Looking for the grocery order form?
Municipality of Red Lake
Red Lake is well equipped to outfit the fly in fisherman. There are several great motels and restaurants for an overnight stay. You may even like a round at our 18 hole Golf Course. Red Lake has grocery stores, a beer store, a liquor store and several great gift shops. Howey Bay is the center of the town and the shoreline is dotted with float planes.The main industry here is gold mining and these days things are booming. It is a very good idea to book your hotel room well ahead.
Hotels
Red Lake
The Howey Bay Motel
807-727-3419
The Super 8
807-727-8888
Balmertown
The Balmer Motor Hotel
807-735-2076
The Nature's Inn
807-735-2626
Balmertown is about 6 miles from Red Lake.
What to Bring
Passport
Ontario Outdoors Card new or old (expired), if not you can buy on at the Island
Fishing rod, reel, tackle, bait, fillet knife, fish locator
1 or 2 small bags or small coolers for your gear - Please no larger bags and coolers as they are hard to load in the plane
Fresh Groceries; Bring your own or fill out our grocery order sheet provided on website(meat, dairy and produce)
Plan for cold, hot, rainy and sunny weather - this includes sunscreen and a rain jacket as you will sometimes need both in the same day. You may like hiking or rubber boots for the portages.
First Aid Kit
Flash light
Housekeeping
The services we provide, during your stay is light duty housekeeping.
Our cabins are equipped with complete kitchens including barbeques and fish fryers on each deck. You are able to cook all your own meals in your own cabin. Our main lodge will be opened all day with conversations of fishing tales from the day.
Here at Viking island we have staff who are willing to help you with whatever you need, whether it be assistance with operations or great fishing advice, they are here to help.
Groceries
Stock items are supplied in your cabin. The list of things to bring is just a guide. You can bring your own groceries or order them through us. Orders are filled by our local grocer. Your orders will be waiting at the base for you to take to camp.
IMPORTANT: Groceries without beverages should weigh about 40 or 50 lbs per person and are part of your 100 lb weight limit. Beer, soda and bottled water weigh a lot, so we take these orders into camp ahead of time. We ask that you buy your beverages from our supply at Viking Island Lodge because showing up at the air base with several cases of beer, soda and water puts you over your weight limit (100 pounds per person) and that creates a problem with weight on the airplanes. The airplanes have a busy schedule and extra flights are hard to fit in.
There will be one opportunity to order additional supplies during your stay, usually Tuesdays but subject to change.
You can email an order to info@vikingisland.ca or phone the office at 807-797-0707. You can also mail a grocery order to the following address but please consider that mail takes 7-10 days before receiving:
Viking Island Lodge
Box 1574
Red Lake, ON, Canada
P0V 2M0
Please remember when bringing your own poultry or eggs from the U.S., make sure you have proof that they originated from and were purchased in a state other than those under restriction.
Fishing License
If you do not already have an outdoors card they are available to purchase at Viking Island Lodge and online. We provide the conservation fishing license.
Bait
Bait is available in Red Lake or Balmertown. Do not exceed the 10 dozen bait fish limit for crossing from the USA into Canada.
Passports
All US citizens now require passports to re-enter the US.
Canada Customs
Alcohol
Each adult may bring 40 oz. (1.14 L) of alcohol or 1 case (24) of beer or 1.5 L of wine.
Tobacco
Each adult may bring 1 carton (200) of cigarettes, a tin of tobacco and 50 cigars.
Leeches
Leeches are not allowed across the border but you can order leeches through us.
Criminal Record
If you have a criminal record, including a DUI, you should call Canada Customs and Immigration at 807-274-3655 ext. 239 to find out if you will have trouble entering Canada. It is a good idea to do this well ahead of time.
If you need clarification or any other information pertaining to what you are allowed to bring over the border, please call the Fort Frances Canadian Customs Office at 807-274-3655 or International Falls US Customs at 218-283-2541.