Big lake trout are available at Cree Lake Lodge.
September 23, 2024
By David A. Brown
You can hear the enthusiasm in Nicole Kuyek's voice. Her passion burns hot for something that's very cold.
“It's a hidden gem,” Kuyek said of Lake Diefenbaker, where she and her partner Arden Pierce offer ice fishing services through South Sask Fishing Adventures. “Once you start to go down the road, and you see the river hills, especially with the sun coming up, it is so beautiful.
“It's such a big body of water, it almost feels like you have the lake alone. The scenery is so amazing, I just love being out there alone and walking down the ice road and taking it all in.”
Trophy-class walleyes are plentiful at South Sask Fishing Adventures. A big part of the ice fishing appeal, Kuyek said, is the social element. Sure, you can keep to yourself if you'd like, and Lake Diefenbaker offers plenty of space to do so. But for those who enjoy casually interacting with fellow anglers, it's much easier to do so on the hard water.
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“I love ice fishing because there's a community on the ice,” Kuyek said. “Depending on your personality, you can park your shack next to other shacks. It's such an experience to be out there; it's like a little village on the ice.
“Alternatively, if you want to be alone, being out on the ice at night with absolutely no one, is absolutely so serene. It's so secluded, there's nothing like it.”
And don't mistake this for marketing superlatives. Kuyek speaks from personal experience.
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“I prefer camping in the winter in an ice shack over camping in the summer,” she said. “Being out there in the middle of nowhere; there's just something cool about it.”
What to Expect Having seen many personalities and preferences, Kuyek stresses that ice fishing accommodates anyone interested in giving it a whirl. Casual anglers valuing creature comforts are just as welcome as hardcore man-vs-nature types.
“The joke between Arden and I is that when I go fishing, I don't leave the shack,” Kuyek said. “Our shack is like home. We have Starlink cable and it's not like we're roughing it.
“When he's out there fishing in the elements, I'm in the shack in a t-shirt. I have my favorite TV shows on, a lot of times, I'm reading a book. I can power fish, but I can also have a very relaxing weekend in the ice shack, while catching fish.”
Who doesn't love big pike through the ice? You've got ample opportunity at South Sask Fishing Adventures. Guest anglers can map out a plan that works for them, but whether they set up shop indoors or periodically pop in for a meal or a sleep, South Sask Fishing Adventures provides all the comforts of home. Built to accommodate four, the ice shacks feature a heating system, shower, refrigerator, coffee maker, air fryer, cooking element, outside barbecue, cots and comfortable seating.
“All you need to do is show up with your overnight bag,” Kuyek said. “We will have all the holes drilled, but if the shack isn't on a hotspot, we will move the shack.
“Arden is one of the most accommodating guides out there. His goal is not only to have somebody catch fish, but he wants them to walk away loving Lake Diefenbaker as much as him. He will move mountains to make sure the clients are set up for success.”
Kuyek said anglers enjoy viewing the underwater camera though the shack's TV to monitor who's in the area. Adding Garmin Livescope's forward-facing sonar views offers the tactical advantage of watching fish approach and react to your bait.
“I like to multitask (in the ice shack), but if I see another fish go by, it's pretty hard to walk away from your rods.”
The Common Mix Speaking of the Diefenbaker diversity, Kuyek said: “You never know what species you're going to catch. We catch a lot of walleye, pike and perch in winter, but you can also pull up a cisco, sucker fish, and whitefish. We've even pulled up sturgeon.
“The lake has big drop offs, so anglers can be 7 to 10 feet apart and be in very different depths. It's all about finding the right drop-offs and finding the schools of fish.”
Kuyek said Lake Diefenbaker's ice anglers catch a lot of fish on a jig and minnow, but if the bite's slow, a fluter spoon or a Northland Ripping Shad will wake ‘em up. If someone wants a big pike, she and Pierce will set up Jaw Jackers or tip-ups near the ice shack.
Burbot are on the menu at South Sask Fishing Adventures. If tasty perch is on the hit list, it's hard to beat a tungsten jig with a meal worm or minnow head, while glow jigs do the trick for nighttime burbot missions.
“Day trips are more for families, while the overnight trips are more for the adult, hardcore anglers, or the social scene,” Kuyek said. “Some people are up all night fishing for burbot and then up at dawn for walleye.”
“Whatever you prefer, it's a community on ice. Everyone checks on one another and share fishing reports.”
Kuyek said Pierce and other guides keep anglers cozy in pop-up shacks, but they also can combine guiding and ice shack day rentals tailored to personal needs. Guests usually prep their own ice shack meals, but guided trips include lunch, possibly a fish fry on the ice when requested.
Located in Beaver Flat, guides pick up guests at Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park. For bookings, visit southsaskfishingadventures.com .
Here are few more options for Saskatchewan ice fishing.
Cree Lake Lodge Located on the southeast side of its namesake water body, Cree Lake Lodge boasts appealing seclusion amid eye-popping scenery. Adam Schreiber, who owns and operates the lodge along with his brother Brandon and their wives (Darrelle and Amanda, respectively) said this lake has everything intrepid types need for a memorable ice fishing adventure.
“It's really a great experience; you get to snowmobile into some of the most remote terrain in Saskatchewan—beautiful trails that wind through evergreen forests in the Athabasca Sand Basin area of the Canadian Shield,” Schreiber said. “Modern accommodations and a lodge with running water in such a remote area makes a very comfortable stay. Fishing unpressured waters for gigantic fish is why most people come here.
Big pike are easily accessible at Cree Lake Lodge. “Cree Lake is a huge body of water (approximately 30 miles x 60 miles) with over 500 islands and numerous pockets over 240 feet deep. This structure and habitat yield healthy fish populations, while Cree's genetic history produces big fish.”
With big lake trout, northern pike and walleye topping the target list, Schreiber said T.C. Moto jigs, Cold Lake Specials, and Slater jigs handle a lot of their ice fishing. For all of these, Cree Lake Lodge guests bring their own gear, food and supplies for self-guided trips. Lodge staff point anglers toward the most promising areas for unforgettable ice fishing adventures.
The opportunity at huge lake trout through the ice is very real at Cree Lake Lodge. Describing the region's cultural/historical tapestry, Schreiber points to the earliest indigenous inhabitants (the Dene people), along with white trappers, and the Hudson Bay trading post located on the lake. A commercial fishery and fish packing plant operated on Cree Lake in the 1960s, while a weather station provided vital information during the world wars. A long-abandoned church still stands next to the lodge.
Of the lodge's appeal, Schreiber said: “Remaining mostly uninhabited aside from a few local people that still visit the area, it remains remote and virtually untouched from civilization for the last 50 years.”
Packages include a float plane flight from and to McMurray Aviation, approximately a 5-minute drive from the Ft. McMurray International Airport. For bookings, visit creelakelodge.com .
G&S Marina Outfitters Lodge owner Rob Schulz said he finds anglers of all experience levels drawn to the ice for its simplicity. For the seasoned angler yearning for spring's arrival so they can slide their boat off the trailer.
“What people really like about ice fishing is you need very minimal equipment; you can get a little ice fishing rod, an auger and away you go,” he said. “Also, it's something fun to do in the winter when everyone gets cabin fever.
G&S Marina can put you on big walleyes. “You see a lot of families bringing their kids out for a day of ice fishing. A sunny day can be beautiful on the ice.”
As Schulz explained, Last Mountain Lake where his service operates is a glacially carved water body know for large populations of giant northern pike, walleye, burbot and perch. Anglers catch a lot of fish on the classic jig and minnow or jig and meal worm, but they'll also use jigging spoons and Rippin' Raps, as well as dead smelt for pike and tiny jigs for perch.
“Certain areas produce different species, but in a day's fishing, you can run into all four species,” Schulz said.
G&S Marina Outfitters offers a menu of ice shack and equipment rentals, along with guide services (with or without shack rental). Guides pick up clients at the Rowan's Ravine Provincial Park marina.
NorthSask Eco-Adventures The opening line on the website says it all: “Get out this winter, without having to break the bank to do so.”
A subsidiary of NorthSask Eco-Adventures Ltd, in La Ronge, Saskatchewan, IceFishingRentals.ca makes it easy to enjoy the hard water, even for those lacking equipment, or traveling anglers who left theirs at home. Ice fishing's not an expensive sport anyway, but this operation offers an easy starting point with its $20 Bucket Basics Package.
The complete Canadian ice-fishing experience is available at North Sask Eco Adventures. Big fish and good times are the norm at North Sask Eco Adventures. The ideal gateway to ice fishing, a 5-gallon bucket fitted with a Bucket Caddy blends portability and convenience and doubles as a seat. The package includes a fishing rod, tip-up, tackle assortment and ice scoop. From there, anglers can accessorize as they wish with augers (electric or manual), heater and Garmin fish finder. For more advanced anglers, IceFishingRentals.ca offers thermal shelters, seats, camp stoves and more.
There's also Duo Convenience Package and Group Convenience Package options. (Free local deliveries on orders over $50.) For rentals, visit icefishingrentals.ca
