8 reasons why I’ll be going back to Wakami Lake Provincial Park

#5 The pike fishing might be even better

Walleye may be the most sought after fish on Wakami, but there were also northern pike patrolling every point, hump and weedbed. And as a long-time pike enthusiast, that was fine with me. On several occasions, I got into pike action that was almost ridiculous. During a 90-minute session one evening, I landed a pike on every fourth or fifth cast, all in the same soccer field-sized bay. So I can’t begin to imagine how many toothy critters were in the lake as a whole.

And to mix it up, there was also no shortage of yellow perch, which I landed on tiny spinners, four-inch-long lures and everything in between.

#6 The non-fish wildlife is plentiful and varied

Here’s a sign you’re off the beaten path. Part of the check-in process at Wakami involves the staff reminding you of a long list of bear country dos and don’ts, and a warning not to leave any kind of food on your site—right down to water bottles.

Fortunately, I didn’t encounter any bears. But I did have more fox encounters (above) than in my previous 40 years of camping combined. A couple times a day, one of these sly characters came poking around (though they always left disappointed). Perhaps that’s why one even curled up for a nap in the grove next to my site.

But that’s hardly it. During my five days at Wakami, I also saw moose, white-tailed deer, beavers, a marten, bald eagles (above), osprey, loons, three species of ducks, various other water birds, sandhill cranes and more.