Lake St. Joe

This lake is very large and we don't begin to fish it all. We are located in the western end of this 80 mile long lake . Excellent trophy spring Pike and trophy mid-summer Walleye are a good reason to put this lake on your list of places to go. It is unique in Ontario in that you are only allowed to fish it by permit. Each of the 4 operators on the lake are allotted a limited number of permits per year. When these permits are used up, fishing is done for the year. Book early to get your adventure on this one. Here we have 3 outposts on the same island with a staff person in attendance to look after day to day needs.

Eagle Island

We started our operation in the west end on Eagle Island in 1987.  Some of you have been with us the entire time enjoying the improvements over the years.  This lake has been our number one large walleye producer over the years and has shown us thousands of pike over the years in the 40 inch to high 40 inch category.  This is a very large lake with lots of reefs and deep water to hold every size of fish.  The Cat River and Minniss River enter the lake nearby to provide “current” action and the reefs mid lake always produce large walleyes summer and fall. Summer and fall walleye frequent the windy shores and the long time guests well know that a strong wind from the west is going to bring them great fishing.  Big northern abound in the many weedy bays and you never know when your next fish will be a 36 inch or a 46 inch pike!

In 1988 the Ontario government recognized Lake St Joe as the treasure it is and instituted a “tag system” whereby only the 4 existing operators would be allowed to fish the lake with a finite number of lake authorization permits.  This would control fishing pressure and operator expansion to ensure the quality of the fishery would remain intact.  In 1999, the Ontario government kicked it up another notch and added a single barbless hook rule as well.  This means that the big pike will get back in the lake unharmed and the angler will have to pinch the barb on the hook he is using. (see Verne’s Words of Wisdom under barbless hooks) Our facility there consists of 3 separate cabins set up as outposts.  Each cabin has its own dock and fish cleaning area but all cabins are on the same island.  Two are within walking distance and the 3rd cabin is nearby access by boat.  We keep a staff person on hand to keep things running smoothly and stay in touch with us back in Sioux Lookout.  Cabins will take 8 people each and each 2 anglers have a  16 foot boat to go explore with.  All the motors are 15 h.p. with our renowned rock guard protection on the lower units.  Each cabin has all of the standard Slate Falls Outposts amenities.

Root Bay

This is also Lake St. Joe but 20 miles to the west at the river outlet.  Same conditions but more current action and one camp that will take only one group at a time.  This cabin we purchased and refurbished in 2007.  It now has 4 bedrooms and will accommodate up to 12 people in comfort.  Being at the extreme western end of the lake it is always calm water and good river action starting ½ mile from the cabin.  It is our most popular site.