Choosing the Best Ontario Fishing Trip: A Guide for Anglers

Ontario, Canada, is renowned for its pristine lakes, winding rivers, and abundant marine life, making it a paradise for fishing enthusiasts. With so many options available, selecting the perfect fishing trip can seem like a daunting task. However, with a little research and consideration, you can ensure an unforgettable angling adventure. Here’s a guide to help you choose the best Ontario fishing trip tailored to your preferences:

1. Determine Your Target Species: Before selecting a fishing trip, consider the type of fish you want to catch. Ontario offers a diverse range of fishing opportunities, from walleye and pike to trout, smallmouth bass and muskie. Decide on your preferred species to narrow down your destination options.

2. Research Fishing Destinations: Ontario boasts numerous world-class fishing destinations, each with its unique appeal. Whether you prefer large open bodies of water, Great Lakes, a private lake, remote wilderness settings, or convenient lodge accommodations, research destinations that align with your preferences. Popular fishing regions include Ontario Sunset Country Northwestern Ontario, Northern Ontario and Eastern Ontario.

3. Consider Season and Timing: The timing of your fishing trip can significantly impact your success. Research the peak fishing seasons for your target species in your chosen destination. Consider factors such as weather conditions, water temperature, and fish migration patterns to maximize your chances of a fruitful fishing experience.

4. Choose Your Fishing Style & Access: Ontario Canada offers a variety of fishing styles, including fly fishing, spin casting, trolling, and ice fishing. Be sure to review lake/Lodge accessibility – do you prefer fly-in only, drive-in and fly-out or drive-in only. Determine your preferred fishing method and select a trip that caters to your interests.

5. Assess Services and Amenities: When selecting a fishing trip, consider the quality of services and amenities provided. Knolwedgebale staff can enhance your fishing experience by sharing local knowledge, providing expert instruction, and guiding you to prime fishing spots. Reliable equipment will make for a much smoother fishing expedition. Additionally, assess accommodation options, meal plans, equipment rentals, and other amenities offered by fishing lodges or outfitters.

6. Set Your Budget: Fishing trips in Ontario Canada vary widely in cost, depending on factors such as destination, duration, accommodations, and included amenities. Set a budget for your fishing trip and compare packages from different outfitters to find the best value for your money. Consider any additional expenses, such as fishing licenses, bait, hotels, transportation, and gratuities, when planning your budget.

7. Read Reviews and Seek Recommendations: Before booking a fishing trip, read reviews and testimonials from previous anglers to gauge the quality of the experience offered by outfitters or lodges. Additionally, seek recommendations from fellow anglers, fishing forums, or local fishing associations to get firsthand insights and advice.

8. Book in Advance: Ontario fishing trips, especially during peak seasons, tend to fill up quickly. Once you’ve chosen your desired destination and dates, book your trip well in advance to secure your spot and avoid disappointment.

9. Prepare Properly: Finally, prepare for your fishing trip by ensuring you have the necessary gear, clothing, and equipment. Be sure to research fishing regulations or restrictions, border crossing requirements and obtain any required licenses or permits in advance.

By following these guidelines and considering your preferences, you can choose the best Ontario fishing trip for an unforgettable angling adventure in the Great White North, commonly referred to as “God’s Country”.

Post Covid Updates

Well, Covid came in like a lion and is working its way out like a lamb. While the pandemic and Government restrictions were a gut punch to the Tourism Industry, we are forever grateful for the health of our friends, family, and guests. We have all been impacted in some way by the pandemic – now is the time to band together, recover, and come out stronger than ever.

We need our guests to rekindle their love for the great North & Ontario Fishing. Spread the word to friends and families. Start bringing up grandkids to entice the next generation and keep this magical experience thriving. 

Through 53 years of business, KaBeeLo has successfully navigated economic roller coasters by keeping a low debt load. January 31st 2020 KaBeeLo Airways inked a deal for a new plane – great timing – and entered the pandemic carrying heavy debt. The only significant support in Canada was to borrow MORE money to carry the business through; 2020 (100% no business), 2021 (85% no business), and 2022 (40% no business). 2023 was the first full season with ZERO restrictions for border crossings. THANK YOU to all who ventured our way to escape the grind and enjoy the peace and serenity of NW Ontario’s Sunset Country. 

So – what did we get up to in those years? Amazingly, through all that fog, we managed to continue investing in KaBeeLo’s business model for future years:

• Close to all of the outposts now have a floating dock system, and new boat ramps custom-built to fit the needs of our guests and aircraft (thanks to a huge nudge from Mother Nature when she ripped out the docks)
• Bear Paw cabin received a make over
• New solar fridges at outposts
• Enhanced propane filling station at the main base – to meet the stringent guidelines to meet Industry certifications
• Aircraft safety equipment and training
• New matresses and bunks
• New decks on the main base guest cabins
• New storage building for the food can packing
• Upgraded boats and motors at most lakes
• Many hours of brainstorming how to make up what’s been lost and remarket the Fly-Out fishing experience (let us know if you come up with anything…)
• I am sure there’s more that I have overlooked…..

And last – but most definitely not least – GREAT FISHING!!!!!!

Jeanette Walleye

Wavell Walleye

Perrigo Pike

Seagrave Sunset

Northern Pike

Dead Dog Sunset

Perrigo Catch

Bertha Beauty

Nice Northern

Northern Pike

Perrigo Pride

We look forward to the post-Covid growth and welcoming back our old and new guests.

Most sincerely,

The Lohn Family
Erik, Allysson, Ann, Harald (Winston, Alastair, Hillary & Aspen)

Cannabis in Canada

Ontario’s Travel Association “The Sunset Country” has compiled a summary, for traveling tourists, with information on cannabis in Canada, and the regulations and laws that apply to its use.  Keep in mind that while Federal regulations apply across the country, each Province has it’s own set of regulations.  Make sure you know the ones in the Province(s) you plan on visiting.  Use the link below to read the full article and learn about Ontario’s regulations.

Some Fast Facts

Ontario’s rules & regulations 

FLY-OUT or FLY-IN?

This question is almost as common as “when’s the best time to go fishing” and is more about perspective.

Most outfitters market themselves as “Fly-In” meaning you have to fly into their location(s).  KaBeeLo’s perspective is that once you get to KaBeeLo, we fly you OUT to your remote OUTPOST.  Hence “FLY-OUT”.  It’s that simple!

Maybe the term “Drive-In; Fly-Out” makes more sense?

BEEN A WHILE – BUT NOT FORGOTTEN… An overdue update.

Wow – is about all that can be said for our 2 year blog hiatus!  While a sabbatical sounds like a good excuse, we can’t take credit for that – rather we’ve been busy with just a few things:

• NEW AIRCRAFT – 2016 was a year when the stars aligned and we were able to trade in a piston Beaver for a turbine beaver.  While the initial transaction paperwork proved to be somewhat tedious, it was the ensuing Transport Canada regulations that took up a good bulk of our time.  In short, our maintenance control manual went from a 3 page boiler plate document, to an 85 page custom manual.  While a cumbersome project, we’re excited to share that we passed with flying colours – a testament to our diligence to the safety of our operations.
• NEW CABINS – after completing the 2016 paperwork, we found ourselves in 2017 faced with more regulatory paperwork when we acquired a new outpost!  Seagrave lake for some time had 2 operators on the lake, KaBeeLo is now the ONLY operator on this lake!!  2018 will be spent remodelling the newly acquired cabin. Of course it’s out with the old before in with the new:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But we didn’t stop there!  WAKEMEN was also onthe list in 2017 – removed the 2 older cabins and built a brand new structure ready for the 2018 season.

Book a trip this season and check out our progress!

One of the old cabins on wakeman

Start of the Wakeman burn

New Wakeman cabin

ICE REPORT TIME | KaBeeLo

Coney Island, Kenora | courtesy of “Lake of the Woods Ice Patrol”

Can you believe the time has arrived for ice updates?

Reports from colleagues North of the Border confirmed while Kenora has sections of open water, many of it is still up to 3 feet thick and takes ~6 weeks to fully melt.

The Weather Networks long-term forecast is for temperatures to remain slightly above normal – meaning faster than normal thawing. That would put KaBeeLo on a track to possibly be up and at’em in time for the opener!

A local “icecaptain” from “Lake of the Woods Ice Patrol” provides regular updates and has compiled a great graph displaying historical ice-out periods since 2003.  From the image below you can see that 2014 was an anomaly to say the least….

 

 

 

 

Stay tuned for more updates.

2014 in review | Kinda Neat!

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 1,300 times in 2014. If it were a cable car, it would take about 22 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

WHAT DO LODGE OWNERS DO IN THE “OFF-SEASON”?

START – OR END – OF A GREAT TRIP?

There are some who boldly ask this question, some who keep it muted, and others who come up with their own lavish fantasies of what they think, wish or hope lodge owners do in the “off-season”.  First thing to clarify is there’s no such thing as the “off-season” for Lodge owners, we prefer to call it the “low-season”…

So far the days have been spent:

• re-acclimating to large populations
• figuring out how to use our smart phones
• listening to the chaotic world news – which only confirms the allure of the Lodge and why we head north to seek serenity
• sipping mai tais on the back deck

Some would say the above sounds like fun & games – well here’s the work:

• reviewing all the great guest comments collected in each outpost’s logbook, and diligently entering them on our website
• researching business improvements for next year
• tax filings (yes, in Canada we have a few of those)
• lining up our sport show roster – stay tuned
• designing next years brochure
• researching payment options
• taxes – did I mention that?

But most importantly – we are enjoying our office time flipping through emails and photos and reminiscing about the great season we had in 2014 – thanks to our guests & mother nature.  We are looking forward to hearing from you this winter whether it’s to book another trip or just say HI!

PS – don’t forget to send us your captivating photos to be considered for the 2015 brochure or marketing media.  Submit your entries to info@kabeelo.com or share via facebook – don’t forget those who land on the front cover get a free trip IF:

• KaBeeLo gear is well displayed – no photoshop
• Eyes are visible – not covered with sunglasses
• Person/subject is smiling
• Captivating backdrop

What’s new this week at KaBeeLo?

Oddly enough, the “honey-do” list at camp never seems to get shorter with the passing days, months or years.  Aircrafts require maintenance, buildings need to be re- cribbed, docks built, outhouses dug, dishes to clean, bills to pay – – you get the point.  But every now and then there’s an exercise/project that’s rather exciting to share!  One of this year’s undertakings was to update our road signs; driveway entrance, highway 105 and coming soon highway 502.

NEW SIGNAGE

Each season we thankfully have many repeat guests and many new guests, all of which periodically “miss the turn”….we hope these signs will help guide our guests to KaBeeLo Lodge!

Safe travels!

 

“The Harald Experience….”

Some say they come to KaBeeLo for the “Harald Experience” while others ask “what IS the Harald experience?”.  Guests & staff will admit it’s a hard term to define, and one you must just experience, nevertheless we are looking to you – our guests, fans & friends – to help us define the phrase.

In addition, we would like to develop a shortlist of “Haraldisms” to round out the definition. So when you have time, or are feeling rather creative, please send us an email with your definition of “The Harald Experience” and subsequent “Haraldisms”, we will post the most fitting on our webpage & blog.