Old Post Lodge: Where History Meets World-Class Fishing in Ontario

Lake St. Joseph is home to some gorgeous pike. Photo: Aldo Pescatore-Tardioli/So Fly Podcast

Fly fishing and history often go hand-in-hand, but Old Post Lodge on Lake St. Joseph in Northwestern Ontario has an especially rich back story. Operating on the historic grounds of a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post, the Old Post incorporates the vibrant history of Canada’s north into its operation as a fishing lodge. Two historic buildings still stand on the property, the original trading post itself and an Anglican church. Along with experiencing world-class walleye and trophy pike fishing, visitors to Old Post Lodge become immersed in Canada’s past.

On the Trade Route

Originally founded by the HBC in 1786 as Osnaburgh House, the post was established to combat the flood of new traders from Montreal in the wake of the fall of New France. The company chose the site, located on a long sandy point near the headwaters of the historic Albany River, because the local Mishkeegogamang people long gathered there in summer months to trade, fish, and socialize. To this day, the Mishkeegogamang continue to visit the Old Post to pay respects to loved ones buried in the cemetery located behind the church.

Hudson’s Bay Company Post with Indian Treaty Party Planes. Osnaburgh House, Ontario. (HBCA 1981/28/740 Hudson’s Bay Company Archives, Archives of Manitoba, Canada.)

Through the 19th century, Osnaburgh House was a major trading and boat-building centre of Le Petit Nord, an area comprising most of northwestern Ontario and eastern Manitoba. The post was vital to HBC’s eventual victory in its trade war against the North West Company, and by the 20th century, Osnaburgh House had grown into a small village. The importance of the post as a hub for the region was cemented in 1905 when it hosted the first signings of Treaty No. 9, the James Bay Treaty, Ontario’s most encompassing treaty covering nearly two-thirds of the province.

Rise and Fall

Osnaburgh House continued to thrive through the first half of the twentieth century. After gold was found in nearby Pickle Lake, the HBC post became the central supply depot for the mine. For decades, supplies were brought into the mine using steamboats and a railed portage that connected Lake St. Joseph to Lac Seul and the CPR depot at Hudson. In winter, the same route was taken using tractor trains on primitive ice roads.

More than two centuries of Ontario history are on view in the lodge store. Photos: Aldo Pescatore-Tardioli/So Fly Podcast

In the 1950s, Highway 599 was constructed north, connecting the mine and community of Pickle Lake with the rest of Ontario. By 1963, The HBC decided to move Osnaburgh House to a site on the newly-constructed 599. The highway also brought competition from entrepreneurs looking to capitalize on a northern market that had been monopolized by the Hudson Bay Company. Unable to survive competition, Osnaburgh House closed the doors on its new location in 1981.

Bringing History to Life

Like scores of other fur trading posts across Canada, Osnaburgh house was left to decay. That was until two young entrepreneurs discovered the property in the mid 1980s. John and Wendy Grace, founders of Old Post Lodge, saw an opportunity to preserve the historic property by transforming it into a premier fishing destination. The couple negotiated a lease with the Hudson’s Bay Company in the fall of 1986. That winter, John travelled throughout the American Midwest selling the yet-to-be built lodge to potential guests. By opening day 1987, three cabins had been built and were booked solid for the season.

Over thirty years later, the lodge is under second-generation ownership. The family business has expanded to offer five cabins, five suites, bar, dining room, fish house, twenty boats, and a professional guide staff. Owners Jonathon and Rebecca Grace now welcome more than 500 anglers a season, most of them repeat guests. The fact that over two dozen former guests have had their ashes scattered on the lake near the Lodge is a testament to the truly special place it plays in the lives of people who visit the Old Post.

Pride of Place

Whether drawn by its rich history, world-class fishing, or the sense of belonging it fosters, guests of Old Post Lodge don’t just visit—they return, year after year. More than just a destination, it’s a place where friendships are formed, stories are shared, and memories are made. As waves lap on Lake St. Joseph’s historic shores, the legacy of the Old Post continues, offering a rare blend of past and present, adventure and reflection.

The season runs from May to the end of August, so plan your visit while the waters are calling. To learn more, visit www.OldPost.com. For even more info, listen to the episode of the So Fly Fishing Podcast below.