Testimonials

Greetings to my fellow fisherman.

  My name is Dave, my friends and I have been fishing in Canada for the last sixteen years. The last ten years I have fished, frequently twice a year, at Rough Rock Lodge on the Winnipeg River. I am writing this because my  friends and I are are often asked by relatives, friends, acqaintances, and often strangers why one lake and one lodge. My  conversations  with  many  Canadian fishermen over the years reveals a long list of ideas about what makes a great Canadian adventure. I would llike to share with you the reasons why Rough Rock has become our favorite place to fish.

  The lake is as close to a pristine wilderness lake as you can find that you can get to easily. Lots of secluded bays, wildlife, and still remote.  Rough Rock Lodge fisherman pretty  much have the lake to themselves. I have fished many a morning or afternoon and never even seen another boat. Rough Rock is also easy to navigate, if you follow the shore you will get back to the lodge. Turn right coming out of the rapids and you are 10 minutes from a cold beer, turn left and you get a scenic boat ride . Either way you will get back to the lodge. Wind is not likely to keep you off the lake, lots of islands and sheltered coves. In ten years and fifteen trips weather has only kept us off the lake for two half days.

 Fishing at the Rock is as good as it gets. Walleyes, Smallmouth, Northerns, and the almighty Muskie are all abundant.  Walleye fishing, or should I say “catching…Tremendous! Shore lunch size fish are everywhere, with a decent shot at a 28-30 inch fish. The boys landed four 40”plus fish (2 northern, 2 muskie), another dozen or so 30”-37” and stopped counting Pike over the slot plus many smaller. Eight Muskies total. The smallies were everywhere we fished, 12”-14” were common and plenty in the 15”-17” to keep it exciting.. All told it was a good trip, but we have come to expect this kind of action. Lots of fish, plenty of large fish and the real possibility of a trophy. Fall was a very good trip but , we have caught as many and larger fish on other trips to “The Rock”.  Great fishing is the rule not the exception at Rough Rock.

 The lodge and cabins are clean, comforable, well maintained, and well equipped. Everything you expect in a well run camp. Did I mention a beautiful location on a secluded bay.

  Now for my personal big deal at any lodge, the boats. Our group will fish 5-6 hrs. in the AM, 5 or so in the afternoon, and another 3 hrs or so in the evening. If you want to enjoy fishing 10-12 or more hours a day for 6 days, a good well eqipped boat is a BIG DAMN DEAL and John has great boats.  40 hp elec. start 4 stroke mtr,  3 pedestal seats, live well, front trolling mtr, and depth finder makes fishing at the Rock a  real pleasure and you don’t need to tow  yours 800 miles or more to be comfortable. Every other lodge I’ve ever fished a boat like this is called an upgrade….usually way up $$$. If you have ever fished from a boat with bench/plastic seats and a 15-20 hp 2 stroke smudge pot with a pull start  you know what I mean. Three can fish very nicely in Rock boats and two people have more room than they ever need. The trolling  motor lets you get way back in those shallow bays that always seem to hold some big fish. For a “lodge boat” the Rock is as good as it gets. Well equipped, well maintained, safe, and comfortable is hard to beat!

  Last and certainly not least is the lodge owner. John  is the best without exception. Few owners manage establish the feeling of comaraderie that is typical of Rough Rock. As close to home away from home as it gets.

 The good news is Canada has a lot of beautiful lakes, many secluded, and many with decent fishing. A lot of places have good cabins and a few (very few) come with a good boat. Many lodge operators are okay. The bad news is that you can seldom find all of this in one camp. Welcome to “THE ROCK”. You can find it all at a very reasonable price……Tight lines, Dave

 John,

Thanks for the pie, crepes, fishing locations, tips and everthing else. It was wonderful, as always.
Can't wait to come back.

Take Care,

John, Kathy and Chuck