Cast North: Exploring Five Incredible Fishing Lodges in Northern Manitoba

📍 On the Cranberry Chain, near Cranberry Portage

🔗 vikinglodge.ca

Viking Lodge is a trusted drive-to destination in Northern Manitoba, located on the scenic Cranberry Chain: a connected system of First, Second, and Third Cranberry Lakes. This system offers a well-rounded fishing experience in the heart of the Canadian Shield, with opportunities to target lake trout, walleye, and northern pike across a variety of classic northern structure. In the fall, the bite is especially productive as cooling water temperatures bring fish into shallow bays, drop-offs, and reef edges. Walleye and pike are highly active, and lake trout become increasingly catchable near saddles and shoreline structure ahead of the spawn.

When winter arrives, Viking Lodge remains a prime base for ice fishing. The Cranberry lakes continue to offer strong action for lake trout, northern pike, and walleye beneath the ice, with access available by snowmobile. The lodge is also ideally located near several additional winter and fall fisheries, including Simonhouse Lake and the Simonhouse Narrows, and Lake Athapapuskow, one of Manitoba’s top trophy fisheries. In the fall, anglers can trailer their boats just minutes down the road to access Athapapuskow’s deep, clear water for lake trout and walleye, while in winter, groomed snowmobile trails provide quick access onto the ice.

What sets Viking Lodge apart is its unique blend of wilderness access and welcoming, family-run hospitality. Owners Paul and Anita, along with Matthew, Sharnell, and their son Morgan, create a warm, tight-knit environment that keeps guests coming back. Expert guides like Mac Mulligan and Scott Connolly, both favourites among regulars, offer valuable local knowledge to help you make the most of your time on the water. With newly renovated cabins, quality boats, and year-round accessibility, Viking Lodge is a reliable hub for fall and winter angling in the north.

📍 Northeast of Cranberry Portage, MB

🔗 nesolakelodge.ca

Located just northeast of Cranberry Portage, Neso Lake Lodge is a quiet, drive-to destination that offers a peaceful escape into Manitoba’s boreal wilderness. Tucked away on the shoreline of Neso Lake, this lodge is well known among returning guests for its reliable fishing for walleye and northern pike, scenic solitude, and comfortable accommodations. The lake itself features miles of shoreline, hidden bays, and scattered islands, ideal habitat for staging fall fish and providing consistent opportunity for multi-species success.

As autumn arrives, walleye begin stacking up along drop-offs and rocky transitions, while northern pike move into the shallows, feeding heavily ahead of the ice season. With minimal angling pressure and a rich forage base, Neso Lake produces strong action during the fall months, whether you’re casting crankbaits into the wind or working jigs over structure on a calm morning.

Once the lake freezes over, the bite continues. Ice anglers can snowmobile or hike out onto Neso Lake in search of productive weed edges and mid-lake breaks where both walleye and pike remain active. The quiet surroundings and easily accessible structure make it an excellent location for both short day trips and longer hardwater stays.

Neso Lake Lodge is family-run and proudly rooted in the region. Guests can enjoy comfortable, self-contained cabins, boat rentals, and the option to bring their own gear. The lodge has built a reputation for its welcoming atmosphere, classic Shield country views, and consistent fishing, particularly for those chasing big northern pike. Whether you’re exploring a new lake or returning for another fall or winter trip, Neso Lake Lodge offers a reliable and rewarding Northern Manitoba experience... no floatplane required.

While the fishing is reason enough to head north, there’s a whole other side to Northern Manitoba that’s just as memorable. The region’s rugged beauty and natural rhythm offer countless opportunities to connect with the land in ways that go far beyond the rod and reel.

One of the most unforgettable experiences in the north happens when the sun goes down: the northern lights. As the days begin to shorten in late August and into fall, the skies often come alive with shimmering bands of green, purple, and red. This seasonal window is especially magical: the nights are dark enough for the aurora to shine bright, but the air is still comfortable. Whether you’re watching from your cabin deck, a frozen lake, or a snow-dusted shoreline, it’s the kind of moment that stays with you forever.

During the day, the land itself tells its story. The Canadian Shield forms the foundation of this region, ancient, glacier-carved rock covered with moss, lichen, and dense stands of black spruce, jack pine, and birch. Between these granite ridges are clear lakes, slow-moving creeks, and hidden waterfalls. It’s a landscape alive with wildlife. On any outing, you might spot a black bear grazing on berries, a moose moving through a marsh, or a fox or wolf slipping through the trees. In certain northern pockets, caribou still roam, and migrating birds and waterfowl fill the air with sound and movement during the fall flyway.

For those looking to explore by paddle, canoeing and kayaking routes in the region are truly world-class. Many of these waterways follow the same paths once used by Indigenous communities and fur traders, historic routes that still flow today. Retracing these canoe paths offers a quiet connection to the region’s deep history and a firsthand understanding of how water has shaped the land and the people who’ve lived here for generations.

If you’re seeking even more adventure off the water, Pisew Falls Provincial Park is a must-visit. Located just off Highway 6, Pisew Falls is one of Manitoba’s tallest and most dramatic waterfalls. From here, a trail leads to Kwasitchewan Falls, the tallest in the province. The hike is a rewarding journey through the boreal forest and rocky terrain, offering stunning views and a strong chance of spotting wildlife along the way.

And after a warm day of fishing, paddling, or hiking, many of these lakes offer refreshing swimming opportunities — whether off a dock, a sandy shore, or even a secluded island bay.

Beyond ice fishing, winter in Northern Manitoba offers a wide range of outdoor adventures. Snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing are natural extensions of life in the north — with groomed trails, frozen lakes, and boreal landscapes waiting to be explored.

Northern Manitoba isn’t just a place to fish. It’s a place to slow down, take it all in, and experience nature on nature’s terms. It’s wild, welcoming, and endlessly rewarding, both on the water, ice and far beyond it.