Pickerel Arm Base Camp

Pickerel Arm Camp, located on Minnitaki Lake near Sioux Lookout in Ontario, Canada, carries a strong overall reputation among repeat visitors. The camp is owned and operated by Lee Edwardson and his wife Julie, whose family has run the operation since 1974, and that long-standing history appears to contribute to the loyalty guests show — at least one reviewer has returned more than 25 times, and others explicitly state they plan to return over competing options from roughly a dozen other Canadian resorts they have tried.

Guests consistently praise the walleye fishing, with multiple accounts of excellent catches, including large fish and high daily totals. The camp offers a base camp experience as well as outpost options, giving guests some flexibility in how they want to fish. The owners receive positive mentions by name, and the camp's track record across many seasons is viewed favorably. It is worth noting that fishing success can vary with conditions — one reviewer reported slower action during a cooler-than-normal period when fish moved to deeper water, though the owner communicated openly about the reasons, which guests appeared to appreciate.

The reviews available are limited in number and light on detail regarding lodging, food, and staff beyond the owners themselves, so a full picture of those elements is difficult to draw from this sample. One humorous but honest note from a long-time guest suggests the camp's handyman can be particular about equipment being broken, which may simply reflect the realities of a remote fly-in operation where repairs are not trivial. Based on what reviewers describe, this destination appears best suited for groups of fishing buddies focused on walleye, anglers who value a family-run camp with decades of experience, and those open to returning year after year rather than seeking a one-time novelty experience.