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Posts: 8
| Going to Temple Bay Lodge for the first time July 5th-11th. First time in Canada and can't wait. A couple of questions.
1)We are using their rental boats. Do the IPilots have spot lock? Are they foot controlled?
2)What are the graphs like? 1 per boat? GPS? Down or Side Scan?
3)Is there good Muskie fishing close? We have to hire a guide day 1 but I need to learn to run the lake as I hear it's dangerous.
4)Besides Muskie we want to catch a bunch of big smallmouth. How is the smallie fishing in that area and that time of year? Bait suggestions/cover suggestions etc.
5)Do they give you a net big enough for muskie and a measuring board?
6)What should we expect for bugs and weather that time of year? Any tips on either?
Thanks in advance. We don't care about walleye at all except to catch just enough to do that shore lunch every day. Is it a pain to get the shore lunch kit in the boats?
Edited by kscatman76 5/13/2026 1:11 PM
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Posts: 2094
| I’ve been to Eagle a few times , never stayed Temple but you’ll love it ..most of your questions are best answered by the lodge, you can catch plenty of muskies near the lodge, that’s true of most lodging on the lake… the trick is being at the right spot at the right time , ha! Expect mosquitoes at sunset, weather who knows might be 90’ or might be 60’s anywhere in between is probable… good luck, won’t hurt to get a guide first 2 days if you can! Running around eagle in a camp boat never being in Canada will feel daunting if you want to get more than a couple miles from camp, good luck |
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Posts: 8
| Thank you for the info I appreciate it. REALLY looking forward to the experience. |
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| Was at Temple Bay two years ago. Very nice resort. We had our own boat, so can't answer those questions, but I am sure if you contact them they will be happy to provide all the information you need. The shore lunch equipment and food is a little bulky but you will appreciate the large propane burner set up. All you need to do is provide the fish and some elbow grease to peel and slice potatoes, onions. We were on the meal plan so we only did shore lunch one day, other days they packed lunch for us. I really enjoy a hearty breakfast and having 8 or 9 choices every morning was great. Plus there was always fresh fruit and juice at breakfast. |
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Posts: 1700
Location: Brighton CO. | It's been a long time since I've fished in Canada once at Lake Of The Woods in 1993 and 2000-04 Winnipeg River so my advance may be out dated. We used to buy Canadian Hydrographic cart for the Lake we are fishing. In 1993 at Red Wing lodge the resort owner sat down with each fisherman mark all the hazards not on the map and he also marked a few land marks for navigational purposes along with some good muskie spots. The first day we're motoring back to camp and Dad stops and "I think we missed the cut off back to camp"? On large Canadian Lakes there are navigational buoys and on the map shows where the buoys are and what number is on the buoy. So we found a buoy got the number off it and plugged it into our map and we were way off course. So we figured out witch direction camp was and we made it back no problem. Large Canadian Lakes lots of structure so pick small part of the lake and learn where every rock ,weed and current in that section and you will catch fish. Three of the four fishermen in our group has caught there largest Muskie in Canada. I've never been to Canada and not caught a least one Muskie over 30" , however I'm the one who has screwed and lost every big muskie I've hooked. My largest Canadian Muskie 39.5 but have netted big fish for my fishing partners. I have bigger fish in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. I need to get a passport and get back Canada to get a new PB. Enjoy your trip and do as my fishing partners do and get a new PB. You'll catch a ton of Smallmouths and Pike along with the harder to catch Muskie. Good luck! |
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Posts: 8
| Thank you guys for the answers so far, really appreciate it. |
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Posts: 232
Location: Downers Grove, IL | There is no Canadian hydro map for Eagle Lake. Your best option for a paper map is Fishing Hot Spots map, and I would certainly make sure to have one handy for navigation alone. I've never stayed at TBL myself, but fished the Temple Bay area many times. It kind acts like it's own lake at times, and fish can be "on" or "off" in TB at any given time, while other areas of the lake fish may be acting differently. Water is slightly stained in Temple, so I'd recommend some brighter colored baits vs. in the big water east of Temple or Portage Bay to the west, which is much clearer. I had one of the best topwater bites going in Temple I've ever experienced at Eagle several years ago. If leaving Temple to explore other areas, which I certainly would, just take your time and follow the map routes, and obviously avoid areas on plane where any "jugs" are present as navigational markers. But slow down and fish them too! Be particularly careful around Deadman's Reef, which is just south of Temple Bay. Don't run straight across it as there lower unit killers scattered about. If not drift fishing through Deadman's, navigate around the reef by staying on the north side of the jug/pin marker (if traveling east-west) and west (if traveling north-south) corner of the reef.
The lodge, I am sure will give you great directions, and insight on to what the fish are doing and using when you're up. Good luck, it's my favorite place in the world! |
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| FishHateMe - 5/15/2026 9:11 AM
There is no Canadian hydro map for Eagle Lake. Your best option for a paper map is Fishing Hot Spots map, and I would certainly make sure to have one handy for navigation alone. I've never stayed at TBL myself, but fished the Temple Bay area many times. It kind acts like it's own lake at times, and fish can be "on" or "off" in TB at any given time, while other areas of the lake fish may be acting differently. Water is slightly stained in Temple, so I'd recommend some brighter colored baits vs. in the big water east of Temple or Portage Bay to the west, which is much clearer. I had one of the best topwater bites going in Temple I've ever experienced at Eagle several years ago. If leaving Temple to explore other areas, which I certainly would, just take your time and follow the map routes, and obviously avoid areas on plane where any "jugs" are present as navigational markers. But slow down and fish them too! Be particularly careful around Deadman's Reef, which is just south of Temple Bay. Don't run straight across it as there lower unit killers scattered about. If not drift fishing through Deadman's, navigate around the reef by staying on the north side of the jug/pin marker (if traveling east-west) and west (if traveling north-south) corner of the reef.
The lodge, I am sure will give you great directions, and insight on to what the fish are doing and using when you're up. Good luck, it's my favorite place in the world!
The large bait shop next to the docks at Temple Bay Lodge is completely covered with props that have been damaged. Sobering sight. Fortunately the 2 guys I went with have been going for years and have a lot of electronic tracks they have built over the years, fishing spots and areas to avoid. Both are retired IT managers and love to play with tech. |
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Posts: 311
Location: Not where I want to be! | Was there in 2015. First class opperation, we ate like kings. We had our own boat so can't answer your questions. Jeff Mareau at Temple is very accomidating and you should contact him. As I recall he had 2 different boat rentals. Better ones had better equipment. You'll have fun. |
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Posts: 8
| I don't believe he is there anymore. Thank you for the info though, I can't wait to get there. Just trying to figure out what to expect. |
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| kscatman76 - 5/18/2026 3:59 PM
I don't believe he is there anymore. Thank you for the info though, I can't wait to get there. Just trying to figure out what to expect.
Yes, Jeff's last year there was 2024. |
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Posts: 7128
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | I've done Eagle more times that I'd care to admit. Get a second day guided. One day in the beginning of the week to learn the water, one more mid-week to give yourself a break on working hard!
Great spots right near Temple Bay, you won't have to go far and in most areas if you stay away from islands/points by as much space as possible, you should be ok!
The rest of the detail on the boats/equipment, just give them a call! |
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Posts: 8
| Thank you for the info I will sure consider that. Even thought about a day at a portage lake for muskie if they have any depending on cost of course. |
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| Slamr's remark on not needing to travel far from the lodge was brought home by a video I watched after being at Temple Bay. It a fishing show, Midwest something, and the host and the then GM of Temple Bay, Jeff went out for musky. The first two they caught, both very nice, were caught within sight of the lodge. The guide I used for my one day of musky fishing took us about 15 minutes away, at high speed. |
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Posts: 10
| Temple bay itself holds a good population of muskie I have taken several over 50 inchs. look for isolated weed patches or weed off points saftey pin spinnerbaits and top water work good in the bay. there is alot of good muskie water within 5 miles of the resort. that time a year medium size bucktails, top water, some of the muskie will be starting to move to rocks , bulldawg and grannys. good luck |
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Posts: 14
| You picked a great lake, and a great resort! Temple Bay Lodge is an incredible place, you will not die of hunger I can assure you. They understand hospitality and ensuring people have a great experience - I hope you absolutely enjoy it, and make it a tradition.
1)We are using their rental boats. Do the IPilots have spot lock? Are they foot controlled?
- I believe they do have spot lock / anchor if I'm remembering right. they are an 80lb terrova, with a foot pedal (foot pedal is certain, exact power and model is what I'm remembering but not as certain). Overall their boats are well situated for casting and go far past "acceptable" and are "very good". They have different powered engines on each boat so not sure what you'll get there, but they are not underpowered.
2)What are the graphs like? 1 per boat? GPS? Down or Side Scan?
- They have one graph, a 7 helix with DI, with a map that has a large number of the hazards marked. The hazards being marked is an excellent resource, not only for being aware of what is where, but also being aware that most of them are good spots  - this is a great value and benefit that I've appreciated about fishing in their boats.
3)Is there good Muskie fishing close? We have to hire a guide day 1 but I need to learn to run the lake as I hear it's dangerous.
- Yes, honestly you can drive as much or as little as you like. As many people have noted, Temple Bay itself is a great musky spot, and people drive from other parts of the lake to fish it. Looking a little farther south, there are numerous areas that you can stop to fish and check out before things really open up - at which point you are faced with a "east, south, west" decision - each of them have hundreds of good spots.
4)Besides Muskie we want to catch a bunch of big smallmouth. How is the smallie fishing in that area and that time of year? Bait suggestions/cover suggestions etc.
- I've never been there that time of year so I can't speak to the smallie opportunities.
5)Do they give you a net big enough for muskie and a measuring board?
- They do give you a good bumpboard, but truthfully i can't remember about the net, I bring my own with each year.
6)What should we expect for bugs and weather that time of year? Any tips on either?
- Expect it all. Generally speaking about going somewhere far for a fishing trip, I prefer to be overpacked, rather than under. It's a pain to haul it all along and plan it all out, but knowing I have what I need if it's cold, hot, rainy, windy, buggy, dreary, is good. Along those lines - I would suggest on the gear side of things that you "overpack" just in the case something goes wrong. Meaning have your "starting line up" of stuff (rod, reel, line, baits, etc.) and have some back ups in the case something goes wrong. Rods can break, reels can fail, line can get peeled off in a prop, or on a rock while trolling - having things with in case this happens feels good. last year one of my reels failed after the second day, and I was thankful I had brought a back up. It wasn't as nice of a reel, but it still got the job done, and I wasn't down one rod.
I will tell you, one thing I did was bring my Helix 7 SI G3N with me. having SI on that lake is an absolute game changer. I used a suction cup mount, plopped it on when fishing spots, pulled it in the boat when driving on plane. If this is an option for you and you're up for the hassle of managing it, it is worth it in my opinion - but it's certainly not a requirement. That said, after last year - I will be doing this every trip from now on. Absolute game changer.
More than anything, soak it all in, and enjoy it. Eagle is a beautiful lake, Temple Bay Lodge is an excellent lodge, the guides are friendly and very well learned on that water. If you can catch a little of Hunters time to talk muskies (if you don't have him as your guide) do it. He'll talk shop with you a bit and probably throw a couple bones as far as what the fish are doing, areas to look, things to throw, all of that.
Best of luck on your trip and safe travels. |
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Posts: 8
| That is all EXCELLENT information and I really appreciate it. The fact that there is a foot pedal for the trolling motor which I am used to and hazards marked on the graphs is super good and helpful info to have that sort of puts my mind at ease on the whole thing. We go in 11 days and I simply can NOT wait! |
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Posts: 14
| kscatman76 - 6/24/2026 11:04 AM
That is all EXCELLENT information and I really appreciate it. The fact that there is a foot pedal for the trolling motor which I am used to and hazards marked on the graphs is super good and helpful info to have that sort of puts my mind at ease on the whole thing. We go in 11 days and I simply can NOT wait!
It's amazing man, you'll love it.
Message me if you like, happy to help however I can. |
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