For the first time since its inception in 1955, the Silver Muskie Lodge is owned and operated by Canadians.
Local residents Dave and Kristi Poirier purchased the 3,500-square-foot hotel-style lodge at the end of April and are gearing up for the fishing season.
The Silver Muskie Lodge is about 40 miles northeast of town, located on Redgut Bay, along Rainy River, with boat-only access.
When the business was purchased by the Poiriers, they inherited the previous owner’s customers lists and client base, so they already have several bookings lined up.
They don’t intend to make any drastic changes as they want people who vacation at the Silver Muskie Lodge annually to have a similar or slightly enhanced experience as they’ve come to expect in the past.
“Change is good but some of these guys have been coming here for 35 years,” Mr. Poirier noted, adding it’s a legacy-type business, so they want to keep their current customer base satisfied.
Although, he said there is a unique opportunity to attract more locals and folks from the north side of the border.
“I don’t feel that a lot of the lodge business around here does attract very many locals,” Mr. Poirier remarked. “It’s a lot of outside people.”
The owners hope to put some Canadian flavour into the operations and make it equally welcoming for Northwestern Ontario residents.
Mr. Poirer said the vacation spot is on prime fishing territory and supports a wide range of healthy fish populations from slab crappies to walleye and northern pike.
With the lodge now being owned by Canadians, it can stay open for a longer portion of the year, as all of the previous owners in the past were American and could only operate it under a six-month work visa.
“We’ll probably have to close up when the ice is going in and when the ice is coming out but for the most part we’d like to open up for some ice fishing in the winter time,” Mr. Poirier explained.
The nearly year-round operation also features kayaking and has great portage trails into Otukamamoan Lake from Redgut Bay.
While the business’s bread and butter is fishing it is also a great spot for hiking, outdoor recreation, and seeing some of the best scenery in Northwestern Ontario, according to Mr. Poirier.
What propelled the Mr. Poirier towards purchasing the Silver Lake Lodge was his background in business.
He currently owns 15 rental properties in Fort Frances and also supplies a majority of the breads sold at the town’s Walmart and Safeway.
The Poiriers also always wanted a lakefront property, so when they saw the opportunity, they couldn’t pass it up.
Since the lodge is boat-access only, as has been done in the past, staff will transport folks from the landing to the Silver Muskie Lodge.
In the future if business goes really well, Mr. Poirier said it’s a long-term goal of theirs to build a road that leads to the lodge.
Moving forward the Poiriers will continue to work with the past owners to get the Silver Muskie Lodge in great shape for the season.
“We’ve got some great mentors, the previous owners are more than willing to help us with anything or talk us through anything and it has been fantastic,” Mr. Poirier lauded.
He said he and his wife are feeling very optimistic about the business going forward.
