About Lake Savant

Lake Savant Facts

1. 89,753 acres
2. 409 miles of shoreline
3. 25 miles long
4. Water depths up to 200 feet
5. Hundreds of islands
6. No public access
7. Many feeder streams flowing in and out
8. Lake Savant is located near the small community of Savant Lake, in northwestern Ontario along Secondary Highway 599, roughly halfway between Ignace and Pickle Lake.

World Class Fishery

The Savant River flows north to the Albany River and James Bay.  Huge bait fish populations including cisco, suckers, perch and a variety of minnows make up the food chain.  The Ministry of Natural Resources categorizes Lake Savant as a Class A or world class fishery.  The “In-Fisherman” professional staff calls the lake one of Ontario’s finest trophy fisheries close to the U.S. border.

Trophy fish abound

Lake Savant is without a doubt one of the finest and most productive fisheries in Northwest Ontario today.  The lake supports a tremendous population of trophy fish in large numbers.  Walleye, northern pike, lake trout and whitefish thrive in these waters.

Rated in the top three percent of Ontario fisheries

Trophy Lake Trout - Click Photos To Enlarge

Lake Savant consistently produces northern pike in the 40-inch range with several more than 50 inches most years.  The largest to date is 59.5 inches.  Walleyes in large numbers range in the low 30 inches to the largest of 35.5 inches.  Many lake trout fall in the 20-pound class with the largest to date being 42 pounds, although test-netting has produced fish exceeding world class records.  When you study the habitat and depth structures of Lake Savant, you can easily understand why it is rated in the top three percent of the best fisheries in Ontario.

An extraordinary family vacation

Plan your next family vacation at Wildewood resort, for an extraordinary family adventure.  The beautiful scenery, unique wildlife, and fantastic fishing opportunity will create unforgettable family memories. Located in the Sunset Country Region  Bald eagle, loon, bear, caribou and moose are among the wildlife you will experience.  Enjoy relaxing campfires and spend the evenings star-gazing instead of watching a television.

Lake Maps

(click maps for scalable PDF version)

Historical Information

Origin of the Name Canada

In 1535, two Indian youths told Jacques Cartier about the route to “kanata.” They were referring to the village of Stadacona; “kanata” was simply the Huron-Iroquois word for “village” or “settlement.” But for want of another name, Cartier used “Canada” to refer not only to Stadacona (the site of present day Quebec City), but also to the entire area subject to its chief Donnacona. The name was soon applied to a much larger area: maps in 1547 designated everything north of the St. Lawrence River as “Canada.” The first use of “Canada” as anofficial name came in 1791.

The CN Savant Lake railroad station was built in 1913.

Originally, the town was named bucke, after a civil engineer in charge of building the railroad. In 1928, the name was changed because there was already a town in Ontario named Bucke. The new town name Savant Lake, was taken from a lake north of town called Lake Savant.

The St. Anthony Goldmine situated south of town opened in 1905 and finally closed in 1941. Gold was found on Lake Savant as early as 1901. This resulted in several gold rushes until the 1940s.

The main mode of travel to Savant Lake was dog teams until Highway 599 was completed in 1959. Hydro (electricity) wasn’t brought in until 1973.

Wildewood began its existence in the 1960s when the purchase of property was still possible. The clearning of the portage and land was a slow process until its completion in the mid ‘70s. Once government requirements were met, a patent (deed) was issued. The resort was first financed by a church. Services were held in the chapel, which is now cabin five. Guests were transported to the camp by Timberjack and wagon train for many years until float-equipped aircraft became the mode of transportation. The portage (trail) is still used today as a snowmobile trail and to haul fuel and other supplies. In 1980, Richard Kungle arrived from Akron, Ohio and purchased the property. He began adding new buildings, updating the facilities, and purchasing new equipment, which is still ongoing today. On January 1, 2008, Matt & Kim Neufeld purchased the resort with the intent to keep the Wildewood legacy alive.

Savant Lake recorded history dates back to the mid 1800s. Lake Savant and the Savant River were key canoe, and in later years sleigh train, routes for hauling furs to the Hudson Bay Trading Post on the James Bay and returning with supplies. As time passed, the Hudson Bay Company established trading posts along the route including one located on the northwest shores of Lake Savant. Remnants of the old log trapper cabins are found along its shores even today. Evidences of portages around rapids and unsafe areas can be seen by air. The lure of the silver and gold rush days still brings prospectors to the region. High gold values exist in and around Lake Savant, but low volumes prohibit mining activity today.

Click on link below for map of area, Courtesy of Google: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Savant+Lake,+ON,+Canada&ie=UTF8&ll=50.233152,-90.703125&spn=22.037463,51.416016&z=5&iwloc=addr&om=0