This is no boys’ club: according to Renée, she gets lots of comments from male visitors who want to return with their wives and families. Step into one of the cabins and you’ll see why: they’re simple but comfortable, equipped with everything you need for an enjoyable stay (stove, fridge, hot shower), plus a spectacular view of the lake. Renée herself doesn’t have much time for fishing, what with looking after her outfitting operation and its 111-square-kilometre territory, which includes a section not far from the source of the Ottawa River.

In our motorboat, we accompany Renée to find some good spots to drop our lines. At dawn and dusk (and when the weather is overcast), when you know where to go, there are lots of walleye to be caught. In a shallow bay teeming with fish, we meet another boat manned by Paul and his son PJ, from Pennsylvania. Together, they haul out a huge pike: it has to be 48 inches and 30 pounds. I’ve never seen such a big pike in my life! On the way back, the wind dies down and the sun begins to set over the lake in an explosion of beautiful orange hues. The next day, one cheerful fishing party follows another, until it’s time for a glorious shore lunch. On a point of land at the end of the lake, a small area has been cleared and set up with a modest tin shelter, a stone barbecue, a few logs, and a large, weathered wooden picnic table. It’s a spectacular site: a small point surrounded by water, exposed to the four winds, with a superb view of the outfitter’s vast stretches of lake and forest.

Armed with our drinks, we peel and slice the potatoes, then fry them in a gigantic cast-iron frying pan worthy of the logging camps of yesteryear. The fire crackles, the fries dip and swirl in the boiling oil, then the pieces of walleye are dropped in. We dig into the feast in the shelter; there’s a cloudless blue sky, and a steady breeze keeps the bugs away. This outfitter is ideal for those looking for exceptional comfort and a warm family atmosphere, not to mention Renée’s infectious good mood and a truly memorable shore lunch! *A story of Alexis de Gheldere, journalist, director and Jack-of-all-trades. Looking for another other outfitter experience? Read one of Alexis’ stories.