Time to Expertise Saskatchewan’s Fly-In Fishing

Saskatchewan fly-in fishing choices will facilitate the creation of recollections that can final a lifetime. Photograph courtesy of Arctic Lodges.

July 05, 2022
By David A. Brown

You step aboard with desires and expectations. Possibly you’ve made a fly-in journey earlier than; maybe it’s your first time. Regardless of the case, these desires and expectations are usually exceeded when your vacation spot is a Saskatchewan fishing lodge.

Flying over a number of the most wonderful verdant wonderlands you’ll ever lay eyes upon, it’s onerous to disclaim the pulsing sense of anticipation and psychological imagery—ideas of large fish, spectacularly unspoiled habitat and utter leisure within the comforting charms of a lodge whose existence is outlined by these desires and expectations that led you there within the first place.

Right here’s a sampling of the place you’ll discover your pure nirvana.

Tazin Lodge

Tazin Lake, an impoundment constructed within the Thirties, steeps in a wealthy historical past from mining operations of years previous. Right now, the lake boasts what many take into account the continent’s most interesting trophy lake trout fishery.

Commercial

“Lots of people come right here to catch 30-pound lake trout, however we’ve had 40- to 50-pounders and one estimated over 70 kilos,” mentioned Brett Amundson, host of the locally-produced Tazin TV Youtube channel. “Now we have plenty of mid-40-inch fish, and we’ve additionally had pike over 50 inches.

Views at Tazin Lake — The views are unimaginable at Tazin Lake.

“The lake is a extremely deep, chilly, clear physique of water with an enormous forage base, no business fishing and low fishing stress. It’s an ideal storm of alternative.”

He mentioned most anglers want trolling shorelines with massive crankbaits and swimbaits, or casting at factors with crankbaits and jigs. Along with Tazin Lake’s considerable habitat, the lodge additionally presents every day fly-outs to distant lakes.

Tazin’s strict administration helps guarantee its productiveness and he mentioned their conservation effort is one thing visitors respect. Big fish are too helpful to catch solely as soon as, so visitors know they’re contributing to what attracted them within the first place.

Tazin Lake lake trout — Spectacular lake trout are sometimes caught at Tazin Lake.

“We maintain some eater sizes for shore lunches, however all of the trophy fish return,” Amundsun resolutely acknowledged. “We deal with fish very fastidiously and attempt to be sure that they survive to (perpetuate) this fishery.”

With boats working one information per two visitors, Tazin Lodge gives all of the deal with and equipment wanted to interact regardless of the lake could supply. Amundson’s recommendation: “Go to the health club so you possibly can carry our fish.”

Lifetime recollections are made whereas fishing at Tazin Lake.

After a day of rod bending, Tazin Lake visitors get pleasure from meals ready by a 5-star chef. To achieve the lodge, visitors are accountable for their flight into Fort McMurray. When you attain Fort McMurray Aviation, lodge employees will deal with the remaining.

Be taught extra about Tazin Lake

Contact Information:

Tazin Lake Lodge
C/O Trevor Montgomery
Field 266
Prince Albert, SK S6V 5R5

Telephone: (306) 291-3151

E-mail: information@tazinlake.com

Cree River Lodge

Situated on the Cree River’s Wapata Lake, Pat Babcock’s lodge presents a really perfect place to unplug from “civilization” and immerse your self in Northern Saskatchewan’s unspoiled pure magnificence. Pretty considered one among Canada’s prime locations for big pike, these bountiful waters welcome quite a lot of baits together with conventional spoons, swimbaits, spinnerbaits, topwaters plugs and even frogs.

Having personally visited Cree River Lodge just a few years in the past, I can attest to the super high quality of fish obtainable on this river system. Put it this fashion, in my first northern pike journey, I used to be suggested that 36 inches qualifies as a trophy. I began with a 37, added a number of extra within the excessive 30s to low 40s and topped out with a measured 45-incher.

ITEMNAME — Cree River Lodge presents world-class pike fishing. Photograph courtesy of the writer.

Our journey noticed two extra mid-40s dropped at the boat and one among my fellow anglers had a quick tussle with an estimated 50. I reside in Florida — these fish are soft-bodied alligators. Simply wonderful.

Walleye are additionally considerable, with conventional jigging and lure trolling methods producing numerous high quality fish. Whereas photographing one among our boats jigging ‘eyes within the river, I seen {that a} younger black bear had actually sat down on a flat rock to look at us.

One of many gems of my go to was a morning of fishing a bit of swift water the place arctic grayling exemplified their “snot rocket” nickname—onerous to carry these tremendous slimy rascals, however their big-air leaps had been a sight to behold. We caught grayling on spinners and flies and marveled at the fantastic thing about these tall, speckled dorsal fins.

Cree River Lodge aerial photo — Cree River Lodge is distant however very snug, providing a number of the most interesting fishing within the Northern Hemisphere. Photograph courtesy of Dwayne “Chip” Cromarty

The mouth of the Cree River kinds a Delta with a number of channels, so anglers have loads of alternatives for locating quiet little bays, present seams, backside breaks and plenty of the aquatic vegetation the place large pike feed. Complementing the wonderful angling alternatives, you possibly can request a go to to the enormous sand dune, view the northern lights and go to sleep each evening to the sound of wolves howling throughout the lake.

Information journeys embody the suitable gear, however when you’re bringing your individual, Babcock recommends medium to medium-heavy spin or baitcasting deal with for pike and walleye and light-weight outfits for grayling. Fly anglers ought to carry 9- or 10-weight outfits for pike and walleye, whereas a 4- to 6-weight will deal with the grayling.

Cree River Lodge is a largely catch-and-release vacation spot. Shore lunches on island clearings permit visitors to get pleasure from walleye, whitefish and smaller pike, however all of these large fish are fastidiously dealt with for bragging rights photographs, they gently launched to battle once more.

Cree River Lodge shore lunch — Each day fresh-caught shore lunches take the expertise up a notch at Cree River Lodge. Photograph courtesy of Dwayne “Chip” Cromarty.

Describing the fly-in plan, Babcock mentioned: “Now we have a direct constitution flight from Edmonton. There are different journey choices utilizing scheduled flights from Saskatoon, primarily to permit for some flexibility and unplanned/emergency journey plan modifications.”

On a previous journey, my group flew into Saskatoon, hopped a commuter flight to Stony Rapids (with a cease in Fond-du-Lac), then made an inexpensive drive south to a small ramp the place lodge employees took us for a quick trip to the lodge’s fundamental dock.

Be taught extra about Cree Lake Lodge

Contact Information:

Cree Lake Lodge
C/O Pat Babcock
PO Field 385
Pierceland, Sask S0M 2K0

Telephone: (780) 812-9202

E-mail: creelakelodge.com

Arctic Lodges

Like they are saying in the actual property world, it’s all about location, location, location; and Arctic Lodges is nicely positioned for handy entry to one among Canada’s most prolific fisheries. With almost 2 million fishable acres, Reindeer Lake is Saskatchewan’s second-largest freshwater physique (behind Athabasca).

Huge quantities of aquatic vegetation and underwater habitat create optimum feeding alternatives for the grand slam: northern pike, lake trout, walleye and arctic grayling. Boasting 2,000 trophy fish caught and launched yearly, Arctic Lodges presents visitors their finest likelihood of catching a trophy—probably in all 4 species.

Arctic Lodges finds that visitors usually could have a shot at a “grasp angler” northern pike, and plenty of others will catch pike over 45 inches. Every year a lucky few will catch a 50. A wide range of baits will tempt massive pike however fly fishing for these beasts presents a thrill definitely worth the problem and lodge boats are geared up with massive, raised casting decks to accommodate the trouble.

Reindeer Lake additionally holds nice numbers of big lake trout, with the potential for a brand new world report by no means out of the dialog. Walleyes tackle beautiful coloration on this fishery, whereas dry flies and 4-weight fly rods typically produce chunky arctic grayling.

Strategically located in the course of Reindeer Lake, Arctic Lodges affords visitors comparatively fast and quick access to all areas of the lake. Whichever path you run, beautiful surroundings is ever-present.

Big pike at Arctic Lodges — Big northern pike are sometimes caught with Arctic Lodges. Photograph courtesy of Patrick Walsh of Out of doors Canada.

Situated in Saskatchewan’s northeastern part, the lake sits on the northern fringe of the Canadian Boreal forest and the Arctic circle. As soon as an integral a part of the fur merchants’ route, Reindeer Lake’s 5000-plus islands present sheltering wind breaks, so whatever the climate, you possibly can at all times discover a leeward space to fish.

Company can anticipate distinctive hospitality, whereas a workforce of worldwide awarded cooks put together beautiful delicacies. Sustaining over 60 years of wilderness lodge custom, Arctic Lodges has stored the unique log cabins for visitor lodging, whereas modernizing them with full personal washrooms and wood-burning stoves.