Chasing Giants on Lac Seul: A Fall Houseboat Muskie Adventure
Welcome to One of Ontario’s Wildest Waters
Lac Seul is a name that rings loud in the ears of serious anglers—and for good reason. Known for its sheer size and abundance of trophy-caliber fish, Lac Seul is located in the heart of northwest Ontario’s Sunset Country. Spanning approximately 150 miles, it’s the second-largest lake entirely within Ontario. And while it’s long been a mecca for walleye enthusiasts, the lake also boasts world-class opportunities for those chasing toothy giants—northern pike and the elusive muskie.
This episode of The Edge follows Jeremy Smith and Pete Prespioria as they explore the expansive wilderness of Lac Seul, targeting giant muskies during the early fall transition. Their base of operations? A houseboat—one of Sioux Lookout Floating Lodges’ mobile cabins that places anglers right in the heart of big fish territory.
Fishing from a Floating Lodge
Fishing from a houseboat isn’t just convenient—it’s a full-blown adventure. Jeremy and Pete describe it as a bucket-list experience, and it’s easy to see why. Not only are you sleeping and eating on the water, but you’re also minutes away from prime muskie and pike habitat at all times. Lac Seul’s remote waters and minimal pressure only add to the magic. 
The week kicked off with high energy and even higher expectations. Shortly after setting out, the duo encountered multiple big fish—some smashing baits boatside and others rolling through cabbage patches, signaling the presence of apex predators. One of the first notable catches wasn’t a muskie, but rather a massive pike pulled from a dying patch of deer tongue weeds. “If this was a muskie,” Jeremy joked, “we’d be saying this is a nice muskie.”
Finding Life in the Weeds
As any experienced muskie angler knows, structure is everything—and in the fall, weed beds can hold serious fish. Although many believe fall fishing means deeper water and rocky points, the team found big fish still holding shallow, particularly around the last healthy patches of green weeds. The presence of perch and walleyes in these areas indicated a strong food chain, and wherever there’s food, muskies are sure to follow.
One of the key lessons repeated throughout the episode: always look for signs of life. Jeremy emphasized the importance of seeing perch, bait, or walleyes in the area. Even if you don’t immediately connect with a muskie, active forage species are a strong indicator that predators aren’t far behind.
Timing Is Everything
Muskie fishing is a game of patience and timing. It’s not unusual to fish all day without a single strike, only for a feeding window to open for mere minutes. During this trip, that window aligned with the full moon rise—around 7 p.m.—and the sunset at 8 p.m., which created the classic “magic hour.”
Despite a slow day due to poor weather, things shifted quickly in the 30 minutes leading up to moonrise. The anglers saw multiple fish appear on sonar, missed several strikes, and experienced heart-stopping follows boatside. One particularly large muskie swiped at a bait just feet from the boat—an electrifying moment that reminds every muskie angler why they put in the hours.
The Ultimate Canadian Adventure
The freedom and mobility of the houseboat platform can’t be overstated. Whether you’re fishing dawn to dusk or taking a midday break to refuel and regroup, it transforms a fishing trip into a full-scale expedition. And the vastness of Lac Seul—with its endless bays, reefs, and islands—means you can always find new water to explore.
For those who’ve never experienced it, staying on a floating lodge is a must. You’re not just on a trip; you’re immersed in a remote wilderness with the comfort and convenience of home floating just offshore.
Dialing in Bait Selection
With muskies being notoriously elusive, narrowing down an effective bait pattern can feel daunting. Jeremy and Pete approached this challenge with a one-two punch: one angler throwing high-percentage baits like inline spinners and bucktails, while the other experimented with dive-and-rise or jerk-style lures.
During fall, when water temperatures drop into the mid-60s or high-50s, jerkbaits like the Suick and rubber baits like the Super Shad become highly effective. These baits imitate struggling prey and can trigger instinctive strikes from cold-water muskies.
“The fish will tell…” — and as any seasoned muskie hunter knows, adaptability is key. Stay tuned for the next part of this unforgettable Lac Seul adventure.
Precision, Passion, and the Power of Timing
As the trip continued, Jeremy and Pete’s pattern of using dive-and-rise baits began producing steady action—especially from large pike. But as seasoned anglers know, when the pike are active, muskies often aren’t far behind. Big cabbage patches continued to be productive, and with conditions improving, confidence was building.
Technological advancements have drastically improved the muskie angler’s toolkit. Gone are the days of fishing with a single, heavy rod for every presentation. Today, anglers use specialized gear tailored for specific techniques. Jeremy showcased one of his go-to setups: an 8’6″ medium-heavy fast-action Legend Elite paired with a Daiwa Lexa HD 300 in a 7.4:1 gear ratio. This combo excels at working dive-and-rise and walk-the-dog baits with precision and comfort, especially during long days on the water.
The Lexa HD line, tested and refined by top-tier anglers like Jeremy himself, has become a trusted choice among serious muskie hunters and even saltwater pros. As Pete tested the latest generation of these reels, Lac Seul provided the perfect proving ground.
Electronics That Guide the Way
In a vast and complex system like Lac Seul, electronics are more than a convenience—they’re a necessity. The LakeMaster Ontario chip provided the navigation backbone, offering safe passage through potentially tricky areas. With long runs between prime spots, accurate mapping proved crucial.
For fish location, Jeremy employed a multi-screen setup: GPS, side imaging, down imaging, and traditional 2D sonar. When running from spot to spot, he used one screen zoomed out for lake-wide orientation and the other zoomed in for safe navigation through narrow passages. This dual-view configuration made covering water efficient and safe, essential when chasing apex predators in a labyrinth of water and rock.
The Shot of a Lifetime
As evening approached and moonrise neared, Pete spotted the fish of a lifetime—a true giant, the biggest he’d ever seen. But instead of pressuring it immediately, the team wisely pulled off to let the fish settle. With sunset and moonrise aligning, they returned to the area with hopes high.
Then it happened.
A massive muskie crushed Jeremy’s bait in a textbook moonrise strike. The moment was electric. Despite playful guilt about “stealing” Pete’s fish, the celebration was mutual. The fish was landed, photographed, and returned to the depths. Mission accomplished. This is what muskie dreams are made of.
A Trip to Remember—and a Message Beyond Fishing
As the episode wound down, the story shifted to a personal anecdote about a fishing trip that never happened. A flat tire, a second blowout, and a string of delays kept Al and his companions from reaching their planned lake. At first, it seemed like a frustrating detour—but on reflection, it felt like divine protection.
Al’s wife reminded him that their daily prayer for safety had been answered. Sometimes, unanswered plans are answers in themselves. The story served as a powerful reminder to listen, reflect, and appreciate the unseen forces that often shape our journeys.
