Fishing in Saskatchewan

The Canadian province of Saskatchewan is a fisherman’s dream destination. Its vast land area, consisting of boreal forest in the north and prairies in the south, covers some 252,000 square miles. Of that area, nearly 10 percent is fresh water, including rivers, reservoirs, and an estimated 100,000 lakes, most of them teeming with fish. Most of the human population of Saskatchewan lives in the major southern cities of Saskatoon and Regina, which means that huge swaths of the province are practically uninhabited, so the fish are unpressured—and there are plenty of outfitters who can help anglers access the best areas via boat, float plane, or lodge-based fishing. Saskatchewan’s northern regions are especially beautiful, with boreal pine forests broken only by numerous lakes and rivers that hold trophy lake trout and northern pike. A few of the many famous lakes include Last Mountain, Diefenbaker, and Tobin, which are considered among the best destinations in the world for pike and walleyes, and Lac la Ronge and Wollaston Lake for lake trout.

The classic way to fish in Saskatchewan is to take a float plane to a fly-in wilderness lodge, where you’ll spend several days backcountry fishing from small boats on the region’s rivers and lakes. But just about every type of fishing is available; you can bring your own boat to any of the province’s famous lakes or rent one; wade-fish Saskatchewan's streams and rivers with light spinning gear or a fly rod; or try a self-guided trip where you’ll be dropped off for a week of solo adventure. Ice fishing is phenomenally successful during Saskatchewan’s long winters, and some of the largest fish are caught this way.

The most common and widely available fish in Saskatchewan is the northern pike, which grows large, is a ferocious fighter, and is fun to catch. Saskatchewan is also justifiably famous for its huge walleyes and lake trout, which can reach 50 pounds. But don’t overlook the great fishing for huge rainbow and brown trout. The all-tackle world-record rainbow trout, weighing 48 pounds, was caught in Diefenbaker Lake in 2009. Most trout don’t get quite that large, but many lakes in the province have rainbows and browns as large as 15 pounds. If you need more variety, target Saskatchewan’s good-sized brook trout, Arctic grayling, or yellow perch.

One thing that makes northern pike so sought-after is that these fish generally prefer shallow areas. This makes them easy to target with spinners, spoons, and crankbaits, as well as with fly tackle. Most other fish will move into deeper water as temperatures warm during the summer, so trolling or jigging will be the way to go. Fly fishing is a great technique for catching Arctic grayling in shallow rivers and in the connecting channels between lakes that are too shallow for pike and lake trout.