This fly-in fishing lodge on Lake Athabasca in northern Saskatchewan has some of the best lake trout and northern pike fishing in Canada. The waters of Lake Athabasca are very productive, and this remarkable fishery is home to some massive ‘bucket list’ lakers as well as trophy northern pike.
Downriggers are not necessary to reach the big lake trout here. You can troll or drift and jig standard-size lures throughout the season. The lodge is in a perfect location to access the prime lake trout and pike fishing waters close by, and when the weather is right, you can boat across to the south shore and fish in front of the remarkable Athabasca Sand Dunes. Come and fish Lake Athabasca!
Lake Athabasca is a huge lake located in the northwest corner of Saskatchewan and the northeast corner of Alberta, on the edge of the Canadian Shield. It is 370 km long and is fed by three massive rivers — the Peace River, the Athabasca River, and the Fond-du-Lac River. The Peace and Athabasca Rivers on the west end of the lake create one of the world's largest inland freshwater river deltas. The fishing for lake trout here is exceptional, and the largest Lake Trout ever recorded came from Lake Athabasca. If big lakers aren't enough, the Northern Pike reaches more than 30 pounds, and beautiful Arctic Grayling thrives throughout the lake's shorelines, bays, and rivers. This is a Canadian fishing paradise.
This fly-in lodge is located on Johnston Island in the northeast area of Lake Athabasca in northern Saskatchewan. Johnston Island is one of the bigger islands in the cluster of islands south of the Crackingstone Peninsula, which extends down into the main basin of Lake Athabasca.
The location of the lodge in these islands provides shelter from the big water, but more importantly, provides an incredible structure for bait fish and the big lake trout that thrive here. This area's tangled maze of islands, reefs, and bays has an abundance of exceptional spots for large Lake Trout, as well as Northern Pike, Arctic Grayling, Jumbo Whitefish, and a few Walleye too.
The lodge is located in the heart of the fishing action - in a sheltered bay at the east end of Johnston Island. It is protected by hills and the rocky outcrops of the Canadian Shield, which surround the northern side of Lake Athabasca. This location provides easy access to the prime lake trout fishing waters of Lake Athabasca, as well as the many pike bays in the area that are rarely fished. While this area is considered prime territory for lakers, northern pike also thrive in the shallow bays along the north shore, and pike fishermen need to take note that pike of over 50" are caught and released regularly from this lodge.
Your scenic 2-hour floatplane flight from Fort McMurray, Alberta, will take you over the great Canadian boreal forest and the remarkable Athabasca Sand Dunes on the south shore of Lake Athabasca in northern Saskatchewan before crossing the lake and landing at the lodge tucked into a quiet bay.
Here you will enjoy the newly renovated and well-insulated cabins during your stay at the lodge here on Lake Athabasca. The cabins are equipped with your very own private washroom with hot & cold running water. Each room has a shower, vanity, sink, ventilation fan, and indoor toilet. Your cabin has LED lighting and an electric baseboard heater to keep you cozy on the cool northern mornings. The main lodge is comfortable and provides a large dining room for buffet-style meals and a lounge area with a cozy fireplace where you can relax and share the stories of your amazing day of fishing. After mid-August, when the Midnight Sun sets earlier, the Northern Lights start to appear in the late evening, adding another dimension to your great Canadian adventure.
The lodge has deep 18' aluminum boats with padded swivel seats, sonar units, radios, 75 HP motors, and trolling motors (kickers) to ensure you will be safe and comfortable when you are out on the lake. The fishing for lake trout here has been described as epic, the best, and off the charts - so be prepared for some sore arms!
From
Prices (2024):
$4250 USD/per person per 5 Days
$5950 USD/per person per 7 Days
All prices are per person, in USD.
All prices are based on double occupancy.
Singles are welcome, and the lodge will pair you with a like-minded fisherman if you want to share a cabin.
INTERNATIONAL NUMBER: +1 778 348 1676
You can also send an email to info@adventures.com, or use the contact form here below.
Find out more details about the tour and its highlights
Breakfast is served at 7:00 a.m. (coffee is ready at 5:00 a.m. for the early risers). After breakfast, you will meet your guide and head out from the dock around 8 a.m. You can fish for lake trout, northern pike, or both, and maybe arctic grayling. Your experienced guide will put you onto the fish of your choice.
Shore Lunch will be prepared around noon at a scenic and sheltered lakefront spot. Your guides try hard to ensure your shore lunch is tasty but fast so you can return to Lake Athabasca's amazing fishing.
After an epic afternoon of fishing, you will head back to the lodge by 5–6 p.m. Supper is served buffet style at the lodge around 7:00 p.m.
For evening guided fishing (by boat) near the lodge, the cost is $40 per hour (this goes entirely to your guide). The bay near the lodge also has good pike fishing, plus you can walk up to a point near the channel to cast for lake trout and arctic grayling on your own. Or just sit around the campfire or out on the deck overlooking the bay, make plans for tomorrow's epic fishing, look for the Aurora Borealis, and enjoy your favorite beverage.
Trolling for Lake Trout: Medium-heavy, fast action rods spooled with 30-50+ pound mono or braided line are preferred for lake trout on Lake Athabasca. Fluorocarbon leaders and terminal tackle should be rated for 80 pounds. Large Flatfish lures, Eppin...)
Trolling for Lake Trout:
Medium-heavy, fast action rods spooled with 30-50+ pound mono or braided line are preferred for lake trout on Lake Athabasca. Fluorocarbon leaders and terminal tackle should be rated for 80 pounds. Large Flatfish lures, Eppingers, Hootchies, and Len Thompson spoons are top choices. Don’t forget to bring a few Five of Diamonds spoons, big plugs, and crankbaits too. But no worries, your guides have lots of trolling lures for the lakers.
Jigging for Lake Trout:
Medium-heavy, fast-action rods with spin casting reels and 25-30+ pound mono or braided line work great for this type of fishing. One to two-ounce, tube or bucktail jigs work very well. White, chartreuse, and black colored jigs are the most popular. Bondy Baits are another great lure for the lakers on Lake Athabasca. These big heavy baits are very effective when slowly dragged or jigged near the bottom of the lake. ‘Dragging a Bondy’ along the bottom will produce huge lake trout. Bondy Baits are simply irresistible to trophy lakers and mimic the baitfish and ciscoes that inhabit Lake Athabasca. Slowly drifting over the steeper drop-offs with a big jig is one of the most exciting ways to fish for lake trout. Pay attention at all times, and hang on when these big fish inhale your jig!
Fly Fishing for Lake Trout:
A lot of fly fishers are surprised to find out that lake trout can be readily taken on a fly rod. From ice-out in June and into July, the top of the water column remains within the temperature range that large lake trout prefer. Large lake trout can often be seen cruising the shallows and rocky drop-offs, searching for prey. Deceivers, large jointed saltwater flies, and rabbit fur strip streamers are all top producers for the lake trout fly fisherman. 8-10 weight fly rods with large capacity reels are a must for these trophy lakers on Lake Athabasca.
Northern Pike:
When fishing for Northern Pike anywhere in Canada’s north, the most exciting method is casting into the shallows and drop-offs where the pike is lurking and waiting to ambush their prey. Spoons are always a good first choice, as well as large jigs, floating or shallow-running crankbaits, or big spinnerbaits. Good steel or titanium leaders or heavy fluorocarbon leaders are a must for these aggressive toothy predators. Fly fishermen will do well casting big streamers or floating mouse patterns early in the season when the biggest pike are waiting in the shallows and along the weed lines.
Arctic Grayling:
For Arctic Grayling, the fly fisherman will do very well casting dark nymphs and bead head patterns such as hare’s ear or prince nymphs, or cast dry flies like an elk hair caddis or stimulators with floating line and see if there are any takers on the surface. 3-4 weight flyrods are best for grayling. For the non-flyfisher, grayling can be caught by spin casting using ultra-light tackle, such as small spoons and white or black jigs. Mepps, Blue Fox, and Panther Martin spinners are all great lures for Canada’s arctic grayling.
BOOKING & CANCELLATION POLICY
All bookings require a non-refundable deposit of 30% of the trip cost in order to confirm your dates, with the balance due by May 1.
