somewhere but just haven’t known what to expect? Have you wondered if the fishing is truly as good as you’re lead to believe in the online literature and in the brochures? How about accommodations; will they be comfortable enough not only for hardcore anglers who would camp if they had to but would also meet the demanding needs to a non-angling spouse or even children? And let’s not forget the lodge staff; will they be friendly and accommodating to your needs, or will your attention be kept on the fishing and off the less than friendly service? These are only a few of the most popular questions that run through a curious angler’s mind when pondering the idea of a fishing getaway. With so many destinations to choose from, both domestic and international, the task of selecting where to go can be a daunting one. With so much of the promotional and marketing material out there - at shows, in magazines and on TV - how can you be sure that what could perhaps be a once in a life time opportunity will truly end up as the trip you’ll remember most – for good reasons!

My Old Post adventure began at the Goderich Airport, some 2.5 hours Northwest of Toronto, where a special chartered flight awaited forty some-odd eager anglers & their families. While flying out of Goderich was only one of the options for getting to the Old Post and Village, this was the most convenient one for myself as I could easily park my truck for a week at the rather quiet airport, not have to worry about parking fees or lengthy line-ups at security and could literally walk on the plane from the vehicle in less than 5 minutes. This was also our first opportunity to meet the other guests who’ve opted to visit the lodge during that same week, and although no one knew each other at first, the ice was quickly broken upon boarding the plane where friendly stewards quickly make you feel right at home with a cocktail service to kick start your experience.

The flight in from Goderich to the remote Northern Ontario community of Pickle Lake was a scenic and comfortable one, made all the better by the chatter of excited fishermen, getting to know each other on the plane while sharing their anticipation. From the plane we could see the Northern Ontario landscape, best described as an endless chain of lakes and rivers surrounded by what seemed like a never ending forest with only periodic reminders of civilization every now and again with the odd visible road or small community. Once in Pickle Lake we were only a short 30 minute bus ride away from the shores of legendary Lake St. Joseph. With de-boarding only taking a few minutes and the bus already waiting, anticipation was at an all time high!

The feeling of being somewhere out of reach of the usual big-city hustle and bustle was immediate. Between the lack of traffic on the roads which do exist that far North and the impressive wild scenery, I truly felt like we’ve reached a special place where time stands still. It almost seemed that it didn’t matter what day it was, what was going on back home, at work or in the rest of the World. Up here, cell phones were non-existent and the term workaholic received puzzling responses from friendly locals who transfer the passenger cargo from the plane and on to the awaiting bus.

Once we reached the designated boat launch area on the Eastern-most shore of Lake St. Joe, which spans over 90 km in length and 20 km at its widest point, the Old Post staff was quick to load all gear and luggage on to a custom made cargo barge, specially designed to take clients and their gear over to the main lodge which is located about 15 km Westward, on a beautiful spit of land with sand beaches on either side. The sight of the main lodge alone stuck familiarity immediately with the images which we so eagerly reviewed in the brochure countless times before embarking on this trip. And in the true spirit of keeping the feel-good momentum going, John Grace and family, the operators of the Old Post & Village, greeted each guest at the beach as the boat was unloaded and the gear distributed to our various cabins. After the warm greeting which would make the most worrisome traveler feel welcomed, we were immediately informed that our first dinner would be held at the main lodge in only a half hour, so it was time to check out our accommodations for the next 5 days then head back to the dining hall.

Within the first sighting out our dinner we quickly realized that this was not going to be a good week to try and lose weight. The food was so spectacular not only the first night, but throughout the entire trip, that a culinary critic would have a hard time finding anything to complain about. Each meal consisted of a salad, a main course and of course desert, but we aren’t talking about your usual remote-wilderness type meals here folks. Nothing but the most tender pork chops, flavorful steaks, succulent pastas and of course unbeatable fresh fish will come across your plate here. If you worried about the quality of meals on a fishing trip such as this one, especially when sharing it with a spouse or child, it is safe to say that your expectations will be blown away. In fact, it is not uncommon to hear comments in the dinning room such as “I would come back to Old Post for the food alone!” or “…it’s going to be hard going back home and eating hard-boiled hot dogs and KD again…”. After the hearty meal and a few evening beverages the camaraderie within the main lodge really picks up. There is a rather large deck directly out front of the building, facing the lake, with plenty of comfortable Muskoka style chairs for the guests to sit back and enjoy the evening’s camp fire or the colour show of the setting sun. Those who traveled with families can also retreat back to their standalone cabins and enjoy the ambiance of all-wood construction with modern day running water and cozy wood stoves. The comfort level all guests shared by this point was easy to observe and if it wasn’t for the countless pictures around the bar area of trophy sized Northern pike and delicious looking walleye, you could almost forget that you are on a “wilderness” fishing trip and think that you’ve checked into a 5 star resort for a mini-vacation.

After recovering from traveling and the hearty meal the day before, your first morning waking up at the Old Post lodge usually begins between 7:30 and 8:00am which is rather “late” for what you might expect of a fishing trip. Your fishing gear is collected from your cabins by helpful staff who buggy it down to the boats for you and instruct you to head down to the main lodge for an impressive breakfast to get you going. From there, after you enjoyed the daily special from the resident cook, you simply walk out no more than 20 yards, hop in your assigned boat with your partner(s) and wait for the fishing guide to explain the day’s strategy. I was particularly impressed by the fact that since I got on the plane in Goderich I haven’t had to so much as lift a piece of my luggage that I brought with me, not once! It was easy to see that the lodge staff really went out of their way to accommodate everyone and create the feeling of a vacation rather than a fishing trip which involved any sort of work.

Being a fly fisherman at heart, I was especially excited about the possibility of tangling with a large pike on the fly while at Old Post, however pretty much anything from medium to large spoons, jigs & grubs, large hard-bodied baits and in-line spinners will catch you fish here folks. If you can’t imagine catching so many fish that you’d actually wonder if you could catch them on a bare hook, then Lake St. Joe is the place for you. During the typical 8 hours we spent on the water each day, a person could literally catch so many fish that you’d either lose count, or have to start counting by hundreds if you wanted to keep track. Even on the slowest of days I’ve ever witnessed on Lake St. Joseph, you would have to try not to catch less than 20 – 30 walleye and a dozen pike or so. It truly is something that has to be experienced to be understood.

Each collection of 5 to 6 boats, which generally accommodates between 10 – 14 fishermen, gets a guide for the day. The guide leads the pack of boats in a single line down the lake between 30 minutes to an hour from the lodge until you reach the desired hot spot. It is important to rely on the in-depth knowledge of the Old Post guides as you’ll quickly realize that the vastness of Lake St. Joseph is not to be reckoned with. Between hidden underwater hazards such as large boulders and stumps to weaving through a maze of channels, coves and bays, without their help one would have no trouble either getting lost or taking out a lower unit or prop on a boat. Luckily no one has to worry about such set backs due to the guide system which proved to work very well. The guest boats themselves are probably nicer than what most people would expect from such a remote lodge. The setups consist of wide, deep V style Lund aluminums ranging from 16.5’ to 17.5’ with dependable and quiet Yamaha outboards in the 25 – 45hp range. Although I had no way of knowing exactly how fast we could get going in these boats, it was definitely fast enough to put a smile on everyone’s face yet safe enough that we could cross any open water area without any fear, even if it was choppy.

Once we reached the desired “hot spots” the boats would spread out, following the guide’s instructions. This eliminated any worry of feeling crowded which I initially had when our group of 6 boats left the lodge. The hot spots themselves consist of known vertical drop offs, weed beds, mud flats and other such fish holding structure which the guides have come to know other the years. Although I am convinced that you could catch fish just about anywhere in Lake St. Joseph, these spots were definitely high percentage areas where it wouldn’t be uncommon to get double and even triple headers within a single boat, over and over again.

What impressed me most about the Lake St. Joseph fishery, despite of course the monster 40+ inch pike that lurked in its waters, was the quantity of fish actually caught and landed. What a perfect place to teach someone to spin or fly fish, such as a kid or wife who has perhaps never fished before. In my experience I find that when teaching someone to fish, regardless of the method, the easiest way to get them hooked is by keeping their interest, and what easier what to do that then success! An 8 year old child could easily jig up as many walleye as any adult in this lake. What a sure way to get them hooked for life!

To add to the experience of fishing in a truly wild and remote location, each day spent on the water was only interrupted by a shore lunch on various beaches and shorelines throughout the lake. Every day, the guide would head to shore early, prepare a nice fire and fillet some fresh fish; all catch by the guests that morning along with side dishes such as rice, corn, beans and various forms of potatoes. This folks is a feast like no other, even if you’ve had shore lunch before. After catching fish all morning, smiling from ear to ear and sipping on your favorite drinks, the shore lunches Old Post guides prepare will have you asking for recipe and struggling to find room for more. In fact, after such a good meal and the realization that the fishing truly is what it was cracked up to be, you may just want to spend the afternoon lounging in the comfortable seat of your boat and soaking in some rays.

The daily cycle of incredible meals, a full day’s fishing, top notch accommodations and warm and friendly camaraderie repeats itself over each of the days you spend at Old Post. Every day is structured enough by the staff that you know exactly what to expect, where and when, but not limiting in the sense that if you’d like to retreat for a quiet evening or miss an afternoon’s fishing to enjoy the lodge itself you still could. If my experience at Old Post was anything like yours will be, you will also make new friends up there whom you will grow close to even long after your fishing trip is over. Furthermore, you are bound to meet guests who’ve visited the lodge before, some as much as almost 20 years in a row!

The Old Post experience goes far beyond great food and unbeatable fishing. As you retrace your journey back to the boat launch of Lake St. Joseph upon your departure, you’ll find yourself gazing at the lake, reminiscing about the newly created memories and chuckling about the laughs you shared while there. From the journey, to the stay and of course to the fishing, the 5 days you spend on Lake St. Joseph are bound to find a special place in your heart.

I vowed to return to Old Post one day and share the experience with my aging father who isn’t much of a fisherman, not for the fishing but rather as a special trip I know he and I will enjoy equally without the distractions and stress of the real world. I hope to see you there!