I had the opportunity to join my brothers annual Canada North fishing trip. Five guys fishing gear and me with flies. Lake trout, pike, walleye, and grayling were on the list at the lake this year. Main targets were big pike and lake trout on large flies. I brought two ten weight rods mainly for throwing large flies for 14 hours per day. I started filling the big fly box a few months ago. Big popping bugs were a lot of fun for pike. They would jump completely out of the water to land on popping flies. Pachiarrini predator tails on all of these flies work well!
The schedule was flight to N Alberta, drive further north and then a 2 hour flight in to the lodge with a stop to pick up people in a remote community. Signs of Canada.
The size of the lakes and the number of them in N Sask is amazing. So much untouched water. No roads.
The lake we fished is 554 square miles in size with hundreds of islands. We focused our fishing deep for large lake trout and at the mouths of bays and creeks/ structure for pike. I stopped counting how many fish were caught very early on the first day. The camp was rustic. Running hot water, showers, electricity when the diesel generator was on. Everything is brought in 100 miles over the ice in the winter. Beer for purchase at inflated prices. I somehow managed to squeeze a 48 pack under my gear weight limit (may have worn the same clothes all week).
Camp dog chewing on parts of caribou. Herds of caribou are around and can be seen on some of the islands.
Weather was good and their was always islands to get behind or bays to duck in to if it was blowing. Didn’t get blown out on any of the days we were there. Spectacular sunsets that far north, dusk for an hour or two and then it’s light again.
Largest laker was 29lbs. A handful of 40-45 inch pike and smaller walleye. I was able to get all species on flies except for the grayling which I didn’t target (should have brought a 3wt). 5-10lb lakers and 10 lb pike until my arms were tired.
Pinch the barbs especially when fishing gear! Luckily we had a kit with some lidocaine and lots of whiskey for a relatively painless surgery! He pinched his barbs after that experience. Overall great trip!
The schedule was flight to N Alberta, drive further north and then a 2 hour flight in to the lodge with a stop to pick up people in a remote community. Signs of Canada.
The size of the lakes and the number of them in N Sask is amazing. So much untouched water. No roads.
The lake we fished is 554 square miles in size with hundreds of islands. We focused our fishing deep for large lake trout and at the mouths of bays and creeks/ structure for pike. I stopped counting how many fish were caught very early on the first day. The camp was rustic. Running hot water, showers, electricity when the diesel generator was on. Everything is brought in 100 miles over the ice in the winter. Beer for purchase at inflated prices. I somehow managed to squeeze a 48 pack under my gear weight limit (may have worn the same clothes all week).
Camp dog chewing on parts of caribou. Herds of caribou are around and can be seen on some of the islands.
Weather was good and their was always islands to get behind or bays to duck in to if it was blowing. Didn’t get blown out on any of the days we were there. Spectacular sunsets that far north, dusk for an hour or two and then it’s light again.
Largest laker was 29lbs. A handful of 40-45 inch pike and smaller walleye. I was able to get all species on flies except for the grayling which I didn’t target (should have brought a 3wt). 5-10lb lakers and 10 lb pike until my arms were tired.
Pinch the barbs especially when fishing gear! Luckily we had a kit with some lidocaine and lots of whiskey for a relatively painless surgery! He pinched his barbs after that experience. Overall great trip!
