About This Outpost
Accommodations
Amenities
Other: Screened porch, 2 propane refrigerators, 2 gas stoves with oven, propane BBQ grill, electric lighting, walkway from dock to cabin door, large dining area with lake view
Boats & Equipment
Lake Information
Otatakan Lake is a remote, fly-in fishing destination. The lake is compared of two separate basins connected by a half-mile channel, with the full lake stretching 10 to 11 miles long. It is characterized by fertile, dark waters and relatively shallow depths, which do not exceed 30 feet. The waterbody offers excellent fishing structure, including sandy bottoms, rock rubble shorelines, weed beds, reefs, and bays, and it is fed by two rivers before flowing out into the Root River system. Two outfitters, Pickerel Arm Camps and Clark's Resorts & Outposts, operate exclusive camps on the separate basins of lake. The lake is heavily populated with Walleye and Northern Pike, earning a reputation as a fast-action "walleye factory" that provides steady action from early spring through late fall. Thanks to the abundant fish populations, it is not uncommon for groups to catch over 1,000 walleyes during a single trip.
Meals & Services
Reviews & Reputation
Guests of Pickerel Arm Camp, on Minnitaki Lake near Sioux Lookout, Ontario, rate it very highly. Most of the reviews are 5-star forum posts, and several come from repeat visitors who report 20 or 25+ trips. Some have stayed at other lodges in the area and returned to Pickerel Arm. Two 4-star blog entries from a writer who has fished about a dozen Canadian lakes and resorts also say he plans to fish out of Pickerel Arm again.
Guests most often praise the walleye fishing, both at the base camp on Minnitaki and at the fly-in outposts, especially Kabi. One group of eight reported more than 800 walleye in four days, with regular 22-25" fish. Another group reported a 27.5" walleye, and a third described catching fish nonstop at 14-20". Northern pike also come up, including a 40" fish. Owners Lee and Julie Edwardson are described as friendly, flexible hosts who make sure guests have what they need. Reviewers call the cabins and accommodations "real nice," and one calls them the best the writer has seen. Reviewers also mention the variety of outposts and the quality of service. One blog writer says they ate walleye every night.
Complaints are minor. The blog writer found the fishing on a recent trip good but not as productive as a trip two years earlier. Cool weather had the fish holding in deep water, and most walleyes came from 20 feet or deeper. Weather can also affect results, as when a strong east wind made fishing tough for a day at Kabi. Guests mention that Kabi has sunken rocks and points, so they recommend careful boating and a GPS. Some fly-in lakes have special limits and restrictions, so guests are advised to talk to Lee beforehand. Kabi reportedly has no smallmouth bass. The camp suits walleye anglers of all kinds, from trophy hunters to people who want steady action, and groups of friends fit in well. It also works for first-time Canada trips and for families, since one reviewer mentions taking a son along when he is older. Repeat guests choose between the drive-to base camp and the fly-in outposts.
Videos — 3 clips from YouTube
What's Included
Included
5 boats, 15 hp Mercury motors, all gas, block ice
Not Included
Fishing licenses, food, personal items
Getting There
Access: fly-in
Air Base: Sioux Lookout
Flight Time: 40 minutes
Season & Booking
Season: May to September
Location
Contact
Pickerel Arm Camp
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