Cerulean Lake Outpost

Deep Wilderness Outposts, owned by John and Kim Small and operating fly-in outpost camps north of Nakina in north central Ontario, draws consistently positive reviews from guests. The outfitter is relatively new to ownership of these properties but has made a strong early impression, with reviewers noting the owners' genuine investment in upgrading their camps and their attentiveness as hosts. The overall sentiment across reviews is enthusiastic, with most guests rating their trips at the top of the scale and indicating they would return or recommend the outfitter to others.

Guests consistently praise the quality of the refurbished facilities, particularly at Studd Lake, where reviewers noted new beds, a new roof, a new shower house, a covered fish cleaning shack, a new dock, and new motors. The single-cabin, exclusive-use setup is a recurring highlight — guests appreciate having an entire lake to themselves. Fishing quality receives strong marks, especially for walleye, which one group described as being catchable "almost at will" using a variety of methods. Pike fishing is also noted as productive. The lakes themselves, some of which had been unfished for several years before the new ownership took over, appear to offer strong fish populations as a result.

There are a few practical considerations worth noting. One group reported dealing with difficult weather, heavy insects, and a problem with bad fuel during their trip at Peninsular Lake — a reminder that remote fly-in fishing in northern Ontario comes with real logistical variables that are not always within an outfitter's control. The camps are small and remote by design, so guests expecting resort-level amenities or easy access should understand the wilderness outpost format going in. This destination appears best suited for small groups of serious walleye and pike anglers who prefer exclusive-use, off-the-grid camps and are comfortable with the unpredictability that comes with remote fly-in fishing in northern Ontario.