Fly-In Fishing in Ontario
Seven remote outpost camps and trophy lake destinations deep in the James Bay Frontier.
Each lake fished exclusively by one group per season, from 50 to 400 miles into Ontario’s true north.
The Real North of Ontario
Hearst Air Service has been flying anglers into the remote wilderness north of Hearst, Ontario for over 50 years. From the float plane base on Carey Lake, guests fly north between 50 and 400 miles into the James Bay Frontier and Hudson Bay Lowlands, reaching pristine lakes and rivers that have no road access whatsoever.
This is Do-It-Yourself outpost fishing at its most authentic. You arrive at a fully equipped, rustic wilderness cabin and have the entire lake to yourself for the week. No guides, no schedules, no other boats on the water. Just your group, your gear, and some of the most productive fishing water in Northern Ontario.
Every camp is fished by only one group per season. The water is as close to untouched as it gets.
Hearst Air offers multiple trip tiers to suit different goals and budgets. Northern Outpost Camps provide excellent walleye and pike fishing at accessible prices. Trophy Lakes reach deeper into the wilderness for anglers chasing genuinely big fish. The Sutton River offers a world-class brook trout float experience in a category of its own.
What Makes Fly-In Fishing Different
Road-accessible fishing lakes near major population centres face consistent angling pressure.
Hearst Air puts you somewhere genuinely different.
Exclusive Lake Access
Each outpost camp is booked by a single group at a time. No other anglers share your lake for the duration of your stay. No boats on the horizon, no competition at the good spots.
True Wilderness Access
These lakes have no road access. The only way in or out is by float plane from the Carey Lake base. The fishing pressure these lakes see annually is a small fraction of any road-accessible lake.
Exceptional Fish Populations
Low pressure and clean, cold northern water means healthy, abundant fish. Hillmer Lake is known to produce multiple daily walleye limits. Napken Lake offers 28 miles of trophy pike shoreline.
Comfortable Rustic Cabins
Every camp is equipped with a propane fridge, stove with oven, lanterns, a wood stove for heat, an outdoor BBQ, a fish fryer, and a boat with motor and gas. You bring the food and fishing gear.
Groups of 2 to 10
Most cabins accommodate 4 to 10 guests, with pricing that scales by group size. The more people in your group, the lower the per-person cost. Father-son trips, annual friend groups, and family reunions all work perfectly.
50 Years of Experience
Hearst Air has been flying guests into the same wilderness for over five decades. They know which lake suits which type of angler, what the fish are doing in any given week, and how to get you where you need to go safely.
Choose Your Trip
Hearst Air offers three tiers of fly-in fishing experience, from accessible outpost
camps to deep-wilderness trophy lakes and a world-renowned river float.
Northern Outpost Camps
50 to 65 Miles
Walleye
Northern Pike
Perch
Hillmer Lake
- Distance: 55 miles from base
- Lake Size: 2.5 x 3 miles
- Avg. Depth: 12 to 15 ft (up to 40 ft)
- Capacity: 4 to 10 guests
- Feature: Sandy beach, shore fishing
A numbers lake in the best sense. Hillmer regularly produces multiple daily walleye limits, with 2 to 3-pound fish common and the occasional 7-pounder. Northern pike in the 10 to 14-pound class are caught every season. The sandy beach setting also makes this a favourite for wildlife watching, with eagles feeding on a nearby rocky outcrop.
Walleye
Northern Pike
Perch
Wanzatika Lake
- Distance: 55 miles from base
- Lake Size: 2.5 x 3 miles
- Avg. Depth: 12 to 15 ft
- Capacity: 4 to 10 guests
- Feature: Sandy beach, diverse structure
A classic walleye lake with a wide variety of structure: weedbeds, rock piles, sunken humps, rocky points, soft-bottomed bays and distinct breaklines. Small enough to navigate easily, yet large enough to keep revealing new productive water. Pink, yellow, white, and chartreuse twistertail jigs are the go-to for walleye at Wanzatika.
Walleye
Northern Pike
Perch
McLeister Lake
- Distance: 50 to 65 miles from base
- Capacity: 4 to 10 guests
- Species: Walleye, Northern Pike, Perch
- Cabin: Propane stove, fridge, wood heat
McLeister Lake is one of the five Northern Outpost Camps and shares the same rugged, comfortable cabin setup as the other lakes in this tier. A productive walleye and pike fishery in the northern Ontario wilderness, accessible only by float plane from Carey Lake.
Walleye
Northern Pike
Perch
Sunshine Lake
- Distance: 50 to 65 miles from base
- Capacity: 4 to 10 guests
- Species: Walleye, Northern Pike, Perch
- Cabin: Propane stove, fridge, wood heat
Sunshine Lake is part of the Northern Outpost Camp tier and has its own unique lake character and fishing opportunities. This camp is a great choice for groups looking for a true remote outpost experience with solid walleye and pike fishing.
Walleye
Northern Pike
Perch
Martison Lake
- Distance: 50 to 65 miles from base
- Capacity: 4 to 10 guests
- Species: Walleye, Northern Pike, Perch
- Cabin: Propane stove, fridge, wood heat
Martison Lake rounds out the five Northern Outpost Camps. Like all camps in this tier, it offers exclusive access to a productive northern Ontario lake, a fully equipped rustic cabin, and boats with motor and gas included. Contact Hearst Air to discuss what makes Martison the right fit for your group.
Northern Trophy Lakes
100 to 160 Miles
Five lake destinations 50 to 65 miles from Carey Lake. Excellent walleye, northern pike, and perch. The best value tier for groups and families.
Walleye
Trophy Northern Pike
Quantz Lake
- Distance: 115 miles from base
- Shoreline: 13 miles
- Capacity: 6 to 8 anglers (minimum of 4)
- Boats: 16-foot boats included
- Best For Trophy: northern pike, mixed walleye fishing
Quantz Lake sits 115 miles north of the Carey Lake base, offering 13 miles of trophy pike shoreline. The lake is ideal for groups of 6 to 8 and comes with 16-foot boats. Big northern pike in the shallows are the main draw, alongside solid walleye throughout the season. One cabin, one group, one season.
Walleye
Trophy Northern Pike
Napken Lake
- Distance: 159 miles from base
- Shoreline: 28 miles of rugged shoreline
- Capacity: 6 to 8 anglers (minimum of 4)
- Best For Trophy: northern pike, big walleye
- Structure: Dynamic, varied, supports large fish
At 159 miles from base and 28 miles of dynamic, varied shoreline, Napken Lake is Hearst Air’s most remote outpost camp. The lake structure supports outstanding trophy northern pike and big walleye. Anglers who make the extra distance consistently report this as their best pike fishing experience in Ontario.
River Adventures
200+ Miles
Two river destinations for anglers seeking something beyond a lake-based outpost trip. World-class brook trout on the Sutton and trophy pike on the Attawapiskat.
Walleye
Trophy Northern Pike
Sutton River Brook Trout
- Trip Type: Multi-day float trip or base camp
- Duration: 7 to 10 days (length does not affect cost)
- Capacity: 2, 4, or 6 people
- Season: Late July through early September
- Park Polar: Bear Provincial Park, Hudson Bay Lowlands
The Sutton River is world-renowned for trophy brook trout, both native and sea-run, and is a once-in-a-lifetime fishing experience. Guests fly from Carey Lake to Hawley Lake, then paddle approximately 75 miles of clear, mild river through Polar Bear Provincial Park. It is not uncommon to land close to 100 fish in a single day, with 3 to 5-pound brook trout on fly rods the norm. All camps are paddled on single barbless hooks. Shotgun permits are provided for the possibility of encountering polar bears in the park. Float trip pricing is $6,250 per person. Base camp guided options at Hawley Lake are also available through Albert Chookomolin’s Fish Camps.
Walleye
Trophy Northern Pike
Attawapiskat River
- Distance: 200 miles from Carey Lake base
- Location: Pym Island and surrounding lakes
- Species: Trophy Northern Pike, Walleye
- Best For : Anglers seeking the ultimate trophy pike water
The Attawapiskat River, 200 miles from the Carey Lake base, delivers Hearst Air’s most extreme trophy pike fishing. Camps are positioned at Pym Island and adjacent lakes near the James Bay Frontier, accessing some of the most remote and productive trophy northern pike and walleye water Ontario has to offer. Hearst Air has been flying to the Attawapiskat River for over 30 years. Contact the team directly for current season availability and trip configuration options.