The northeast is the easiest part of Northern Ontario to reach from Toronto, Michigan, and New York. It runs from North Bay and Sudbury up through Temagami, Timmins, and Cochrane to the edge of James Bay.
Lake Nipissing and the Near North
Lake Nipissing, beside North Bay, is loaded with walleye, pike, muskie, and bass. Dozens of drive-to lodges line its shores and the French River nearby. In winter, Nipissing runs one of the biggest heated ice-hut fisheries in Canada.
Temagami Deep Water
Temagami's clear, deep lakes hold lake trout that live for decades. Old-growth pine shorelines and island campsites make this one of the prettiest places in the province to fish. Houseboat rentals here turn the lake itself into your cottage.
The Far North: Kesagami and James Bay Country
Kesagami Lake, near James Bay, averages only about seven feet deep — and it grows northern pike past 50 inches. Fly-in lodges out of Cochrane and Hearst reach rivers and lakes where the fish rarely see a lure. Live-release programs on these waters keep the trophy fishing strong.
Who It Fits
The northeast fits first-timers, families, and anyone short on drive time. It also hides some of the most extreme trophy pike water in North America.
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