Northern Wilderness outfitters
Fort Frances, Ontario
Fly-in outpost fishing outfitter operating private-lake camps across northwestern Ontario, based in Fort Frances since 1967.
Overview
Northern Wilderness Outfitters Ltd. is a fly-in fishing and hunting operation headquartered in Fort Frances, Ontario, on the shores of Rainy Lake directly across the border from International Falls, Minnesota. Founded in 1967, the company has operated outpost camps on numerous remote lakes in northwestern Ontario for over five decades. The operation is owned by Victor Davis and runs as a self-guided, outpost-style business — guests are flown to a private lake, left with a fully equipped cabin, boats, and fuel, and retrieve their own experience without on-site staff.
The outfitter maintains outpost camps on approximately 18 to 20 lakes spread across a range of 50 to 220 air miles northeast of Fort Frances. Each outpost occupies an exclusive, private lake — no other groups share the water during a booking. Packages include round-trip floatplane flights, the outpost cabin, boats, motors, and unlimited fuel. Optional food and bait packages are available for those who prefer not to bring their own supplies.
Established: 1967
Highlights
The Fishing
The primary target species across Northern Wilderness Outfitters lakes are walleye and northern pike. Walleye are pursued by jigging along rocky points or trolling through deeper water, with popular jig colors including chartreuse, yellow, and white tipped with minnows, leeches, or nightcrawlers. Northern pike are known to run 30 inches or more, with trophy fish exceeding 40 inches. Smallmouth bass are available at Glitter and Dasent Lakes specifically. Depending on the lake chosen, perch and lake trout may also be present.
The outfitter follows conservation-oriented size limits on all lakes: walleye over 18 inches and pike over 27 inches must be released. Certain lakes such as Lil Shab and Tessup operate as full catch-and-release for those species. Guests fish from 14-foot aluminum boats with padded swivel seats powered by 6 hp Yamaha outboard motors, with fuel included. Detailed lake maps with fishing hotspots are provided to each group.
Accommodations
Each outpost cabin is self-catering and equipped with hot and cold running water, hot showers, a wood heating stove, a gas cookstove, a gas refrigerator (select cabins have solar-powered electric fridges), solar lighting, a barbecue grill, cooking and eating utensils, and large comfortable bunks with mattresses. Outdoor decks with seating and fire pits are available at select outposts. Select cabins including Sessi, Lil Shab, and Dasent have full solar installations with electric fridges and outlets for CPAP machines. Cabins accommodate between 6 and 10 guests depending on the location. No meals or housekeeping staff are provided; guests cook for themselves or pre-order an optional food package stocked for a five-day stay.
Fish Species
What They Offer
Amenities available at one or more of this outfitter's properties.
Getting There
Guests check in at the outfitter's floatplane base on Rainy Lake in Fort Frances, Ontario, which sits just minutes from the U.S. border crossing at International Falls, Minnesota. For guests flying commercially, the International Falls airport is approximately 20 minutes from the floatplane base. Outpost destinations range from 50 to 220 air miles from the base, accessed exclusively by floatplane. The outfitter operates a DeHavilland Otter to transport guests and their gear, with a baggage limit of 80 pounds per person including groceries.
Access:
Air bases:
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