There’s something about that thump you get when vertically jigging walleyes that never gets old. Even the smaller fish can give you a big tug on that initial bite, giving you the impression that it’s fighting above it’s weight class. There are days when the bite is light of course, but when it’s on like it was recently at Guardian Eagle Resort, you’ll get a day full of heavy-handed whacks from their large population of walleyes.

“It’s like a walleye anglers heaven,” is how I responded when asked about the day. You have ample opportunity to catch fish – a lot of fish. It’s also about as easy as it gets: pull up on some structure, drop a jig and a minnow, keep it on the bottom and wait for the thump. It usually didn’t take long.

Dan Amundson and I opted to use plastics mostly just to see if there would be a big difference. There wasn’t. While live bait may have held a slight edge, the various fake options we used did just fine. We used bright colors, dark colors, minnows, paddletails, leeches and more, all with similar success. It was awesome. You can see more of this in a video on Fish Hunt Forever YouTube Channel.

While catching numbers is easy, catching a trophy is possible as one of the guests caught a 29″ the first morning we were there.

After learning about this fish, we sat down for one of the best shore lunches I’ve had. They keep only 16″ to 17″ walleyes for lunch. This allows them to know exactly how many fish they need to feed the group of anglers and guides. It also gives them consistent sizes for cleaning, preparing and cooking. Each day features a different recipe including honey garlic, lemon pepper and Frank’s. There is even a day with ceviche! My favorite was the honey garlic and I’m going to find a way to pry the secret recipe from Clarence Bergen at some point to try at home. The locations are also comfortable as Guardian Eagle has done extensive work at their shore lunch spots, building small shelters for the cooking areas, picnic tables for seating and even outhouses. That makes it easier for women and children to come along on this trip.

In fact, this is a great trip for families, co-workers or anyone else who hasn’t done much fishing because catching is easy, boats are comfortable and the experience on shore caters to seasoned anglers as well as those on their first trip. Cabins are comfortable and come equipped with full kitchens (not that you’ll need them), full bathrooms, wood stoves and views of the lake. The lodge has Starlink wifi, a cocktail hour, delicious meals and a deck overlooking the lake. They also have a hot tub, sauna and a place to work out if the mood strikes. Plus a beach for swimming, relaxing or even taking out a paddle board.

Guardian Eagle Resort also has three fire pits at camp. There is one at the beach, the main lodge, and if you stay in the end cabin, you will have your own fire pit and deck that offers a perfect sunset view.

While people come for the fishing, one of the biggest reasons this lodge is successful is the 3,200 foot concrete runway. This allows for easy travel to a fly-in destination. We jumped on a Metro 3 at the Anoka County Airport in Blaine and were at the resort in about 2 hours. You touch down in Fort Frances for customs but we didn’t have to get off the plane. Coming home, we stopped in Duluth and had to go inside for a few minutes, but that gave us a chance to use a bathroom and get free coffee and cookies.

The plane actually gets high enough to need a pressurized cabin so cruising altitude is comfortable and offers views of Mille Lacs, Superior and other landmarks in northern Minnesota. It pretty much eliminates having a weight restriction on gear, but realistically you don’t need to bring much since all the fishing gear and meals are provided. You just need to bring the basics, like a change of clothes, rain gear, etc. I’ll list more suggestions at the end.

Clarence and Twyla have owned the resort since 2018 and provide a personal touch in all aspects of your adventure. Clare does some of the guiding so you might get to spend the day in the boat with him and he also mans the grill when steaks are on the menu, while Twyla handles the other tasty meals in the kitchen.

While there were many highlights, my favorite part may have been the “dock fish”. When you step on to the dock, keep an eye in the clear, shallow water for fish. Soon, you’ll see a thick walleye appear. Then more and more will creep into sight, looking for a free handout. For as long as anyone can remember, there have been walleyes who wait at the dock for dead minnows at the end of the day. While they’ve become a bit accustomed to being fed, don’t mistake these fish for friends. They’re still wild and have a healthy set of chompers. I’ve never seen anything like it and I could have sat on the dock all day and be happy with the trip.

When you consider how easy the travel is, how easy the fishing can be, how good the food is and how great the staff is, Guardian Eagle Resort should be on your list for a trip. Family trips, corporate trips and more are perfect there. In fact, two of the groups we were there with have been going to Guardian Eagle for more than 20 years. If you have any questions about a trip, let us know or visit their website for more information. Or watch this interview we did with Clarence on Sporting Journal Radio.

Where: Guardian Eagle Resort, De Lesseps Lake, Ontario.
What: Walleye and Pike Fishing – 3,4, or 5 day packages available.
Who: Camp Size: 18 Groups of 1 – 18 (actual space for 24) walleye anglers, families, corporate groups, new anglers, etc
Rates: Click here for the rates
How to Get There: Direct Private Air Charter Only 2 Hours from Minneapolis and 3 hours from Chicago. For the shorter trips from Sioux Lookout, ON our charter of choice is SkyCare. Skilled pilots for the North, executive class service and a reliable fleet, these folks know how to treat you right.
What To Bring: Rain gear, dry bag, sunscreen, polarized sunglasses, and any alcohol you may want. They do offer some complimentary drinks during cocktail hour from 5:30 – 6:30 but if you want a beer at shore lunch or drink around the bonfire, you may want to bring something or arrange something with them ahead of time.
How To Book a Trip: Visit their website here to contact via email. Or call 1-855-922-FISH (3474)

Here are more pictures from our trip: