The quest to catch a trophy walleye, northern pike, lake trout and Arctic grayling — four species — during a single trip, called the Canadian Grand Slam of Fishing, is a legendary challenge. But fishing in Canada is too good to make only one trip. So here's my twist, the Grand Slam of Canadian Fishing Lodges — four world-class lodges with distinctly different experiences and fisheries every serious angler should add to their bucket list.

My qualifications as a connoisseur of Canadian fishing? Well, I’ve fished flat, meandering streams east of Toronto, mountain-tops on the northwest Pacific Coast accessible only by float plane then by helicopter, and most everything in between, covering a range of geographies, species and lodge accommodations.

So here’s my Grand Slam of the best of the best. Do yourself a favor and book one of these unforgettable adventures.

Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge is a luxury fly-in resort set on white sand beaches in the heart of Atikaki Provincial Park teeming with fat walleyes over 20 inches and bonus trophy pike and lake trout.

The Gammon River splashes into Aikens Lake via a beautiful waterfall near the upscale lodge, the nutrient-dense lake is Manitoba’s second deepest at 295 feet, and along its picturesque islands and rock-cliff facings I’ve witnessed moose, caribou and black bear roam. 

But the reason Aikens makes this list is its service, which can’t be beat. 

“We don’t measure the success of your trip based on fish volume or sizes, we measure it on overall experience,” said second-generation co-owner Pit Turenne, noting that 74% of last year’s guests were repeat visitors. “As all of our near 100% five-star ratings on TripAdvisor can attest, we ensure that everything is accomplished following the highest standards in the industry. Customer service is the number one priority at Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge.”

Indeed, TripAdvisor reviews are glowing, with several describing Aikens as a “Ritz-Carlton in the wilderness,” and “fantasy island.”

More evidence of Aikens’ first-class service and all-around experience? Last summer I brought my wife (above), who doesn’t even fish, and she loved every minute of Aikens. For more info, visit AikensLake.com or call 800.565.2595.

Fireside Lodge, Sioux Lookout, Ontario

My dad first drove me to Fireside Lodge some 21 years ago, and we fell so deeply in love with the “Magic of Fireside” that we’ve made over 20 return trips with our wives, in-laws, kids and grandchildren. Modern wood cabins complement a 120-year-old historical lodge overlooking Little Vermilion Lake, with access to nine separate lakes via creeks and portages so you can fish new waters every day and barely see another boat.

The wilderness setting is spectacular, and I’ve enjoyed my best pike and muskie days here, but Fireside ultimately makes this list due to its world-class smallmouth bass fishery. The deep, spring-fed waters and abundant forage base comprise an ideal smallmouth bass hatchery, amplified by dedicated lodge owners Audrey and Alan Brandys’ adherence to a catch-and-release policy.

The result? From mid-May thru early September, even casual anglers can easily catch 40 to 80 smallmouth bass per day, with 3- to 5-pound fish fairly common. The percentage of bass that qualify as Master Angler, over 18-inches, is insane.

“We are stewards of this fishery and this special place,” said owner Alan Brandys. “Every year for the last 35 years, Audrey and I have strived to make a visit to Fireside Lodge even better than the year before. We want people to enjoy Fireside to its fullest potential. For those who only have the opportunity to visit one time, we want them to make a memory they will never forget.”

For more info, visit FiresideLodge.com or email fireside@explorenet.com.

Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort, Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia

The only solo-vacation I've ever taken was to Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort. I had the opportunity to visit months before the birth of our first child and, as cliché as it sounds, Nimmo Bay looked like a once-in-a-lifetime type adventure. 

It was. 

The luxury resort consists of nine chalets built on stilts in a fjord-like bay in the Pacific Ocean just south of Alaska’s Inside Passage. It boasts more than 50,000 square feet of rainforest terrain, 10,000-year-old glaciers and helicopter access to 50-some rivers and streams fished more often by bears than humans.

How often in my life I am going to spend my dawn boating to watch bears forage along the ocean shoreline, my day heli-fishing for salmon, and my evening –– after devouring fresh caught halibut and Dungeness crab –– soaking in a cedar hot tub with a 5,000 foot waterfall pouring into it?

Probably once. The dream is made possible by the visionary Murray family, with husband and wife Craig and Deborah daring to turn an idea of wilderness living into a reality back in 1980, and continued to this day by their son, Fraser, and his wife, Becky.

Obviously, it’s an incredible fishing opportunity, but Nimmo Bay makes this list by placing guests in the midst of a virtual National Geographic special, complete with whale watching, snorkeling, coastal safaris and more.

"People have to know that we are here for them, and that's the only reason we're existing,” said second-generation owner Fraser Murray. “What can we do in this moment that will stick with our guests forever?"

For more information, visit NimmoBay.com or call 1.800.837.4354.

Gangler’s North Seal River Lodge, Sub-artic Hudson Bay, Manitoba

Given the title of this article, it’s only fitting to cap off this list with Gangler’s North Seal River Lodge, which provides anglers an outstanding chance at a Canadian Grand Slam in a spectacular setting that has barely changed over thousands of years.

The magnitude of Gangler’s is difficult to grasp. A 5-star lodge sits on Egenolf Lake, nearly 650 miles north of Winnipeg and just south of Nunavut. From there, Gangler’s has 122 boats stashed on 45 different lakes spread across 6 million exclusive acres with five different outpost camps for those who want a DIY experience.

The customized adventures are renowned –– options include ecotours, mountain biking, even combo trips to nearby Churchill, Manitoba, to view polar bears and the 60,000 beluga whales that migrate annually to Hudson Bay. Northern lights this far north are stunning, and when you tire from reeling in big fish you can soak in the history of this unique region, including archeological sites and eskers formed by glaciers.

“The key is the fishery,” said owner Ken Gangler, an avid angler who has run the operation for nearly 40 years and goes on multiple annual fishing trips. “Gangler’s is designed to be the epitome of the ultimate Canadian fishing experience. We are always working to improve what we offer our guests, whether they prefer the main lodge American Plan or do-it-yourself outposts.”

For more information, visit Ganglers.com or call 1.866.515.6343.