The Best Lodges to Rent for a Fishing Vacation in Canada

Home to northern pike, perch, trout, bass and walleye, Lac McGregor is a favourite spot for fishing enthusiasts in Ottawa and Quebec. Domaine Baie Mud’s main Mosaïca house couldn’t put you much closer – you’ll look straight out to the waters through its tall windows. Meanwhile, the standalone cottages, the picture of a Canadian-style lodge, sleep four or five people – perfect for families of fisherfolk. Friendly host Marie will make sure you want for nothing during your stay.

The Laurentian Mountain range, one of Quebec’s most scenic corners, draws visitors for all sorts of reasons – but for fishing enthusiasts, Papineau Labelle Wildlife Reserve is the big draw. This lodge is within driving distance, but also has plenty of other activities to enjoy: hiking, biking and, in winter, skiing at Mont Tremblant or ice-fishing. Return to one of the cosy, wood-lined chalets, sleeping between four and 12 people, and spend an evening curled up by a roaring fire with a feast of Quebec cheese and cider.

Bears, mountain goats, elk, coyotes – Banff is famous for its diversity of wildlife. At glassy Lake Louise, a sparkling moraine lake, you can even catch and release rare species such as cutthroat or bull trout, too. Sunshine Mountain Lodge, a drive away from the lake, is a great place to call home-base because you’ll really unwind after a day on the waters. Choose one of the largest outdoor hot tubs in Canada, the steamy cedar-lined sauna or the Mad Trapper’s Smokehouse to devour poutine and bison chilli.

This lodge might be best known for its excellent heli-skiing, but given its location right on Quesnel Lake, one of the deepest fjord lakes in the world – the domain of jumbo rainbow trout – it’s also a winning choice for keen anglers. In between day trips out over the glassy lake waters, where you might snag more than a dozen fish, get to gorge on gourmet meals or kick back in a cushy lounge chair with a good book. A pool table, and plenty of local beers, will help keep you occupied in the evenings.

Some of the finest fishing in Canada can be found in Pemberton, from salmon – chinook, coho, sockeye, chum and pink varieties – to trout and sturgeon. It’s diverse, too, with lake, river fly fishing and alpine heli-fishing all on tap. Enthusiasts book into Pemberton Valley Lodge, where they’ll get access to some of the best guides in the area, not to mention comfy suites with mountain views, the largest of which sleep up to six people. Fully-equipped kitchens mean you can fix your own brekkie or dinner feast (fish, perhaps?) at a time that suits you.

It’s possible to fish year-round in the vast Clayoquot Sound waters at the British Columbian outdoor paradise, Tofino. In winter and spring you might trap Dungeness crab and prawns; in summer and fall go chasing coho salmon and albacore tuna. Book in at Middle Beach Lodge and you’ll have a great base, with beach-lined oceanfront, dense forest and rolling peaks as your surroundings. Two timbered lodges both manage to be simultaneously homely and luxurious, and are ready to welcome you with epic meals – think home-baked croissants at breakfast – and cosy rooms, some with fireplaces and balconies.

Fishing in Golden, Alberta, means trout. Rainbow, small cutthroat, bull trout – plus char and giant ling – are common catches when you take to the quiet waters around Copper Horse Lodge. After a day of exploring, return to a cosy room with a frothing private Jacuzzi tub. For dinner you can head next door to the sister property, Winston Lodge, or check out the diversity of dining options in downtown Golden. Return to the lodge in winter, when you’ll get prime skiing on the slopes of neighboring Kicking Horse Mountain Resort.

The setting couldn’t get much better – a coastal valley, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, ribboned with rivers and inlets. And for beginner or intermediate fisherfolk, the angling scene is sublime. Check into Bella Coola Mountain Lodge, right on the inlet, and you’ll also get knowledgeable staff, comfy contemporary rooms and a hearty continental breakfast. Come dinnertime, take yourself to the onsite bistro for glasses of plummy British Columbian red wine and a locally-sourced feast.