Time to Expertise Saskatchewan’s Fly-In Fishing

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

July 05, 2022
By David A. Brown

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

Flying over among the most wonderful verdant wonderlands you’ll ever lay eyes upon, it’s exhausting 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 goals 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. At present, the lake boasts what many take into account the continent’s best trophy lake trout fishery.

“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. “We’ve numerous 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 very 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 choose trolling shorelines with massive crankbaits and swimbaits, or casting at factors with crankbaits and jigs. Along with Tazin Lake’s ample habitat, the lodge additionally provides 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 admire. Big fish are too useful 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 said. “We deal with fish very rigorously and attempt to guarantee that they survive to (perpetuate) this fishery.”

With boats operating one information per two visitors, Tazin Lodge gives all of the deal with and kit wanted to have interaction regardless of the lake could supply. Amundson’s recommendation: “Go to the gymnasium so you’ll be able to carry our fish.”

Lifetime reminiscences 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 succeed in the lodge, visitors are answerable for their flight into Fort McMurray. When you attain Fort McMurray Aviation, lodge workers 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: data@tazinlake.com

Cree River Lodge

Positioned on the Cree River’s Wapata Lake, Pat Babcock’s lodge provides a perfect place to unplug from “civilization” and immerse your self in Northern Saskatchewan’s unspoiled pure magnificence. Pretty thought to be certainly one of Canada’s prime locations for large pike, these bountiful waters welcome a wide range 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 great high quality of fish obtainable on this river system. Put it this manner, 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 provides world-class pike fishing. Photograph courtesy of the writer.

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

Walleye are additionally ample, with conventional jigging and lure trolling methods producing plenty of high quality fish. Whereas photographing certainly one of our boats jigging ‘eyes within the river, I seen {that a} younger black bear had actually sat down on a flat rock to observe 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—exhausting to carry these tremendous slimy rascals, however their big-air leaps have 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 among the best fishing within the Northern Hemisphere. Photograph courtesy of Dwayne “Chip” Cromarty

The mouth of the Cree River varieties a Delta with a number of channels, so anglers have loads of alternatives for locating quiet little bays, present seams, backside breaks and many the aquatic vegetation the place large pike feed. Complementing the wonderful angling alternatives, you’ll be able to request a go to to the large sand dune, view the northern lights and go to sleep each night time to the sound of wolves howling throughout the lake.

Information journeys embrace the suitable gear, however should 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 convey 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 principally 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 rigorously dealt with for bragging rights pictures, they gently launched to struggle once more.

Cree River Lodge shore lunch — Day by 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: “We’ve 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 workers took us for a quick journey to the lodge’s important 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 true property world, it’s all about location, location, location; and Arctic Lodges is properly positioned for handy entry to certainly one of 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 provides visitors their greatest likelihood of catching a trophy—presumably in all 4 species.

Arctic Lodges finds that visitors sometimes can have a shot at a “grasp angler” northern pike, and plenty of others will catch pike over 45 inches. Annually a lucky few will catch a 50. Quite a lot of baits will tempt massive pike however fly fishing for these beasts provides a thrill well worth the problem and lodge boats are geared up with giant, raised casting decks to accommodate the hassle.

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 gorgeous coloration on this fishery, whereas dry flies and 4-weight fly rods typically produce chunky arctic grayling.

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

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

Positioned 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’ll be able to at all times discover a leeward space to fish.

Friends can count on distinctive hospitality, whereas a crew 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 non-public washrooms and wood-burning stoves.