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Things You Will Want To Know When
Planning Your Trip To Williams Lake Lodge

Print this information and give it to everyone in your group.
Bring this information with you when you come to camp.

Suggestions On What To Bring For The "Housekeeping Plan"

  • Appropriate clothing. Be ready for anything. Layers of clothing are best. Temperatures will range from 32 to 75 in spring and fall and from 70 to 95 in summer.
  • Rain gear and rubber boots.
  • Life vest.
  • First aid kit.
  • Food for 6 days.
  • Drinking water.
  • Beverages and snacks. No glass bottles please.
  • Dish soap, paper towels.
  • Bath and hand towels. Dish towels are provided. We have an optional towel service.
  • Cooler.
  • Sunglasses, sunscreen, cap.
  • Flashlight, lantern.
  • Camera.
  • Insect repellent.
  • Toiletries.
  • Fishing gear.
  • Passport or Passport Card.
  • Book, deck of cards, etc.
  • Your computer, if you wish to use our wireless internet in the lodge. You may not use our computer.
  • A spare set of keys for the vehicle is always a good idea.
  • Before you leave home:  Have a copy of the 'vehicle registration' and  'insurance card'  in the vehicle. Check to see that your health insurance and vehicle insurance covers you in Canada.
  • Outpost Guests Only:  Portable depth finder.

Suggestions On What To Bring If You Are Bear Hunting

Bring all of the above plus the following:

Things That We Provide That You Don't Need To Bring

  • Sheets, blankets, pillows.
  • Dish towels.
  • Garbage bags.
  • Gas grill and fish cooker at each cabin.
  • Toilet paper.
  • Shore lunch pans.
  • Coolers for keeping fish in the boat.
  • Minnow buckets.
  • Boats have pedestal seats.
  • Boats have depthfinders except at the outpost.
  • Please don't bring any electric appliances, because the generator will not handle them.

Crossing The Border

Border crossing tips:

  • Take off sunglasses.
  • Do not laugh or joke with customs officer.
  • Answer all questions promptly, clearly and directly.
  • You may be refused entry into Canada if you have been convicted of a felony. DUI is a felony in Canada and you may be refused entry. Click on Visiting Canada with a DUI and Overcoming Criminal Inadmissibility for information about crossing into Canada if you have a past criminal conviction. It is not impossible. Also check out Americans Entering Canada and Information for Visitors to Canada.
  • If you are bringing a child not accompanied by a parent, a notarized permission slip should be brought along.
  • Remember to only answer questions you are asked. Don't volunteer extra information not asked for.

Passports or Passport Cards are required for travel to Canada.

You are allowed to bring across the border duty and tax free:

  • 40 oz. of liquor or 24 twelve oz. cans of beer (must be 19 years old)
  • 200 cigarettes and 50 cigars

You are allowed to bring nightcrawlers across for bait. Make sure they are packed in artificial bedding with not even a speck of dirt on them.

Minnows and leeches are not allowed across the border.

Potatoes are not allowed across the border.

These are only a few basic rules for border crossing. Please study the following web sites to learn more about visiting Canada. Many issues are explained here, including what to do if you have a DUI or other criminal record.

Americans Entering Canada

Information for Visitors to Canada 

 
Procedure Once You Are In Canada

The best plan is to follow your road map to Dryden, ON and stay overnight there on Friday night. Remember that HWY 502 is a long, lonely road, so fill up with gas before you cross the border. There are many places to stay in Dryden. Here is a list of some of them. The rates vary and so does the comfort level. Ask them if they will give you a discounted rate because you are going to Williams Lake Lodge and we are members of Patricia Regional Tourist Council, Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters, Kenora District Camp Owners Association, and Ontario's Sunset Country.

Best Western Motor Inn, Highway 17, (807) 223-3201

Chalet Inn Motel, 184 Government St., (807) 223-2335

Comfort Inn, 522 Government St., (807) 223-3893

Hide-Away Motel, 700 Government St., (807) 223-5329

Hillcrest Motel, 130 Grand Trunk Ave., (807) 223-6283

Holiday Inn Express, 585 Government Rd., (807) 223 3000

Kowality Motor Inn, 31 Earl Ave., (807) 223-2311

Patricia Inn Motel, 537 Government St. , (807) 223-3291

Riverview Lodge LTD, 148 Earl Ave., (807) 223-4320

Timberland Motel, 406 Government St., (807) 223-5395

Town & Country Motel, 500 Government St., (807) 223-2377

Trans Canada Motel & Restaurant, 149 Third St., (807) 223-2251


For fine dining, we like Riverview Lodge (807) 223-4320. A little more casual is Kupper's Bakery & Restaurant (807) 223-2419 and Ristorante Pizzeria Italia (807) 223-4320.

If you can't make it all the way to Dryden on Friday, stay wherever you need to and finish your trip on Saturday morning.

In either case, YOU MUST CALL US FROM DRYDEN before you begin the 1 1/4 hour drive from Dryden to our landing. Then we will know when to meet you at the landing to transport you to camp. The lodge phone number is 807 529-3031. You can call from your hotel, Riverside Bait & Tackle/Fas Gas at the intersection of Earl Ave. and Duke St. (first stop light as you enter Dryden past the paper mill), or KA Sports (on HWY 17 on the north side of town). Cell phones do not work after you leave Dryden. For some reason, our phone at the camp works better if you call us from a land line in Dryden.

Don't forget your final shopping. You will be a long way from the stores for the next 6 days. 

The following map shows the routes we use to the landings. We have signs along the way to point you in the right direction. In most cases, you will use the red highlighted route to the River Landing. We will confirm this with you when you call from Dryden.

Click here for a printer friendly version of  this map.

Directions from Dryden to River Landing (red route). You must call 529-3031 before leaving Dryden.

  • Take Hwy 601 north from Dryden (off Hwy. 17 at the stop light by the GM car dealer) for 6.5 miles.
  • Road changes to gravel for 1 mile.
  • Turn right onto logging road.
  • Drive 10 miles to railroad crossing.
  • Cross railroad and drive 3 miles, then stay left.
  • Drive 6 miles, then stay left.
  • Drive 4 miles, then turn right onto Williams Creek Road.
  • Drive 5.5 miles to a "T" in the road, then turn left.
  • Drive 1.5 miles to the River Landing.


Directions from Dryden to River Landing (red-yellow route). You must call 529-3031 before leaving Dryden.

  • Take Hwy 601 north from Dryden (off Hwy. 17 at the stop light by the GM car dealer) for 6.5 miles.
  • Road changes to gravel for 1 mile.
  • Turn right onto logging road.
  • Drive 10 miles to railroad crossing.
  • Cross railroad and drive 3 miles, then stay left.
  • Drive 6 miles, then stay right (graver pit at "Y" in road).
  • Stay on this road & follow signs to the River Landing.


Directions from Dryden to North Landing (red-green route). You must call 529-3031 before leaving Dryden.

  • Take Hwy 601 north from Dryden (off Hwy. 17 at the stop light by the GM car dealer)  for 6.5 miles.
  • Road changes to gravel for 1 mile.
  • Turn right onto logging road.
  • Drive 10 miles to railroad crossing.
  • Cross railroad and drive 3 miles, then stay left.
  • Drive 6 miles, then stay left.
  • Drive 6.5 miles, turn left.
  • Drive 15 miles to a "T" in the road, then turn right.
  • Drive 1.5 miles to the North Landing

Map To Camp

When you arrive at the landing, we will be there to meet you (if you called  529-3031 before you left Dryden). If we are delayed and aren't there yet, it should only be a short wait. We will set you up with your fishing boat and load your gear that goes to your cabin into our work boat. Then you can follow us to camp.

Operation Of Boats

  • We will show you how to run the motor on your fishing boat when we meet you at the landing.
  • UNLOCK MOTORS WHILE TRAVELING FORWARD.
  • When docking boats, approach docks slowly, and tie boats securely.
  • Life jackets are required in the boat; wearing them is a plus.
  • Wear kill switch cord when traveling.
  • Spark plugs, plug wrenches, and whistles are in the boat.
  • Always check the level of fuel in the gas tanks before going out fishing.
  • Don't remove gas tanks from the boat.
  • DRINKING ALCOHOL IN THE BOATS IS AGAINST ONTARIO LAW.
  • Don't spit sunflower seed hulls or the like in the boat as they clog up the bilge pump and are hard to clean up.
  • Due to high repair and replacement costs, we must charge you for lost and damaged equipment.
  • LOWER UNIT INSURANCE IS AVAILABLE FOR $50 PER BOAT FOR ONE WEEK. This is a good buy because if you hit something and damage the lower unit it will cost you over $2000 to replace.
  • The lower unit insurance does not cover the propellor or the skeg. Props will cost you $160 to replace or $90 to repair, if possible. A broken skeg will cost you $200.
  • Landing nets are available and will cost you $40 if lost or damaged. Don't use nets to carry fish.


Guides Are Available

A professional guide costs $130 US per 8 hour day based on a party of 2 fisherman. Extra people cost an additional $25 US each. This includes both extra people in the guided boat and any tag-along boats. Gratuity not included. If you want to book a guide, do it as much in advance as possible.

Fishing Bait

Minnows, night crawlers, and leeches are normally available at camp. If you need large amounts of live bait, please let us know well in advance of your arrival.

Fishing Regulations

2010 non-resident license fees (can be purchased at camp):
Ontario Outdoors Card $9.00
Sport Fishing License-full year (S) $69.50
Conservation Fishing License-full year (C) $42.75
Eight Day Sport Fishing License (S) $44.50
Eight Day Conservation Fishing License (C) $25.75

Zone 4 seasons and limits (includes Williams Lake and Lac Seul):

  • Walleye and Sauger or any combination:  Season opens 3rd. Saturday in May.  None between 18" and 21" may be kept. With an S license 1 over 21" and  3 under 18" may be kept. With a C license, 1 over 21" and 1 under 18" may be kept.
  • Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass or any combination: Season open all year. From January 1 thru June 30, with an S license, 2 may be kept (must be under 13.8"). With a C license, 1 may be kept (must be under 13.8"). From July 1 through November 30, with an S license, 4 may be kept with no size limit. With a C license, 2 may be kept with no size limit.
  • Northern Pike: Season open all year. None between 27.6" and 35.4" may be kept. With an S license, 1 over 35.4" and 3 under 27.6" may be kept. With a C license, 1 over 35.4" and 1 under 27.6" may be kept.
  • Muskellunge: Season opens 3rd. Saturday in June. None may be kept with either license.
  • Yellow Perch: Season open all year. With an S license, 50 may be kept. With a C license, 25 may be kept.

You must squeeze the tail when measuring fish. No live fish are allowed in the boat. Fish that are to be kept must be killed immediately. Put them on ice in a cooler. Your limit includes fish in the freezer at camp, fish in your possession, plus the fish eaten at shore lunch. Please read Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Fishing Regulations for more regulations. Williams Lake and Lac Seul are both in Zone 4.

Williams Lake Lodge camp policy:  We fully support the MNR's size regulatons and are taking them a step further. All walleyes over 18" and all northerns over 27.5" must be released. C.P.R (Catch, Photo, and Release) is the key to maintaining our fabulous fishery. Keep some small ones to eat (they are the best tasting) and let the rest continue to grow. If you want one for the wall, a replica will last longer and you have the satisfaction of knowing that your trophy still swims. A conservation fishing license will be included in the package price for 2010.

To further encourage the release of  trophy fish, Williams Lake Lodge will award a free housekeeping trip (boat gas not included) to the anglers who release the largest walleye and the largest northern pike of the season. We need pictures and the length of the fish. Do not weigh the fish.

Tips for successful Catch and Release:

  • Pinch the barbs down on hooks.
  • Always wet your hands before touching a fish you want to release. This reduces the amount of protective slime you will rub off the fish.
  • Do not grab a fish by the eyes.
  • Avoid touching the gills.
  • When using a net (neoprene mesh is best) remove the fish as soon as possible so as not to rub off the protective slime.
  • Time is essential. Quickly play and release the fish. A fish played for too long will be too exhausted to recover.
  • Keep the fish in the water as much as possible. Remove the hook as quickly as possible. Single barbless hooks can often be removed while the fish is still in the water.
  • To revive an unconscious fish hold it upright in the water. This may take a few minutes. Do not move the fish backwards through the water. When it begins to struggle, release it.

Fish Cleaning

All fish are to be cleaned in the fish house, never in the cabins. Do not clean fish directly on the countertop. Use the boards provided. Clean the counters, boards, and sink in the fish house after cleaning fish. For fish you are taking home, package fish one per bag, laying flat, with a one inch patch of skin left on the fillet. Put them in the freezer behind the main lodge.

Lodge

Our lodge is open for your use until 9pm each day. We have television, wireless internet (you must use your own computer – not ours), board games, books and movies to borrow, and a comfortable place to lie about the fish you caught. You may use our phone for $5 for a 5 minute call.

Generator

The generator will be turned on at 6am and off at 11pm. Nightowls need to bring a lantern. Don't bring any electric appliances, because the generator will not handle them.

What To Do and Not To Do While At Camp

  • Please let us know right away if you have a problem with anything. Communication is the key. Don't wait until the end of the week to tell us that something wasn't right. We can't correct any problems if we don't know what they are. Let us help you have your best vacation ever.
  • Ice is included in your package price. Please do not waste it.
  • Bring your own drinking water or boil the tap water for 10 minutes.
  • Shore lunch pans are available at the lodge. Don't take frying pans from the cabins.
  • Don't put grease down the toilet or sink (ask us for a container), or flush paper towels down the toilet.
  • Use as little water as possible in the composting toilet. It's no fun when the composter is flooded out. Thanks.
  • Wipe off the stove after frying with a paper towel, so grease doesn't build up.
  • Leave the cabin in the condition you found it.
  • Put filled garbage bags in the trailer by the freezer house.
  • No campfires.
  • Don't give Hunter Flying Doganything to eat or drink or let him in the cabin.
  • At The Outpost:  Dump fish guts on shore well away from the cabin. No campfires.
  • Above all, relax and have a great time.