For over 6,000 years, native North Americans have canoed the countless lakes, rivers, streams and associated portages that interconnect throughout northeastern Ontario. In the local Ojibway language, this is referred to as the Nastawgan. Today, paddlers in the Temagami area are still using these documented archaeological campsites along the 2,400 kilometers (1,500 miles) of some of the most diverse and unique landscapes found throughout northeastern Ontario.
Lighter and stronger Kevlar or ABS canoes have replaced the native birch bark canoes that were the preferred means of transporting goods for trade or consumption. Ample opportunities still exist today for viewing and photographing some of nature's many forms of wildlife such as moose, bear, beaver, otter, loons, osprey, blue herons, pilleated woodpeckers and countless other small songbirds including the elusive but very vocal orange crested warbler that can be found in the tops of some of the old growth pine forests.
Most lakes and rivers have walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike or brook trout which will readily come to a properly presented fly, lure, artificial or live bait to supply you with an evening meal that will be second to none when cooked over an open campfire. At varying times of the summer, wild strawberries, blueberries and red raspberries are abundant near campsites and all make excellent evening desserts or add a special taste to tomorrow morning’s pancakes. Small animals such as the chipmunk see so few people each year that they are naturally curious enough to take scraps of food directly from your hand. Later on at night, after the campfire has died out, lay back and gaze at the millions of stars in a sky that is so dark, you won’t even be able to see your own hand directly in front of your face.
The silence will be deadening. Enjoy!
The staff at Northland Paradise Lodge are ready to assist you with your plans for a canoe vacation ranging from an overnight trip on a small lake to larger loops that could last for weeks through Temagami’s back country where you will never have to portage the same trail twice. Different levels of endurance can be suggested that range from flat-water lakes for beginners and/or families wishing to introduce their children to the beauties of nature ... to adrenaline-fueled trips for more experienced paddlers anxious to shoot down whitewater chutes that have been carved in the hard granite rock by thousands of years of erosion.
Open water usually arrives in early May and lasts through late October. We have 17-foot canoes in both Kevlar and ABS (required for some river trips) and all have shoulder yokes to ease the effort on portages. Paddles and safety equipment such as life jackets, bailers and whistles are included with all rentals. At the present time, we do not offer food barrels, tents or sleeping bags. Both land or air shuttles to and from the starting/finishing points on some trips can be arranged for a minimal cost.
We encourage catch and release of the larger fish of all species to retain limit catches for future generations.
Don't forget the camera!
Check-in times for weekly packages are after 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays and check-out times are before 11:00 a.m. on the following Saturdays. For overnight packages, the same times apply for each day. Please inquire about any variations that can be made to these time schedules.
Responsible use of alcoholic beverages is allowed on lodge property. However, we are not a licensed outlet for the sale of these beverages.
Pets are always welcome.
Have you ever caught a tagged fish?
Occasionally, fishermen will catch a fish (usually a walleye in Temagami area lakes) that has a stainless steel jaw tag in its bottom lip. The first question that is usually asked is "Am I allowed to keep it?" That depends on the size of the fish; if it is in the slot size, then the answer is unquestionably "NO". However, if it is not a slotted fish, then you can legally keep it. Before you toss it into the live well or onto your stringer, please think of the reasons that this fish has been tagged in the first place. Whether it is a male or female walleye, it was caught in a trap net in a creek or river that is known to be used as a spawning area in the spring of the year. These nets are the property of the MNR and have been placed there by volunteers from the local Temagami and Area Fish Involvement Program (TAFIP) which collects the spawn and raises young walleye to be placed back in a number of different area lakes and to assist Nature in keeping a healthy population of fish for anglers to harvest in future years. This particular fish was stripped of some of its roe or sperm and then both the weights and measurements were recorded before being tagged and then released back into the lake. MNR supplied TAFIP with the tags. The jaw tag has a 6- or 7-digit number on it that identifies this fish and the year that it was tagged. If you do decide to keep it, please return the tag to TAFIP in Temagami so they can update their data on it. It is also requested that you report the length and weight of the fish as well as the date and name of the lake on which it was caught. If you'd like to keep the tag as a souvenir, that's also allowed but please forward on the info described above as well as the tag number.
The other option would be to weigh and measure the fish, record the tag number for TAFIP (705-569-3240) and then release it back into the lake. This will tell TAFIP how much that fish has grown since it was tagged. If it is caught again at a later date (possibly years from now) and the info is recorded again, it would greatly add to the knowledge base on the health and sustainability of the species in that particular lake. At the present time, only walleye in Lake Temagami and the Cassels-Rabbit lake system have been tagged.
The odds of catching a tagged fish are about the same as winning a lottery. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of fish that use a spawning area every year. A small percentage of these are caught in the trap nets. Of these fish, even a smaller percentage are ever tagged. As a volunteer with TAFIP, I helped tag about 30 or 40 fish in both lakes in 2009. To give us a good cross-section of all the fish in the lakes, both males and females were tagged and the weights ranged from less than a pound (a male) to one female that tipped the scales at just under 7 pounds. Needless to say, we had much bigger fish in the 10 to 12 pound range that we chose not to tag. The reason that these large fish were not tagged is because we are more interested in how fast they grow and younger ones will grow a lot faster than these older fish.
So ... enjoy your fishing opportunities and perhaps you just might catch a tagged fish. Recording the info and then returning it to the lake (after all the pictures are taken) will assist in proper management plans for a sustainable fishery not just for you to enjoy but for your children and grandchildren to enjoy for years to come. As for the walleye pictured above, it was a 17 inch, 2-pound male that was tagged and released back into Lake Temagami in 2009.
Would you like to know how the fishing has been during the past week? Check out the weekly Fishing Report page which can be accessed in the menu at the top of this page.
Choice of 17 foot Kevlar or ABS canoes
Excellent wildlife viewing opportunities
A variety of loops to choose from
Route map and books available
|
Description |
Price (Can $) |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Daily |
Weekly |
|
|
Overnight Accommodations |
$84.95 |
$475.00 |
|
Accommodations |
$39.95 |
$250.00 |
|
Housekeeping Unit |
$150.00 |
$995.00 |
|
2 Meals |
$30.00 |
$180.00 |
|
Canoe Rental |
$30.00 |
$150.00 |
|
Tripod Rental |
$15.00 |
$75.00 |
|
Note: Damage deposit required on all rentals. |
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All reservations require a 50% deposit by credit card.
Cancellations with refunds are accepted prior to 30 days before date of arrival.
No monetary refunds for early returns on rentals.
Send mail to paradise@onlink.net with questions or comments about this web site. |
