Cedar River Watershed

The Cedar River Watershed is made up of six large lakes fed by countless (80) streams that supply nutrients. The surrounding topography of our lakes is rugged and hilly making the under water contours similarly configured. Deep holes, shallow reefs, rocky rubble, steep drop offs, flowage from the streams, islands, bays and bottoms that range from gravel, to silt, to rocky rubble and overhangs, are characteristic of Cedar Lake, where the lodge is located. Cedar Lake is nineteen miles wide and features 6,600 acres of unspoiled wilderness waters full of fish. There is no development on the lakes. Cedar Lake is just one lake in a chain of six lakes that total 15,000 acres of water. The six lakes are Cedar Lake where our lodge is located, Spadina Lake, St Clair Lake, Davenport Lake, Church Lake, and Nelson Lake, all accessible without portages from the Lodge.

The Cedar River Watershed moves water from our water system on to the English River and further West to the Winnipeg River System. Cedar Lake is up to one mile wide but twists and turns and provides protection from the winds and the weather no matter the direction. As a result, no guides are necessary. A few years ago, the Ontario Ministry Natural Resources (MNR) did a net study of our lakes. Standard practice for such a study usually consists of six nets set at six different times. We were told the average caught per net is 26 fish in the northwest. The first Cedar Lake netting produced an average of 51 Walleye. The second netting produced a second count of 51 fish per net over the six nets set. Astounded, the MNR staff did not bother setting the nets four more times. Characteristically, the MNR will not acknowledge these statistics for Cedar Lake so that undue fishing pressure is not attracted to the fishery!

The explanation for the astounding fish count is that the level of oxygen in the water is higher due to the river and the streams flowing in and through the fishery. The same flowage provides the constant supply of nutrients, eggs and larva that support the smallest creatures in the food chain which in turn are the prey of the minnows and invertebrates that sustain our six species of sport fish.

The undulating and varying bottom structures and overhangs, both above and below the water combined with the tea stained waters, provide a growing environment where the young fish can find protection and grow. And grow they do. Growth rates in these northern waters is characteristically slow however the over abundance of food allows our giant fish population to grow big. We regularly catch five pound Walleye, Pike over twenty pounds and Muskie over 54 inches. Bass are just plain 'big'. Perch are truly 'jumbo' and you can catch them all day long.

Although we have holes up to 50' in depth, the average depth of the nineteen miles of Cedar Lake is only 20' making the fish very accessible. There is no wondering what depth the fish are at - they are just under your boat! We have protected our fishery over the years and we practice catch and consume and catch and release. This insures that your children and their children will be able to experience the thrill of spectacular fishing too. Cedar Lake Lodge is an Ontario Canada fishing lodge for fishermen who demand first class fishing, equipment and accommodation.

Our lodge and cabins are located near the community of Perrault Falls in Northwestern Ontario about 150 miles north of International Falls MN.