When it comes to catching over 100 walleye a day, pike in excess of 40” and doing it all so quickly and easily you can bring your 2 year old along.. there is no better place than Camp Lake St. Joseph. Best of all, it’s a drive to/boat-in Ontario fishing destination that’s actually in your budget.
This summer, I took my mom and two-year-old daughter back to Camp Lake St. Joseph, one of my absolute favorite walleye fishing destinations on the continent. We spent 4 days on the water crushing walleye and pike, all within 5 minutes of the launch. We even witnessed a 31” caught right off the dock (one boy was even averaging 50 walleye a day off of the dock). When it comes to world class fishing, Camp Lake St. Joseph is it. It’s like experiencing a fly-in dream destination at a fraction of the cost.
Here’s a rundown of the location, the fishing, the camp itself, and the gear we used so you can plan the perfect remote fishing experience that’s in your budget too.
Where Is Camp Lake St. Joseph?
Camp Lake St. Joseph sits in Northwestern Ontario, near a very small town called Pickle Lake, a remote hub often called the gateway to the province’s far north. It’s roughly a 315 mile drive north of International Falls (where I cross the border from Minnesota to Ontario). It’s also about a 310 mile drive northwest of the city of Thunder Bay, or accessible by driving up Highway 599 from Ignace. It’s a very easy, but long drive for people coming from the states. I typically stop at Dryden to grab a bite to eat and Sioux Lookout to gas up (highly recommend doing this before making the trek from Sioux Lookout to Camp Lake St. Joseph, as it’s the last town for about 2.5 hours or so.)
Although it might seem intimidating, I’ve actually done this trip with my entire family, and once with just my mother and daughter (2), all while pulling my boat. It’s very easy, and its distance from civilization is part of why it’s the incredible fishery it is: there is practically no fishing pressure.
The actual access is hidden on the left side of the road before the town of Pickle Lake. Once we hit the HWY 72/599 “T” we took a left for roughly 65 miles. Around the 60 mile mark we started looking for a dirt road with signs for the resorts. You will see a sign for Camp Lake St. Joseph on the left. Follow this road back to the parking lot where you will see plenty of trucks and trailers parked. The access is easy, and it’s complete with a full boat launch and dock. There are signs guiding you the entire way.
From there, the Camp Lake St. Joseph crew will pick you and your gear up on a barge or lead you to camp (if you brought your own boat like we did). One of the best benefits of Camp Lake St Joseph is the amazing crew they have assembled to help you park your boat, get you minnows/bait, grab all of your gear, and help you get on fish if you need it. They truly add to the experience at the camp.
What Makes Camp Lake St. Joseph Special
I’ve had the privilege of traveling all over the US and Canada fishing on all sorts of bodies of water. I’ve had good, bad, and incredible experiences over the years, and Camp Lake St. Joseph falls in the incredible camp.
In fact, I was introduced to Camp Lake St. Joseph for the first time last year. It’s quickly become an absolute favorite, and stands out for a few reasons:
1. It’s a boat-in style camp. It gives you the experience of a fly-in without the very hefty fly-in price tag. It’s a very remote destination with incredible fishing, and the perfect secluded feel.
2. It’s tag-only: Tag only means non-residents can’t fish it unless they go through one of the very few resorts. It gets very little fishing pressure, helping make it a phenomenal fishery.
3. Flexibility: One of the biggest benefits is the flexibility at Camp Lake St. Joseph. Some of the other resorts require week long stays, and timely fishing hours. At Camp Lake St. Joseph you can dictate your own trip and own schedule. We stayed for 6 days (including travel time) and didn’t start fishing until 10 AM. With a 2 year old along and me being pregnant, this was the perfect solution for us.
4. Hands down the easiest fishing of my life. Perhaps this is the best benefit of all. It’s stupid easy fishing. All within close proximity to the resort. You will catch a ton of fish and you don’t have to work hard or go far to do it. In fact, most of our fish were caught within 5 minutes of the camp dock.
At Lake St. Joseph it isn’t called fishing, it’s called catching.
Bring Your Boat or Rent One
One of the best parts of Camp Lake St. Joseph is you can rent a boat instead of bringing one. They rent them for very cheap (25$ a day) making your trip that much easier.
However if you are like me and can’t live without your comfort and electronics (especially at 30 weeks pregnant like I was) then you can simply bring your own. I’ve done this twice now with no issues. Of course there isn’t mapping for the lake, and like many Northwest Ontario fisheries there are plenty of underwater hazards, BUT you really don’t have to go far to catch a ton of fish. We barely fished 10 minutes from the resort (most of the time within 5) and had zero problems catching over 100 fish a day, including the monster 43″+ pike from my video. I’ve had absolutely no problems bringing my 18.5 foot Smoker Craft along for the adventure.
Insane Ontario Walleye Fishing: 100 Fish Days, Easy
@nicolestoneoutdoors The best kept secret in walleye fishing.
♬ original sound – Nicole Stone
The fishing was unreal. We were pulling in over 100 walleye a day, many in the 16- to 24-inch range, perfect for eating and anything over 18″ for releasing. The pike were even more impressive—with one of ours breaking 43″. These weren’t deep-water hunts; and as mentioned we caught almost everything within a short ride from the dock. The key is to simply find an island or underwater structure and the fish will be congregated thick in there. Best of all, it doesn’t take much enticing to get them to eat.
Camp Lake St. Joseph: Cozy Renovated Accommodations in Northwest Ontario
When people think of a remote fishing adventure they don’t typically think of modern accommodations, however, the owners Andy and Sarah have changed that. They have completely renovated the camp, and each cabin has indoor plumbing, a completely updated interior, and even cozy decor! They also have WIFI at the main lodge that reaches many of the cabins. It makes this secluded fishing adventure also very family friendly.
The staff handles fish cleaning and provides minnows and basic supplies, helps you dock your boat, and more.. so you can focus on what you are there for.. the fishing.
As for pricing, Camp Lake St. Joseph is SO CHEAP! It’s 110/night per person (plus boat rental if you choose). However, if you book any of the remaining 2025 dates you get 25% off your trip! Just mention Nicole Stone to them. You can book through lakestjoseph.com or by calling 1 (800) 563-2267.
Gear and Presentation For Your Perfect Ontario Fishing Trip
Let me preface this with the fact that fish just simply bite here. However, you might want to know what you could bring from your tackle collection anyways. I kept our setup simple: a Lindy Live Bait B-Max jig paired with live minnows. That is literally all my and I used. You of course can get the minnows from the camp.
The B-Max jig has become my NEW go-to for walleye. It’s heavier than lead, so it sinks faster to get to the fish, and its short shank is perfect for hooking minnows and concealing the hook. You can find it at https://lurenet.com/ using code nicole15 for 15% off & free shipping.
I pair this with my favorite St. Croix Avid MF and Piscifun AlumiX 1000 I brag about in almost every video and blog post. You can get the AlumiX using code nicole18 if you want to stock up on a few affordable reels before your trip. This same setup was key in pulling in my 43″+ pike too. In fact, for that fish, I saw it suspended on Livescope while walleye fishing, casted and squealed when it put on the pike fight of a lifetime.
The horizontal presentation keeps the bait looking natural, and this hook has become my absolute go-to walleye fishing.
As for other gear needed, we simply brought warm and cool clothes for varying weather, food (hotdishes and pizza primarily), snacks, and plenty of water. They do provide a fish fry once a week (usually Tuesdays) otherwise you do need to bring your own food. However, bedding and towels are provided (thank goodness!)
Why Camp Lake St. Joseph is an Incredible Ontario Fishing Destination
Not all fishing destinations in Canada are alike. Out of many of them Ontario Fishing Destinations I’ve been to, Camp Lake St. Joseph is at the top. The sheer volume of walleye and trophy pike, combined with the ease of access and solid camp amenities, made it worth the trek. Taking my mom and toddler along didn’t slow me down—the camp’s setup and the non-stop fishing kept everyone happy. In fact, we are already booked for the end of June next year.
If you’re looking for a no-frills, fish-heavy getaway in Ontario’s wilderness, Camp Lake St. Joseph is hard to beat.
You can read about my Camp Lake St. Joseph experience from last year here.
