Summarized Review Highlights
Esnagami Wilderness Lodge on Esnagami Lake near Nakina, Ontario consistently earns high praise across a wide range of reviewers, from first-time fly-in guests to seasoned anglers who have fished around the world. The overall sentiment across all reviews is overwhelmingly positive, with multiple guests describing it as their favourite fishing destination and many returning year after year. Owners Eric and Sue Lund are mentioned by name repeatedly and are credited with creating a welcoming, personal atmosphere that makes guests feel like family. The lodge's position as the only outfitter on an 18,000-acre lake with 120 miles of shoreline is frequently highlighted as a significant draw.
Guests consistently praise four areas: fishing quality, accommodations, food, and staff. The fishery — built up through decades of catch-and-release conservation — produces strong numbers of walleye, northern pike, and brook trout, with walleye approaching 30 inches and pike in the high 30-inch range mentioned across multiple reviews. The cabins are described as clean, comfortable, and fully equipped with hot showers, flush toilets, and electricity. Meals receive strong praise, including made-to-order breakfasts, freshly baked bread and desserts, and well-remembered shore lunches featuring freshly caught walleye and pike. Guides are described as experienced and highly effective. The fleet of handcrafted cedar strip boats is also singled out as a thoughtful touch. On the American plan, guests note that cabins are tidied daily, meals are handled entirely by staff, and luggage is delivered by utility vehicle — reviewers describe it as a genuinely hands-off experience from arrival to departure.
There are no recurring complaints in the available reviews. The one honest caveat that surfaces is the float plane ride itself, which one reviewer described as turbulent and uncomfortable — though they also noted others in their group found it unremarkable. No concerns about value, cleanliness, staff, or fishing quality appear in any of the reviews. This destination appears best suited for groups of friends or couples seeking a comfortable, full-service lodge experience, anglers targeting walleye and pike in a remote and lightly pressured fishery, and fly fishers interested in brook trout on moving water. It also comes across as a strong fit for milestone or special-occasion trips — one review centred on a father's 70th birthday — and for first-time fly-in guests who want genuine wilderness access without sacrificing comfort.
Summary generated May 25, 2026
Read all 9 reviews
Troy Lindner
Jan 6, 2025
Blog
Esnagami Wilderness Lodge: Awesome Fishing For Walleye And Northern Pike
What an incredible fishing adventure this was! Northern Ontario's Esnagami Wilderness Lodge, accessible only by float plane, is a pristine 18,000-acre paradise with 120 miles of shoreline and over 200 islands - and better yet, it's all exclusively yours to explore as the lake's only lodge. Sue and Eric Lund have been creating unforgettable fishing memories here for 30 years, treating every guest like family. From the moment you step off the de Havilland Otter float plane, you know you're somewhere special. The conservation practices established there have created an incredible fishery, with walleye pushing the 30-inch mark. A standout feature at Esnagami is their fleet of handcrafted 18' cedar strip boats — each one thoughtfully equipped with padded seats, landing nets, live release cradles, and reliable Mercury outboards. The fully furnished cabins feature all the modern amenities you'd expect - hot showers, flush toilets, electricity, and comfortable beds - plus scenic decks. Every trip up North requires a shore lunch, and Esnagami knows how to do it right! The guides and staff prepared a memorable one on a beautiful island with freshly caught walleye. Esnagami Wilderness Lodge offers that perfect blend of incredible fishing, first-class accommodations, and the kind of personal service that keeps anglers returning year after year.
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Our group had an amazing time! The atmosphere, food and fishing were all 5 stars!
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This wasn't my first time at Esnagami lodge, returning customer for many years. The fishing, staff, food, equipment, and accommodations all were excellent. First rate customer service. Went the first week of July and the weather cooperated. Signed up to return next year. Had a great time again.
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Mikey Metcalfe
Apr 12, 2023
Blog
Esnagami Wilderness Lodge: Brook Trout and Northern Pike Fishing
Once the plane landed and we were offloaded I can honestly say I didn't lift a finger for my entire stay. The service at the Esnagami Wilderness Lodge starts the second you arrive right until the final handshakes' goodbye. The owners Eric and Sue Lund and the entire staff wait at the docks and greet the guest as they arrive. As you're chatting and talking to other guests, the staff are loading up your baggage and delivering the bags to the door via an RTV. Esnagami Wilderness Lodge boasts numerous cabins, each one clean and cozy with heat, running water, and all the amenities you could want from home. The guides at Esnagami Wilderness Lodge are top-notch and super dialled into the fishing, so if you simply follow instructions and do as they say the success rate for hookups can be incredibly high. We caught pike after pike after pike, with a few in the high 30-inch range. The Esnagami River is full of picture-perfect trout runs, from fast pocket water to slow tail outs. We sat on this run and hooked into five more brook trout, all between 18-20 inches on the surface. I had massive expectations on what to expect at Esnagami Wilderness Lodge and I must say, the lodge, the fishing, and the comradery more than exceeded my wildest dreams.
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Fly fishing Esnagami Wilderness Lodge
Esnagami Lodge is the perfect place to go if you're looking for a comfortable lodge and world-class fishing. It's a fly-in experience that includes the amenities that make kicking back and relaxing easy. The food is amazing, the staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful, and the fishing is like no other. Esnagami is well worth the waders full of stories you're surely to return with. A server brought coffee and muffins right to our door. The main dining lodge was closed [due to COVID], but the door service was a seamless way to enjoy top-quality food from the chef. We soon found out why guests return to Esnagami Lodge year after year. Eric's been running a catch-and-release program at the lodge for decades. After heading out, we caught lunch within 15 minutes — four perfectly-sized, golden Esnagami walleye. Eric cleaned and cooked them up on a small island soon after we caught them. Catch-and-release has done wonders on the lake. All of us were fishing on the fly, and having tremendous luck catching fish after fish. I watched pods of walleye follow my fly underwater. I'd seen nothing like it before.
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Scott Mills (scottalanmills)
Aug 26, 2015
Blog
Esnagami Wilderness Lodge – You Always Remember Your First
Writing this post is long overdue, but also a wonderful walk down memory lane to the most impactful fishing adventure I've been on to date: my very first fly in fishing trip to celebrate my father's 70th birthday. Both Sue and Eric were patient, thorough and professional in their dealings. The main lodge is nothing short of spectacular — full log construction with loft and quality wood furniture, as rustic as you could hope for, but at the same time immaculate. Each breakfast was made to order. Being on the American plan you have extra time when you don't have to cook or clean up, and in fact each day staff came in and tidied our cabin, including making our beds and washing any dishes. The guide for the day, Mark, was also the head guide meaning he had many years experience working the lake. We had a great morning jigging up walleye and just enjoying our time together on the lake. The group shore lunch included fresh walleye and pike, beans, fresh made onion rings, warm bread, and a Walleye chowder. I haven't been back (yet), but it still ranks as my favourite fly in fishing trip for that perfect combination of a great lodge, great fishing, and great memories of fishing with family. I've since been to several different lodges/outfitters, but I'll always remember Esnagami Wilderness Lodge as my first, and I know I'll be back again.
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Jim Graca
Jul 10, 2014
Blog
The Fly-In – A Full Canadian Adventure
After looking through the literature, making a lot of phone calls and keeping my budget in mind, I chose Esnagami Wilderness Lodge as our destination. The beautifully renovated lodge is the only one on the lake, and offers American and Housekeeping packages. The natural pine log cabins have private three-piece bathrooms with flush toilets and hot showers. The main lodge was a great place to relax after a day on the water. The guests would all get together along with Eric, Sue and the staff and talk about the day's adventures. Breakfast and dinner was served in the main lodge dining room. The meals were excellent. Dinners were wonderful — a variety of meals from steak to chicken to spaghetti. Fresh baked bread and desserts baked daily made for a great feed. By the time we finished fishing that first weed bed, we caught nine pike and one walleye. At the end of the day we had caught 27 pike between 10 and 22 pounds and three big walleye. It was absolutely amazing. Then I realized it wasn't goodbye, but see you next year.
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ColdInMichigan
Jul 10, 2014
TripAdvisor
Trip Report-SSM to Nakina-Fishing Trip
Just returned from a wonderful fly in fishing trip at the Esnagami Wilderness Lodge in Nakina, ON. 3 couples, 1 in their early 20s, one mid-40s and one mid-50s. We all met in Sault Saint Marie and spent the night at the Water Tower Inn before our long drive to Nakina. Up early and to the airport. I hate flying, but the Nakina Air Service staff were very efficient and friendly. Horrible ride (by my standards only due to turbulence, everyone else thought it was just 'bumpy'), but was it ever worth it! Esnagami Wilderness Lodge (EWL) is FABULOUS! I cannot say enough wonderful things about Eric and Sue and their great staff. The accommodations, food, fishing and staff were stellar and if you're thinking about a fly in fishing trip, RUN don't walk to make your reservations here! Seriously, you won't be disappointed. I won't bother you with the details (you can PM me if you want them) but we caught more 'trophy' fish than you can shake a stick at.
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I've fished all over the world and this is without a doubt my favourite place to fish. The fishing is incredible, the service is just as good, and everyone is super-friendly.
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