Deep Wilderness Outposts

Overview

Deep Wilderness Outposts is a fly-in fishing and hunting outfitter based in Nakina, Ontario, run by owners John and Kim. The operation offers three outpost camps — Cerulean Lake, Peninsular Lake, and Studd Lake — each situated on a separate remote lake accessible only by floatplane. The company was incorporated in January 2018.

The camps are spread across a wide range of distances from Nakina, from 67 air miles (Cerulean Lake) to 96 air miles (Peninsular Lake), placing them deep in the boreal wilderness of north-central Ontario. Each camp is a self-guided, housekeeping-style operation with one cabin per lake, providing groups with full private use of the water.

Established: 2018

Best for: Self-guided groups — including friends, families, and solo anglers — looking for exclusive private use of a remote outpost lake in north-central Ontario.

Best time: The operating season covers summer and early fall; walleye and northern pike are the primary targets throughout the open-water season.

Highlights

Three fly-in outpost camps

Exclusive one-group-per-lake access

Walleye, northern pike, and speckled trout

Camps 67 to 96 air miles north of Nakina

Boats provided at each camp

Self-guided housekeeping format

Moose hunting available at Studd Lake

The Fishing

The primary target species across all three lakes are walleye and northern pike. Peninsular Lake, situated in the Albany River Watershed, also offers access to speckled (brook) trout via the Attwood River, which flows in and out of the lake. Studd Lake provides access to multiple connected lakes — including Big Studd and three additional nearby lakes — allowing anglers to explore varied water and fish different spots over the course of a stay.

All camps are self-guided; guided trips are not offered, but the owners provide local knowledge and fishing tips prior to and during stays. Anglers are expected to bring their own rods, reels, and tackle. Fishing boats are provided at each camp.

Accommodations

Each outpost has a single cabin for the exclusive use of one group at a time. The Cerulean Lake cabin is a two-bedroom cabin sleeping up to six, equipped with a kitchen area and dining space, with west-facing views of the lake. The Peninsular Lake cabin is a three-bedroom log cabin sleeping up to eight, with a kitchen, dining area, hot water, and a separate shower house. The Studd Lake cabin is a two-bedroom cabin accommodating up to six, with a kitchen, dining area, hot and cold running water, and a shower house. All camps are housekeeping-style — guests prepare their own meals. Garmin satellite texting devices are included at the camps.

Fish Species

walleye pike brook trout

What They Offer

Amenities available at one or more of this outfitter's properties.

Meal plans

Boats included

Gas included

Fish cleaning

Studd Lake - A North Of Nakina Walleye Wonderland!

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Day Four At Studd: Walleyes Galore & Another Shorelunch!

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September Crankbait Walleyes North Of Nakina

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Exploring 3 Unnamed Back Lakes North Of Nakina

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Using Electronics To Pinpoint Walleyes Then Catch Them!

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A Tour Of The Studd Lake Outpost Camp

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4.8

Based on 4 reviews from across the web

Summarized Review Highlights

Deep Wilderness Outposts, owned by John and Kim Small and operating fly-in outpost camps north of Nakina in north central Ontario, draws consistently positive reviews from guests. The outfitter is relatively new to ownership of these properties but has made a strong early impression, with reviewers noting the owners' genuine investment in upgrading their camps and their attentiveness as hosts. The overall sentiment across reviews is enthusiastic, with most guests rating their trips at the top of the scale and indicating they would return or recommend the outfitter to others.

Guests consistently praise the quality of the refurbished facilities, particularly at Studd Lake, where reviewers noted new beds, a new roof, a new shower house, a covered fish cleaning shack, a new dock, and new motors. The single-cabin, exclusive-use setup is a recurring highlight — guests appreciate having an entire lake to themselves. Fishing quality receives strong marks, especially for walleye, which one group described as being catchable "almost at will" using a variety of methods. Pike fishing is also noted as productive. The lakes themselves, some of which had been unfished for several years before the new ownership took over, appear to offer strong fish populations as a result.

There are a few practical considerations worth noting. One group reported dealing with difficult weather, heavy insects, and a problem with bad fuel during their trip at Peninsular Lake — a reminder that remote fly-in fishing in northern Ontario comes with real logistical variables that are not always within an outfitter's control. The camps are small and remote by design, so guests expecting resort-level amenities or easy access should understand the wilderness outpost format going in. This destination appears best suited for small groups of serious walleye and pike anglers who prefer exclusive-use, off-the-grid camps and are comfortable with the unpredictability that comes with remote fly-in fishing in northern Ontario.

Summary generated May 25, 2026

Read all 4 reviews

Andrew Aug 16, 2024

Forum

Peninsular Lake (Nakina) July 25 to Aug 2

Our group fished Peninsular Lake and Deep Wilderness Outposts the last week of July. Was a solid week of fishing but not without some crazy weather, bad bugs and bad gas. Full report is here 'Unforgettable Peninsular Lake Fly In: Fishing Report'.

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Mike Borger Oct 17, 2020

Forum

Trophy Pike - Deep Wilderness Outposts discussion

North of Nakina lakes like Peninsular with Deep Wilderness Outposts, or Ogoki with Ogoki Lake Outfitters would be worth a shot. [Later in thread:] Rob, Cerulean is awesome, but small water. If you want a single cabin outpost on a larger lake with trophy pike, you're far better off flying out of Armstrong. I'm actually fishing Studd Lake with the same outfitter in Sept. It has barely been fished in 8 years and the camp is totally refurbished so I'm sure it will be a blast.

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Mike Borger Dec 2, 2019

Forum

Studd Lake North Of Nakina - Detailed Report

In early September my group of six fished Studd Lake north of Nakina with Deep Wilderness Outposts. Owner John Small and his wife Kim acquired the camp along with a handful of others a couple of years ago and have spent a considerable amount of time upgrading all of them including Studd - the camp was great! Really nice log cabin with a covered porch, new beds, new roof, new shower house, covered fish cleaning shack, new dock, new 9.9 motors, pretty much everything on that end was excellent. Studd had lain dormant and unfished for the most part for a number of years before John and his wife bought it, so we expected good fishing, and that's precisely what we got. This was one of the few trips I've been on where the focus was mostly walleye and we caught them almost at will using pretty much any method we wanted. Jigging plastics and blade baits, pulling crankbaits and bottom bouncers - it all worked. He also lost what was undoubtedly a gigantic pike trolling a deep diving crankbait. We caught tons of pike as well, but that was the only larger one we came in contact with. Studd isn't a massive body of water but there's more than enough water to keep you occupied. The camp is actually located on Little Studd which is connected via a navigable creek to Big Studd. From Big Studd you have access to three more unnamed lakes to the west via another navigable channel. It's a single cabin location so you've got it all to yourself which is nice. All in all it was a heck of a good trip and I was super impressed with our host John Small who's new to this outfitting business. I wouldn't hesitate to use them again.

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Facebook

Facebook Page - 100% Recommend (5 Reviews)

Deep Wilderness Outposts Inc. Facebook page shows 100% recommend rating based on 5 reviews. Fly-in fishing trips to exclusive one cabin lakes in north central Ontario. Incredible walleye and pike fishing with an abundance of wildlife in the area.

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Getting There

Guests drive to Nakina, Ontario, where floatplane service transports them to their respective outpost lake. Air service for at least the Peninsular Lake camp has been associated with Leuenberger Air Service, based on Cordingley Lake in Nakina. The camps range from 67 to 96 air miles north of Nakina, making them accessible only by air. Nakina is described as a major fly-in fishing hub in northern Ontario.

Access:

fly-in

Air bases:

Nakina, Ontario

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