The Greatest Adventure: A Full Review of My trip to Cat Island Lodge in beautiful Sunset Country, Ontario, Canada
This past June, I had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit Cat Island Lodge on Trout Lake in Ontario, Canada. Believe me when I tell you- it was truly the greatest adventure of my life.
For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Airy. And I’m not your typical guest at the lodge. I’ve known about Cat Island Lodge since the owners purchased it in early 2025. Though I’ve loved fishing my whole life, an international fishing trip to Canada wasn’t even in my realm of reality.
I didn’t find Cat Island Lodge, Cat Island Lodge found me. Through a mutual contact, I was introduced as a referral for website and marketing services. If you’ve enjoyed navigating this site, read any of the pages or blogs, or if you’ve searched for “Canadian Fly-In Fishing” or another relevant search on Google and found Cat Island Lodge, it was because of the work I have done alongside the owners in building this from the ground up. It’s a team effort, and I’m just so grateful I get to play a small part in this amazing adventure they’re orchestrating.
My US passport was nearing its 10-year expiration date without it ever being used when I was finally invited to visit Cat Island Lodge. After getting my passport renewed, putting my visit on the calendar was the most excited I’ve probably ever been.
I never thought I was someone who would love air travel. As a matter of fact, given the option between a road trip or flying, I would choose the former. I love the freedom of stopping wherever I like, I can bring my dogs, and I enjoy the scenery as we drive to new places, towing our camper trailer that functions as our home base as we travel.
This trip changed everything for me.
For the first time in my life, I was planning travel itineraries, photo bucket lists, and thinking about so much more than just the highway.
To get to Cat Island Lodge, we flew out of Salt Lake City International Airport with a layover in Minneapolis. After a 3 hour delay due to tornadoes going through Canada the day before, we finally arrived in Winnipeg at 2:30 AM and stayed at the Marriott for the night.
After checking out of our hotel, we made a quick stop to the Enterprise to pick up our rental car from the Winnipeg airport. Then we made another quick stop for breakfast and snacks, and we were on our way to Ear Falls.
I’ve never seen so many lush, green trees as I did on my way through Ontario, Kenora, and Lac Seul then up to Ear Falls. The air was so fresh, and the road felt like it went for miles and miles.
Something that surprised me was how few gas stations there were on the way to the water base- even up on the way to Ear Falls, it gets more and more remote as you travel further from Winnipeg. The nearest gas station on the way up to the water base was about an hour away!
There was something so unique, peaceful, and quiet as we traveled further out. The road trip took somewhere between 4 and 5 hours, and we made it to the water base in the early evening. It was nice to have a place to rest for the night before our flight to the lodge.
We spent the evening watching the sunset from the porch, enjoying the quiet sounds of the lake.
Geese smoothly swam along the shore and we fell asleep to the soft sound of insects outside while the sky grew dark.
A lakeside view of the cabins and dock from the floatplane at the water base in Ear Falls, Ontario, Canada. © Arianna Hosea Photography & Creative Works
In the morning, we woke up early to the sunrise coming in through the windows of the cabin. We were out of the cabin by 6:30, with all of our things tidied and packed away, ready for our 7:00 AM departure.
After moving all of our luggage outside, the crew loaded everything onto the plane for us.
I got to sit in the front next to the pilot, and the views were spectacular. We flew just below the clouds, and I could see all of the untouched wilderness as we flew above. The way the lush deep green trees covered the ground beneath us, and how the rivers and lakes cut into the forest is a sight I am so grateful I got to see.
It was so beautiful to see land, untouched, without power lines, cars, or even roads. I’ve never seen such pure, colorful, untouched wilderness before. It truly felt like we were escaping into another world.
After a short 20-minute flight, we arrived at Cat Island Lodge.
Day 1: Getting Settled
It was rainy and cold on our first day at the lodge- after the tornadoes throughout Canada, rainstorms were still rolling throughout Ontario. I was told that only 2 days before we arrived, everyone was out swimming, with sunglasses & sunburns from their days out on the water. That was a different look from when we arrived- but Cat Island Lodge was prepared.
After we landed, we were shown to the main lodge and served a nice, hot breakfast. The staff worked to unload all of our luggage and put it in our cabins for us while we warmed up. With heaters in the cabins and a wood-burning fireplace in the main lodge, they made sure to keep us cozy before we went out to fish for the first time shortly after lunch. It was cold, cloudy, and overcast, but my favorite kind of weather.
We only stayed out for a few hours because the storm and the rain rolled in, and I was unprepared for how cold it was. I didn’t catch anything, but my husband, John, caught his first walleye (and first fish ever!) after we had decided to go back to the lodge. We were both reeling in, when he thought he got snagged- but then the snag started wiggling and next thing we knew, he had a fish in the boat! It was the perfect way to end the first day of fishing.
Dinner each night was amazing. It came with 3 courses- an appetizer, a main dish, and a dessert. My favorite dish I was served was the carrot-ginger soup. I’m still dreaming of that soup- sweet, tangy, with fall vibes- it reminded me of a butternut squash soup but SO much better. The seasonings and flavors were over the top.
After dinner, I had one of the best showers of my LIFE. And no, this is not an exaggeration. The cold had really gotten through to me because I had not worn enough layers out, only my rain gear- so when I turned on that hot shower (thank you, on-demand water heater!) it felt like heaven. It wasn’t one of the fanciest or nicest shower I’ve used, but having access to a clean, hot shower after a cold, chilly day was perfect.
Pictured below: many of the wonderful meals we were served while at the lodge
That first night, listening to the rain patter on the roof while wrapped up in cozy blankets with the heater warming our cabin was the perfect way to end our first day. I felt truly disconnected from everything, but with every need fulfilled. A full belly, and a happy heart.
Day 2: Another chilly, short fishing day
Our second day started with fresh french toast and sausage for breakfast at 7:00. Our time on the water was also short because of the unpredictable weather.
Andrew was our guide, taking us out on the water to fish once the weather had cleared up just a little after breakfast. We caught a few walleye for lunch, and John even caught his first pike.
Andrew was so kind to us our second day on the water. He gave me his gloves to borrow because my hands were cold, and he gave my husband hand warmers. He didn’t have to do that, but he was kind. It was wonderful to have a guide who was so sweet and patient with us- when I say Cat Island Lodge can serve guests at all experience levels, I mean it. My husband was a complete beginner and I was rusty, and we felt comfortable and very well taken care of with Andrew.
After turning in to the lodge early because a storm rolled in, we spent our time with the other guests. I played a game of pool with Gus, 8, and we spent time with Scott, another guest we flew out with. We shared stories about places we’ve visited, things we have in common (like photography), and huddled around the fireplace in the lodge, enjoying an unusually cold, cloudy, and cozy June day.
Day 3: Sun’s out, & the fish are biting!
Our third day began with eggs & toast for breakfast, we threw on our gear, and it was time! The weather finally cleared up, and I got the worst sunburn because I forgot to bring sunscreen to re-apply on the boat.
Lindsey took us out- he’s not a guide, but he works at the lodge and manages the staff. And he was able to take us out to his “secret spot”. I can’t tell where this spot was, because it really was special!
After we settled in, I FINALLY caught my first fish! It was a 22 inch Walleye that we immediately threw back out because it was a breeder. I casted out again, and not even a minute later, I had a 24.5 inch walleye back in the boat. I ended up catching 2 or 3 more, John got 1, and Lindsey even got his first lake trout! John had one bite that cut his line clean.
I kicked off my shoes, and just had a great time fishing, celebrating every catch. We also had quite a few hits & spits, but after we caught 3 keepers we headed in for lunch.
That evening, all of the guests went to the dock to get some more fishing in. Scott spent some time showing John how to fly fish off the dock. I also got to give the lodge’s (unofficial) mascot, Rose, some love while I was taking some sunset photos. Spending such great quality time with people we never would have had the opportunity to meet if we hadn’t been at the lodge was a highlight of my trip.
Day 4: Our Final Day of Fishing at The Lodge
Our 4th and final day of fishing was one for the books! We went out after breakfast, and Paul was our guide.
We first went out for Walleye, and we caught 4 for lunch for the 3 of us. We had a true shore lunch at the perfect spot. We pulled the boat on the shore, and grabbed all of the supplies for our shore lunch.
Paul prepared the fish we caught right there.
And it was SPECTACULAR. The texture, the flavor- it was some of the best, freshest fish I’ve ever tasted. Crispy on the outside, soft, and light on the inside- I still daydream about it.
And I’ve caught & eaten plenty of fresh fish and seafood throughout my life- Halibut, Sea Bass, and mussels & oysters fresh off the coast of California, freshwater Large Mouth Bass and Striped Bass from Lake Powell- but none of it compared to the Walleye we had with Paul.
After lunch, we went back out on the water to fish for Pike. Paul set up our rigs with lures instead of bait, and I caught my first pike on my very first cast.
After maybe 2 more minutes of fishing, I felt a small bite on my rod. I tried setting the hook, but felt it go slack instead of that weight when you’ve got a fish on. I figured I probably just caught a small snag and kept reeling my lure in to re-cast.
As I reeled, I noticed my bright orange lure out in the water, about 20 feet ahead of me. As I watched it spin closer, I was amazed at how clear the water was and noticed a shadow following closely behind, sneaking behind the lure as I reeled. It reminded me of the way a puppy might follow you, right on your heels, full of curiosity.
I slowed my reel, incredulous that I was watching this fish chase with my own eyes, and watched it come to a slow stop as my lure dragged in the water. I whispered, coaxing the fish to take a small bite while I gave my rod a small jig and half turn, and I watched as this pike absolutely demolished my lure. I set the hook, and successfully brought him in.
Afterwards, I was only able to catch one more pike. It was getting late, and about time to head back for dinner.
On our last day, I also was able to check off a few photos from my photo bucket list- I wanted to be able to see the local wildlife. On this outing, that dream came true. Since it’s springtime, I was able to capture 2 caribou, a mom and calf, and a eagle fly into her nest to feed her eaglet.
The morning we left
The morning we woke up and realized it was already time to go was a sad one. We didn’t want to leave! We woke up to a moist morning, the lodge coated with fresh morning dew. The water was crystal clear and as smooth as glass. We left our luggage packed up and outside of our cabin for the staff to pick it up and load it for our 7 AM departure out of the lodge.
We were served breakfast sandwiches before leaving, and then our floatplane arrived. We took pictures with everyone, gave hugs, and said our thank-yous and goodbyes.
And before we knew it, we were loaded up on the floatplane, back on our way to the water base. Since I had my camera out instead of packed away in my bag, I had the opportunity to take some pictures of the wilderness out the window as we flew over. The clouds diffusing the light, casting soft shadows and reflections over the water, was a view unlike anything I have ever seen before.
Final Thoughts
My visit to Cat Island Lodge truly changed my life. It opened my eyes to the beauty of the world and adventures that I haven’t experienced. It changed my entire perspective on travel- I used to think it was stressful, but it taught me the value of being present. It renewed my views on appreciating the journey, not just the destination. It reminded me of how wonderful the world is when you disconnect from your daily wants and worries.
I finally got to meet Michelle, Clayson, and Chris- the owners of Cat Island Lodge- who are such wonderful people. I spent almost an entire year working with the owners and managing the Cat Island Lodge website from Arizona before I finally got to see it for myself this June. I’ve posted the pictures to the website, and I’ve shared guest stories. But nothing truly compares to flying there and experiencing it. No photo does it justice. The fresh air, the crystal clear water, the taste of a fresh shore lunch, and the wind blowing in your face as you speed across the lake, are all things you have to feel for yourself.
I felt so at home at the lodge. Every member of the staff was kind and hospitable. Every new face became a friend. Whether the weather was cloudy & cold or sunny & warm, there was always a place for us to be comfortable and enjoy our time there.
While we weren’t lucky enough to have perfect weather and fishing on our trip, I’ve heard many stories from returning guests and the guides that people have caught as many as 100 fish per day. Though we didn’t even come close to that number and experienced an extremely unusual cold front for June, I could’ve caught no fish and still been happy with this adventure.
While it was a very fulfilling trip, I’m not fulfilled. As a matter of fact, now that I’ve experienced it, it’s all I can think about. The highs of catching fish after fish, the smell of the fresh breeze blowing over the water, and the memories of the sunset off the dock consume my dreams. Now that I’m home, I’ve been wishing I was back in Canada. Wishing I could be surrounded by the green, immersed in the stillness, and wishing I was out on a boat on the deep blue water of Trout Lake.
