Fish-ful Thinking at White Pine Lodge

by | Sep 20, 2016 | Big Blog, Fishing and Hunting | 0 comments

Situated overlooking the Montreal River near Haileybury, White Pine Lodge is the gateway to a variety of fishing adventures! There are over 50 kilometers of river to explore. By venturing in to Lady Evelyn Lake, anglers can enjoy a further 55+ kilometers of remote waters. There’s no shortage of water to be fished or species to catch!

Lorraine and John Krul came to the lodge 20 years ago with their three sons as they wanted to take on this new lifestyle as a family. Over the years they expanded and renovated the lodge, adding three more cottages. There are now six beautiful and fully equipped housekeeping cottages ranging from one-to-four-bedrooms.

Cottage

The Lodge sits on 10 acres, with trees surrounding each cottage for added privacy. The property backs onto crown land, providing hiking trails and wildlife viewing opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts.

A privately owned boat launch is located 20 kilometers down Mowat Landing Road off of Highway 11. You’ll see a ‘White Pine Lodge’ sign on the right directing you to the boat launch. Guests can pre-arrange to be picked up by water taxi (honk three times and John & Lorraine will be over to pick you up). The Lodge is located just a short one minute boat ride across the river from the launch. Vacation mode sets in right away, as the view pulling up to White Pine Lodge sure is stunning! Time moves slower when you’re surrounded by this beautiful landscape and the sounds of nature.

Docks

Fish-ful Thinking

From Southern Ontario, the United States, and even Europe; anglers travel from all over the world for their getaway at White Pine Lodge. The Montreal River and nearby Lady Evelyn Lake offer walleye, northern pike, whitefish, perch, and smallmouth bass fishing opportunities. Being home to a wide variety of species, the river has so much structure and character including: weed beds, reeds, flats, deep holes, sand, mud, rock and more.

Lorraine and John provide a map marked with their best known fishing spots. Both enjoy fishing as well. They have set up boats on all of the back lakes where anglers can escape even further into the wilderness by portaging in to target brook trout and lake trout. These portage lakes are only a 10-15 minute walk inland. There is also a bass lake, which John says it’s a great spot for children as they can catch loads of fish there one after another.

Canoes, kayaks, and paddleboats are available to explore the river. There is also the option of renting a fishing boat. Boat rentals include everything you need for a day of fishing – a motor, fuel, and bait. There are a variety of packages available to choose from. Anglers even have the option of bringing their own boat.

Cottage Life

The cottages truly are a work of art with a cozy rustic charm and unique décor. It’s as if these cottages tell a story with all of their interesting characteristics – each different from the last.  Tucked in on the hillside, each cottage has a breathtaking waterfront view of the Montreal River.

Hillside

Each one features a full kitchen, stove, refrigerator, propane barbecue and a three-piece bathroom (sink, shower and compost toilet). Linens are provided as well as towels. The kitchens include: dishes, pots, pans, cutlery, and dish soap. White Pine Lodge is also pet friendly and has it’s own ‘lodge dog’, Darby. From dusk until 10:30pm, the cottages are powered by generator and then afterwards guests can use the propane lighting, stove or barbecue.

Interior

There is a locally-made wood fired cedar barrel sauna as well as a bait and tackle shop at the lodge. The bait and tackle shop has a refrigerator to store worms, maps, tackle, White Pine Lodge branded clothing and some books and games. There is also a screened-in fish-cleaning house for those that wish to cook their catch. It includes stainless steel tables and cutting boards, running water and filet knives. You can find everything needed to prepare a meal as fresh as it comes!

Sauna

Fish house

Lorraine, John and their golden doodle, Darby (who happens to be black instead of gold), will ensure you have an enjoyable and relaxing stay, or an action-packed fishing vacation. The choice is yours but I can assure you that you’ll have a memorable experience at White Pine Lodge and come back home feeling recharged!

About Ashley Rae

Ashley Rae is a year-round multi-species angler residing in Ottawa (Ontario, Canada). She spends most of her time fishing throughout Southeastern Ontario but also loves traveling to new destinations throughout Canada and beyond. Ashley is a newspaper/magazine columnist, freelance writer, blogger, and occasionally presents seminars at sports shows and events. Ashley began this blog in 2009 to document her adventures on the water.