The Mountain River Lodge
2007 Season 

Reservations - 1800-267-0737                  Main Lodge - 1-613-584-2861

email - tmcarlin@webhart.net

The Experience

An Ontario Fishing Trip Journal from 2002

Arrival Day, Mid June 

We showed up at the River Lodge at about 3 o'clock and were immediately greeted by our River director and guide for the week , Terry Carlin JR.  We settled into our more than comfortable cabins along the shores of the Ottawa River.  Wow what a view!  - But we were ready for fishing, an  8 hour drive and a 4 month wait since booking the trip at the Harrisburg sport show was a long time coming.

Once the gear and the food was stored we broke into groups.  Two went to the deck and hot tub for a relaxing dip and the incredible view.  Two more went to the docks to see Dave and go over the 50 hp Lund boats that we had registered for the week.  Myself and Randy went back up the lodge to see 'Tight Lines" Terry and received a bountiful amount of information on the River, lure presentations now working and where we should go first.   Just the detailed maps and genuine concern of our comfort is more than note worthy.  Being a group of 6 and having a wide variety of fishing desires, we mapped out a game plan for next couple of days that we would confirm at evenings end.  First four of us needed to get our lines wet!

The next stop was across the River on the first point where we quickly set our rigs for walleyes.  We were rewarded with several Eye's, a few Small Mouth Bass and one lunker of a Channel Cat over 10 pounds!  Now they can really pump a rod tip!  The hour was up and we decided dinner at the lodge with a few walleye appetizers was the priority on the first day here. Steak dinner, looking over the lake with fresh walleye and then a good night rest set the opening to a week to remember.  Somewhere just before falling asleep I can remember thinking "We're Here!"

The next day we broke camp and went different ways in two groups.  3 of us went after the toothy critters - Muskies, with Terry JR guiding on a 5 mile river system not far from the lodge. We landed 8 Muskies with at least as many  follow ups to the boat.  One came on a classic figure 8 swirl that exploded at the boat and took 3 feet of 20 lb line and a Husky Jerk to the bottom and never to be seen again. Large Mouth and Small Mouth Bass filled the middle of the day while taking a break on tossing the heavy metal.  Water type here was warm with Lilly pads  and cabbage weeds with spear heads in the back.  Our primary lure of choice was  tossing 1/2 & 3/4 oz spinner baits very close to the shore and ripping them back quickly to the beak line.  The other guys went with Mark, "Thee River Guide" and took a great catch of Walleyes mixed with some excellent Northern pike.  Small Mouth came as they always do and rounded the trip out with over seventy fish caught. Tonight we are cooking Ribs on the outdoor BBQ and drinking in the sunset.

The Third Day saw us exploring the eastern region of the Ottawa River on our own.  We would start at the Schyan   and L'Indien River mouths and move on from there. On leaving the docks early a red and gray sky was predicting rain, and it did.  We had the gear for it and endured as the fish were biting.  Lots of 2 and 3 pound bass were on the bite (Snozzers and tube jigs) and Randy caught a 12 pound sturgeon.  Yes Big Sky! We traversed about 6 miles of waterway against the Laurentian Mountain Range backdrop  with clouded skies.  When it rains here, it's so much more than seeing it over the house  next door, it just takes over the whole sky, the river and the mountains. 

Day 4 - Last night over a game of cards we decided to go with Terry's idea of a couple of interior Algonquin trips. Four of us went canoeing the Barron Canyon. This river sports 300 foot cliffs on either side with a few portages along the way. Scenery along this waterway  was superior to how it was described before entering.  The Fly fishing and Spin was incredible for  numbers in the canyon lakes but the better quality was on the flats towards the last portage take out, we caught a few walleyes too. Dad and Junior went into the Petewawa  River system through special lodge passes and managed Muskie, Pike, a lot of Small Mouth and a few Walleye - no Large Mouth there. 

After carrying canoes yesterday we decided  on day 5 it was time to get back into those 17 ft Bass LUND boats and hit the big water again.  Clear high blue skies took us and our two guides into the Holden waters above a dam 10 miles up river. We trailed into the ramp and launched out of Mackey Bay and navigated a network of coves to enter the main River. At 3 miles across and 60 miles long you wonder just where to begin, well our guides did. Our boats stayed fairly close all day, and with guides using Talk About radios between the boats we scored another awesome day. While trying different set ups and staying in contact it was no problem finding out what they liked during this clear blue warm day.  We traveled up several northern tributaries and fished quite a few water falls and rapids in the morning. Twister Tails, live minnows and spinners were the choice of today and they worked.  That day I landed my biggest Pike ever at a fat 18 pounds & 45 inches  long on an inline 6 inch Harasser.  This is a great night to have bragging rights as there is a big outdoor  BBQ fish fry at the lake for all guests at both camps. 

Two Days of fishing left. Day 6. Most of us have managed the Canadian Grand Slam of Walleye, Pike, Musky and Brown Bass and there are only 40 more lakes to choose from! The week draws to quickly to it's end. I am a Small Mouth fisherman and cut my teeth on the Susquehanna, and I really wanted to nail a true trophy, not that there isn't good fishing there, but this was different. It Was Canada. No Houses and  nothing but Trees to Trees from all corners of the lakes!  So here we found ourselves  in a couple of 4X4 trucks loaded down with 16 ft V- Bottom Boats and electric trolling motors, our gear and Guides Dave and Terry taking us on a wilderness expedition on roads, trails and foot paths that found us on most amazing lakes harboring 3 to 6 lbs Small Mouth Bass on the rocky shoals and points and strangely in the middle of the lake at over 60 foot of water.  Great fish were taken but the ride out can't truly be described, you just have to take it.  We were a little tired after this expedition and closed our day with a swim in the heated pool a nite cap and lying to each other about our catches in the Hot Tub.  As dusk approached we lost sight of the Mountains and the northern  shore of the Ottawa only to have it give way to a deep black night sky of stars, lots of stars.

Day #7 Last day.  Morning coffee and a brief discussion had two of us Fishing out front but west of the lodge this time towards the tail race and  an inter connecting lake called McConnell.  It reminded me a little of the Canyon trip with all the rock walls and Islands. Randy and I had another great morning exploring the back bays which paid off very well for not having guides for the first time up there.  No trophies this morning but good catches none the less. We headed back to the docks early afternoon to meet up with the others and hear about their day. All four reported scores of over 90 each. - (they went Golfing with Mt.River passes in the near by Town of Deep River). We later treated ourselves to last and early night dinner at the lodge, (prime rib this time with fresh walleye!) We ate early so we could close our night off fishing that point we started on the first day that seemed like just moments ago.   

I'm Glad we're still here, even if its just one more night.    Tony