Donnelly's Minnitaki Lodge

About This Lodge

The main lodge sits on the shores of the Pickerel Arm on Minnitaki Lake, with fishing and hunting available. It is family-run and focused on hospitality. The outfitter is 2 Generations Proud.

Accommodations

Amenities

Electricity: Yes

Running Water: Yes

Hot Water: Yes

Drinking Water: Yes

Shower: Yes

Sink: Yes

Fish Cleaning Station

Tackle Shop: No

Fish Species

pike smallmouth bass perch walleye lake trout

Boats & Equipment

Boats Included

0

Gas Included

No

Lake Information

Large lake with excellent walleye, bass, pike, lake trout, and muskie fishing. Also home to lake trout known to grow to XL size. Located near Harvey Narrows, 20-minute boat ride from Winoga's main base.

Lake Name

Minnitaki Lake

Province

Ontario, English River system

Fishing Pressure

Significant

Meals & Services

Guide Service

not available

Reviews & Reputation

4.5

Based on 8 reviews from across the web

Read all 8 reviews

christine n Jul 16, 2017

TripAdvisor

Fly-in or drive fishing lodge on Pickeral Arm

Need an escape from the urban, digital rat race? Drive north to our neighbors in Canada, where at Donnelly's you get a clean housekeeping cabin, easy lake access and the quiet to hear your own thoughts again. Take the family and let your teens experience a week of fishing, reading, walks in the woods and great conversations. This is a no-frills vacation. You get a fully stocked kitchenette in the two or three-bedroom cabins, or bring your camper and get full hook-ups, potable water and shower access as well as gas for your camper or boat when needed. People who love Canadian fishing are probably familiar with Minnitaki and the Pickerel Arm. Donnelly's is located in the western bays. We had amazing weather in the 70s and very little to no wind to explore this giant body of water, including the English River Falls and Moonlight Falls. We caught some monster walleye and Northern Pike, and had our fill of walleye lunches...and the fishing was "slow" for some reason this year in mid-July. A visit from noted guide Bill Ortiz gave us insight on where to fish. Our hosts, the Donnelly's, were very lovely people who helped us with any needs and could provide an American plan with some coffee and dining options if we wanted them. We chose to make our own meals, and the cabins were pretty well stocked to allow that. You do need to bring your own towels and toiletries, and I recommend bed linens to cover futons or couches, which are aging. Overall, the experience exceeded our family's goals of ultimate escape and relaxation from noise and stress. Be prepared for a long drive on rough roads to get to Donnelly's off 'the 502.' Families who can handle 'roughing it' will love the peace and togetherness. (Ratings: Value 4, Rooms 4, Service 5)

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tuiflies Jan 20, 2014

Forum

Donnelly's lodge

I've been bringing my family up to DML for the past 6 years. Everyone from my father to my (now) 6 year old has a great time every year. We really like the staff and the other guests we meet.

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fishguide1800 Jan 14, 2014

Forum

Donnelly's lodge

Don't know much about the camp except it's good. I am very fortunate to be able to go and fish there since my wife's job happens to be in Sioux Lookout. I've fished there in the spring, summer and fall. Have never seen that many boats out there. Donnelly is quite a ways from everything. Local guys don't travel that far from Sioux Lookout to get there. Huge lake, plenty of room. Great fishing. If you're adventurous you can boat all the way to Lac Seul. Awesome trip. Good luck.

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RoughWaters Jun 20, 2011

Forum

Our group just got back on saturday from a great week on Minnitaki.

We also stayed at Donnelly's. The fishing was quite good in my opinion with catches of 35-70 walleye a day for two guys. Most fish were healthy and good size. Under slot size walleyes were a little harder to find. I never thought I'd complain about catching big fish. We were fortunate and had a decent wind and walleye chop most days. The fish were found in anywhere from 2-3 feet in the weeds on windswept shorelines...

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IowaWalleyeGuy Jun 19, 2011

Forum

Minnitaki Lake report

Just returned from Minnitaki Lake, last day fished was Friday June 17th. There was a deep, 25-30 foot bite and a shallow bite, 3-8 foot. We fished the rice river on Wednesday and Thursday, very productive. Lots of eaters, slot fish and trophy size walleye. Best walleye 25 inch, best northern 40 inch, also caught some smallies. Thanks to Kai and his wife Moyra for a great trip, and blueberry pie!!! Hopefully I can get back in Sept. with my wife and daughter for the fall bite. Worst part of trip...............heading back home. Also thanks to Colin Gosse for taking the time to come see us after a full day of guiding another group, to give us some great techniques and spots to try. (Another poster in the thread says this writer stayed at Donnelly's.)

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DanL Feb 8, 2006

Forum

RE: Donnelly's Minnitaki Lodge

I have been to Donnellys the last 6 years in August. We like the resort and the owners. I think the cabins are nice also. Their gas pump is by the lodge office and not on the water. They have gas containers that you bring up empty. Then they fill them and bring them down. They also have leeches and minnows at the lodge. Their docking is also very good and protected from the wind. The fishing the last 2 years has been a little slow for us. However the 4-5 years before that has been excellent. There is good walleye fishing right out front of the lodge. Also there is a big reef as you go through the cutthrough to the big lake that a lot of people fish. Red pine is popular as well but a long ways away. I like to fish where others don't. There are plenty of islands that hold walleyes on Minnitaki.

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bubba11 Jul 8, 2005

Forum

RE: Where to stay on Minnitaki

I have stayed at Donnelly's 5 times and once at Northern Sunrise outfitters. Donnellys is right off the highway and northern sunrise you stay on an island that is a couple minutes from the Rice river and 10 min from the English. Many people prefer to be very close to the English river. I like both lodges and had similar results on catching fish on either side of the lake. Donnellys is closer to Redpine bay sanctuary and the lodge is located on Pickeral arm which is also very good fishing. Northern Sunrise is the more rustic of the two Camps by far.

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James Smedley (Ontario Out of Doors)

Blog

Winter at Winoga Lodge

We've just returned from a monumental fish fry at Sioux Lookout's Winoga Lodge after a day on the ice. It was a savage feeding session centred solely on fish. No plates, no cutlery, no salad, no beans — just chunks of walleye, pike, and whitefish fresh from the deep fryer. We had arrived the previous night, and owner Dick Mansfield had shown us to our cabin — a voluminous cedar log structure that could easily sleep 10. It has a full kitchen and bathroom with hot water and baseboard heating, backed up by a wood stove. 'It's a little cramped for 2 of us,' I joke, as I survey the vast living room, dining room, dual bedrooms, and loft. Mansfield's home sits amidst a cluster of cabins along the shore of Abram Lake just outside Sioux Lookout and serves as a base of operations for their winter guests. There's an island in front of the house where a log lodge and a collection of picturesque cabins built in the 1920s accommodate guests through summer. He's one of those exceptional lodge owners who actually fishes a lot, about 160 days a year. In fact, he and his son, Troy, guide practically all of their ice-fishing clients. In an area where there's really more water than land, the Mansfields like to keep their clients away from the dangerous ice of narrows and current areas, and put them on fish. Ellis strikes first, catching a 17-inch walleye on a black tube jig. Troy and I follow with several fish. Of course it doesn't hurt that the action is nonstop, plucking whitefish, pike, and walleye from shallow water. Another full day on the ice passes all too quickly. I land a gorgeous 38-inch pike. Knowing that a half-hour snowmobile ride will deliver us to the warmth and hospitality of Winoga Lodge, I'm quite content to turn up my collar and angle into the blackening evening.

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