SASKATCHEWAN FISHING & HUNTING GUIDE 2014 depth and water conditions are ideal for rainbow trout, and record-breaking catches are not uncommon. In 2009, a 48lb. rainbow trout was pulled from these waters. Other popular Saskatchewan waters include Last Mountain Lake, the Fishing Lakes of the Qu’Appelle Valley, the Saskatchewan River system, Tobin Lake and spots in Meadow Lake Provincial Park, as well as Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. Most Saskatchewan provincial parks offer great fishing. Park lakes and waterways are easily accessible and a host of other recreational opportunities like trail riding, hiking, golfing and camping have been developed around them.
A whole new world of adventure awaits once the snow falls and the lakes and rivers freeze. Winter in Saskatchewan offers outdoor enthusiasts countless adventures, including fabulous ice fishing. By mid- to late- December, ice on Saskatchewan’s pristine lakes is most often solid enough for fishing (but always check conditions before crossing frozen bodies of water). Fish tend to be on a feeding frenzy around this time. With the right bait, you can catch walleye aplenty. Northern pike, yellow perch, whitefish, lake trout and burbot can also be easily caught in winter. Thawing is rare before mid-March. The three-month season gives winter anglers ample time and opportunity to get out on the ice.
Northern pike, walleye and yellow perch are the most common species in south and central fishing zones. Walleye and northern pike are also found in abundance in the north, along with lake trout and Arctic grayling. Travelling north through the province, the landscape shifts to boreal forest and Precambrian Shield. Access to numerous fishing lodges, resorts and campgrounds is provided through a series of highways and all-weather roads. Paved highway takes you from the city of Prince Albert to the famed fishing waters of Lac La Ronge. From there, you can drive the 440-km stretch to Wollaston Lake, north of the 58th parallel. The Hanson Lake Road, paved and wellmaintained, runs from Narrow Hills Provincial Park to the community of Creighton, at the Manitoba border. Along the way, you will pass countless waters that offer excellent fishing. Highway 155 provides access to lakes in the province’s northwest. The Semchuk Trail takes you to Clearwater River Provincial Park and north to Cluff Lake. Throughout northern Saskatchewan, you will find accommodations at government-operated campgrounds, many private lakeside cabin establishments and numerous drive-in fishing lodges. Northern Saskatchewan has one of the largest concentrations of fly-in fishing lodges in the world. La Ronge serves as a central base for fishing expeditions to remote northern getaways. Some road-accessible lodges offer fly-outs to even more distant, solitary fishing lakes. Commercial airlines, including those that provide direct flights into Saskatchewan from Denver and Minneapolis, serve both international airports in the province – Regina International Airport and John G. Diefenbaker Airport in Saskatoon. There is also service between Chicago and Regina International Airport. From these locations, chartered air services are available to take you to your destination in the north. When planning your fly-in adventure, check with your outfitter on flight arrangements as air service (chartered and scheduled) can often be included in your package plan.
Lake Trout
Saskatchewan has an abundance of healthy, record-sized fish. There are ideal ice-fishing locations throughout the province. In the southeast, Last Mountain Lake and the Qu’Appelle Valley lakes are favourite spots. Lake Diefenbaker, in the southwest, is another prime location, renowned for its trophy-sized rainbow trout. The opportunities in the province’s north are endless. Tobin Lake, near Nipawin, was the site of a world-record walleye ice-fishing catch in 2005 – Father Mariusz Zajac (known in fishing circles as Father Walleye) hooked an 18.3-lb., 36.5inch walleye. A reliable outfitter can offer advice and assistance in planning a fishing adventure that is guaranteed to be among your fondest and most memorable experiences. For angling regulations and licensing information, visit the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment website at environment.gov.sk.ca. For more information, visit fishing-in-saskatchewan.com.
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