WHAT WE OFFER AT NORTH STAR LODGE
We have 20 fully modern cabins. They include fully equipped kitchens, with full-size stoves, refrigerators. They also have the kitchen basics, pots and pans, utensils, dishes, etc. All the cabins have fully modern bathrooms with either showers or tubs with showers. Most of the cabins have living areas with sofas or easy chairs. They are heated with electric heat and most of the cabins have carpet throughout. We have cabins that will sleep 2 to 10 people. All the cabins have twin beds. Our cabins do not have TV’s or phones.
Enjoy the peace and quiet. There is a pay phone for collect calls or credit card calls located at the main lodge. There is also Satellite TV, VCR and DVD player in the main lodge. Also in the lodge we have an Internet station for guests to use. You are welcome to come in, warm up by the fire and have a cup of coffee. Walking is a problem for some of our guests, so the staff is available to give you a lift or help haul your gear to your cabin. There is enough space and road access to drive anywhere you would want throughout camp. We have a small store on the premises that has a few of your basic needs.
We also can provide you with basic foodstuff from the lodge. There are four docks located at camp. Two are for North Star boats and two for guests with their own boats. They all have electricity provided. It is a good idea if you are bringing your own boat to bring your own extension cord to plug into ours and boat bumpers. We have a few charcoal grills that float around camp and two propane grills, which you are welcome to use. We have two gazeboes in camp. One of which is screened in and overlooks the lake. Perfect for watching the sunset.
THE LODGE
We have a full service lodge, offering breakfast and dinner. A 24-hour notice is required for “adding-on” meals if you have not booked for one of our American Plan packages. We have a set menu that we follow. These menus are available at camp. You can add breakfast for $6 per person and dinner for $20 per person. Shore lunch boxes are available free of charge. We provide plates, utensils, napkins, cutting board, salt and pepper, and pans. If you would like to add food, which consists of oil, canned potatoes, beans, onion, cookies and fish batter. Sorry, you have to provide the fish. This service is available for $8 per person.
TACKLE SHOP/OFFICE
We have a fully equipped tackle shop at camp. We carry all the necessary fishing licenses to non-residents. We offer clothing, hats, soda/water, ice, snacks, disposable cameras, calling cards and various souvenirs. We also have a good selection of tackle. Live bait can be purchased at the tackle shop. We offer minnows and leeches.
GUIDES
Guides are available upon request. A full guide day starts at 8am and ends at 5pm. This guide day includes your guide in a larger guide boat, shore lunch, and fish cleaning. A full guide day is $175 for two people and $20 for every extra person. A half-day guide is $115.
BOATS AND MOTORS
We offer two different sizes of boat and motors. They are all Lund boat with Yamaha motors. We primarily run 17’ Outfitter Lund boats with 40hp 4-stroke Yamaha motors. These boats have pedestal seats and floors and electric start. Our other boats are 16’ Aluminum V bottom with 20hp 4-stroke Yamaha motors. These also have floors and seats. Our 4-stroke motors run quietly and are easy on gas. All of our boats come equipped with paddles, minnow bucket, net and life jackets. Every motor starts out with a new prop for each group. Damage to these props varies in cost between $20 to $60. We also charge each person using our boats and motors $20 to cover any damage made to the boat and motor. Prop damage is not included in this fee.
NEARBY INTERESTS
North Star Lodge is located approx. 20 miles north of the town of Vermilion Bay. Vermilion Bay has a grocery store, a few tourist shops, restaurants, gas stations and a doctor’s office. Dryden is located approx 45 miles to the east of Vermilion Bay. Dryden is a larger town with all the same services and a golf course. Dryden has the nearest hospital. Kenora is located approx 70 miles to the west. Kenora is somewhat larger that Dryden, but has all the same services. When driving to camp, it is a good idea to stop at one of these towns to purchase any last minute grocery items.
WEATHER
The weather in Northwestern Ontario is unpredictable and can change quickly. Check out the link on our website for the current and future weather predictions. You can also check the radar for Dryden at www.weatheroffice.gc.ca.
HELPFUL INFO
- All funds are in US currency. We accept cash, check, travelers check, Visa and Mastercard (3% convenience fee applies).
- Check-in at 2 pm. If you arrive earlier than 2 pm, we cannot guarantee your cabin or boat will be ready. Please notify us if you plan to arrive prior to 2 pm.
- Check-out is 10 am. If you fish or stay past 10 am you will be charged for an additional day.
- Pets are welcome, but we ask that you do not leave pets alone in the cabins. We also ask that your pets remain on their leashes around camp because we also have pets of our own and wouldn’t want any problems.
BORDER CROSSING
When crossing the border into Canada have your IDs ready. Passports are required for entry back into the United States. It is also the best identification to present at the Canadian border. The limits on food and soda are pretty lax, but the duty-free limits on alcohol are as follows: one 24-pack of beer or bottles of wine per person or one medium sized bottle of liquor per person. You are allowed to bring more alcohol into the country, but you have to claim it and pay a small amount of duty. The same goes for tobacco products. You are allowed one carton of cigarettes per person duty-free. If you require further information check out the Canada Customs and Border Services website at www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca.
FISHING AT NORTH STAR LODGE
Clay Lake is actually a widening of the Wabigoon river system. We fish 25 miles of water and we are the only lodge on it. The system is long and narrow with the widest point being less than a mile. There are many bays and islands. Lots of spots to get out of the wind if need be. The mean depth of the lake is 60ft. Depending on the time of year, we do most of our fishing between the depths of 8 – 30 feet. The water of Clay Lake is stained, so fishing throughout the day remains constant. Check out the map on our website www.northstarlodge.com. We will also give you a map when you come into camp and point out a few “Hot Spots”. There are no topographic maps of the lake, due to the changes in depth throughout the year. We will do everything in our power to make sure you catch as many fish as possible and enjoy your stay with us. Fishing is what we are all about!
SPECIES
Clay Lake is loaded with walleye, northern pike, small mouth bass and Muskie. Lake trout is the only species you have to portage for.
- WALLEYE: We fish walleye primarily with a jig and a minnow. Some people like to put a twister tail on their rig to add some color and movement. ¼ to 3/8 oz jigs work best depending on how windy it is. Live bait rigs work well too. If you like to cast, smaller shad raps and rattletraps work good. You want the brightest colors available.
- NORTHERN PIKE: You are likely to catch northern while walleye fishing. However, if you cast larger cranks into the weed beds or the shore you are more likely to catch only pike. Trolling larger cranks works well also.
- SMALLMOUTH BASS: Smallmouth are plentiful throughout the system. Earlier in the season, they are shallow, so throwing smaller to medium shads and rattletraps toward shore is the best bet. Later in the season, they hang out on the sunken reefs. They put up a good fight, which makes them fun to catch.
- MUSKIE: Muskie can be found in a few spots throughout the system. They are hard to catch though. Throwing large bulldogs works well. If you are interested in fairly easy muskie fishing, it is best to try one of our “Muskie Only” lakes. Remember, Muskie season doesn’t open until the third Saturday in June.
- TROUT: Trout is available by portage into Big Canon Lake. We use another camps boats and motors, so there is a fee.
