November 16, 2014
By Steve Hoffman
For over 35 years, In-Fisherman editors have sampled fly-in fishing in Canada for giant pike. Wollaston, Cree, Great Slave, Reindeer, Nueltin, and many morethe names of world-class fisheries and the fish caught while visiting them flow in a steady stream of memories from the In-Fisherman photo archives.
North Haven resort, the only lodge on Utik Lake, is at the top of the spectrum for exquisite lodging with an excellent shot at catching pike surpassing 45 inches. The dining is worthy of Michelin stars. There's a beautiful bar to kick back in for a before- or after-dinner beverage. Slip into the hot tub and watch the sunset. There's a sauna and a workout room. And after a busy day of fishing, sleeping in a comfy bed in a beautiful cabin, under a sky that's often the canvas for fiery flares from the Northern Lights is soul soothing.
Utik is a deep, clear body of water that also holds lake trout surpassing 30 pounds and plenty of walleyes up to about 25 inches. Walleyes are the typical shorelunch fare, but those lunches are anything but typical. Deep fried to golden brown is always on the menu, but so are savory stir-fries, and much more—along with a glass of wine or a cold beer as you relax and watch the cooking unfold.
During early season from ice-out in early June through about the first week of July, pike often hold in typical shallow haunts in back bays off the main body of water. At least some of the fishing is for fish you can see. It's a fine time to cast flies or fish light flukes on spinning tackle.
Later in summer some of the bigger pike move into deeper weedbeds in large bays or main-lake areas. Here fly-fishing also excels, as does casting spoons, spinners, swimbaits, and jerkbaits like the Rapala Glidin' Rap or the Sebile Stick Shadd.
Contact: North Haven Resort, 866/531-3848, northhavenresort.ca
