The Scenic Lake Lodge Known For Having North America's Best Freshwater Fishing Experience

While Canada may be known for ice hockey, maple syrup, Tim Horton's coffee, and its thriving, multicultural cities, nature is the real name of the game in the Great White North. The U.S.' massive northern neighbor boasts outdoor wonder in the form of towering mountains, unspoiled islands teeming with wildlife, open prairies, scenic coastline, seemingly endless forests, and the greatest concentration of lakes in the world. According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, there are more than 2 million lakes in Canada, so many that it's impossible to actually count them all. While many are located in the country's vast interior, there are a few easier-to-reach spots that offer top-notch accommodations and amenities while never losing the wildness that makes them so special in the first place.

Situated just off the road trip-worthy Trans-Canada Highway in far western Ontario, Hawk Lake Lodge is a fisherman's dream come true. This rustic complex on the body of water it shares its name combines first-class accommodations with the kind of untouched nature Canada is famous for. Besides comfortable beds, great meals, and epic views, the lodge offers access to over 30 square miles of pristine waters loaded with hungry fish, guaranteeing tight lines and bent rods for any angler lucky enough to visit.

Opened in 1986, Hawk Lake Lodge is actually a collection of buildings, including 10 guest cabins nestled on the lakeshore. Ranging from one to four bedrooms, each cabin features a private hot tub on a deck overlooking the water and comes with all the comforts you can expect "back in civilization," including Wi-Fi and refrigerators. While each cabin offers the guest privacy and quiet, like any lodge, you'll also spend a lot of time socializing, drinking, and — most importantly — eating in the main building. This log cabin structure dates back to the 1950s and features a tackle shop, granite fireplace, massive windows, two large decks, and a dining room.

Hawk Lake Lodge takes its food very seriously, employing a team of chefs who whip up three meals a day, all made from fresh, local, and often organic ingredients. While guests can eat lunch in the dining room, the lodge will also supply anglers with the essentials to picnic or cook up their midday repast over a fire on the shore. The lodge also boasts a massive wine cellar and hosts a happy hour every day from five to six, where you can swap fishing stories and share inside tips on where the lake monsters are lurking.

While the food and accommodations are exceptional, the real action happens out on the water. The lodge has access to 19 separate lakes, guaranteeing that you'll always feel like you have the place to yourself. Guests are free to take a boat from the lodge's fleet out and go at it on their own, or better yet, utilize one of the expert guides on hand who will know exactly where the big fish are holding and when they're biting.

It's all about size at Hawk Lake Lodge. While the cool waters are home to big populations of chunky lake trout, crappie, pike, and smallmouth bass, it's the local walleye that get people excited. These prized sportfish reach sizes up to 30 inches at Hawk Lake Lodge and are known for their spirited fights. The facility is also Orvis-approved, which means a lot of people come to cast a fly line, though spin casters are also welcome. During peak times, anglers can expect to fight 10-25 fish an hour, though don't expect to take any home: Hawk Lake Lodge is a strictly catch-and-release fishery, guaranteeing that the big boys stick around to grow even bigger.

While Hawk Lake Lodge is relatively remote, its proximity to Canada's main east-west highway makes it easy to get to. It's just a three-hour drive from either Winnipeg, Manitoba, or International Falls, Minnesota, and the nearest town is Kenora, just under 30 miles away. For fishing of a decidedly colder style, check out the best lakes for ice fishing in North America.