Fishing Trip

[Caneyscud]

MrWalleye et al 

I have an invite to fish northern Saskatchewan, at Angler Rapids near LaRonge.  Recommended????

[StickyDan]

Never been myself but I hear the fishing up there is incredible.   I'd check it out for sure.  Just remember, if the fishing happens to suck, at least you'll still have plenty of Canadian beer to drink!

[TestRocket]

Any bad day fishing is better then a good day at work! Go for it!

[Smoking Duck]

The best fishing I've ever experienced was in Canada....granted it was northern Ontario but it would be worth the trip, IMHO

[RAF128]

Fishing in northern Saskatchewan is always great.    Beautiful country and scenery.   You'll be in the shield.   Nothing but rock spruce and lakes, lots and lots of lakes.  You should have a choice of several species.  Pike, walleye and lake trout and in some places Arctic Grayling.   Oh, and there's bugs ;D.   Mosquitoes and black flies so take repellant.   You didn't say if this is a drive to or flyin.   

[TTNuge]

Get a Thermacell for those bugs.  It keeps away Mosquitos better than anything I've ever seen.

[Mr Walleye]

MrWalleye et al 

I have an invite to fish northern Saskatchewan, at Angler Rapids near LaRonge.  Recommended????

Caney

I would jump on that! I have never been there but I have been in the general area a few times. I believe that Angler Rapids is on the Churchill River, not too far from Stanley Mission. This is located in the shild and is very pretty country for sure. My Daughter had to spend 2 months in the middle of winter in Sandy Bay which is east a few hours on the Churchill River. Part of her schooling as a Dental Therapist required here to fly in and setup a dental office for 2 months in an Inuit or Native community and this was where she was sent.

Here is some information on Stanley Mission....
http://career.kcdc.ca/comm/Stanley%20Mission.php

Here is a photo gallery from Stanley Mission...
http://career.kcdc.ca/pics/

I'm not sure if this is the lodge at Angler Rapids that you would be staying at but here is a photo gallery of some of the area. It's beautiful country for sure.

http://www.anglerrapids.com/photo-gallery.html

Mike

[Caneyscud]

Knew, I could count on you guys.  That is the Lodge I'm pretty sure.  Recognize some of the pics.  

Mike, that is cool about your daughter.  My daughter is a Nurse Practitioner, and wanted to do something like that in Alaska, the Yukon, or somewhere, but couldn't get the university to approve it.  Guy that has invited me, said he caught a 45 something Northern - don't know if that was pounds or inches - either way, I'm  shaking in anticipation.  Plus some monster walleye.  Never caught a walleye or a northern, or a lake trout or a grayling.  Don't know whether to take my good photogear or a flyrod or both!!

So those thermacells work?  I've been scoffing at the commercials - thinking another gimmick.  I'm a pretty good sized guy - do I need the patio sized one?   ;D ;D

Just got my itenerary, so now I can apply for my expedited passport renewal.  

The Stanley Mission stuff looks pretty cool.  I am going to study that tonight.  

It is a fly-in or at least we are getting picked up in Saskatoon in a float plane - pretty sure.

Never heard of the "shield", but I can sorta see the lake density on a map - is that why it is called the shield?

About to wet my pants already!

[StickyDan]

Not sure if they have pickerel in that neck of the woods but if they do, make sure you catch some.  We used to catch tones of it in southern Ontario (where I grew up).  My old man used to clean em and butter fry them the same day.  Still one of my favorite fish to this day.  Too bad we don't have em here on the west coast.  Another good one is perch.   Good luck!

[RAF128]

First off I don't think you'll be catching a float plane out of Saskatoon.   We're still in prairie farm land.   There is a river here but never see a float plane.   Likely you'll be flown from Saskatoon to La Ronge and then connect to a float plane.   I envy you going on that trip.    Was on one flyin many years ago and we were 125 north of where you're going.   We had the only cabin on the lake and the only sound was the odd float plane passing by, the birds and the rustling leaves of some birch tree.    The Shield in actually the Canadian shield and crosses northern Saskatchewan and angles down through Manitoba into northern Ontario.   It's similar the lake areas of Wisconsin and Minnisota. 
Sticky Dan.   Pickerel is a local name for walleye, and you're right.   They're delicious fryed in butter.   The only other pickerel I know of is a chain pickerel and they resemble a pike but with different markings.    We don't have them here and I don't think they occur in Ontario, but I could be wrong.    Maybe the very sourthern part of Ontario.    Doubt if they'd taste near as good as walleye.

[TTNuge]

I won't go bow hunting without my Thermacell anymore they work that good.  So far we haven't had any issues with the slight scent they put off spooking the deer either.  But I went early last fall with my Brother, he didn't have a Thermacell and I did, he barely made it through the evening and was bit up, I sat in peace the whole time without being bothered.  They really do work.

[Mr Walleye]

Caney

The Canadian Shield or Precambrian Shield coveres about 40% of Saskatchewan. LaRonge and Angler Rapids is in the Shield. The Shield is broken down into Ecozones and the area you will be is called the Boreal Shield Ecozone. The rock of the Canadian Shield is the oldest in the world and forms the breathtaking Boreal landscape. If you have never been there take a good camera with lots of memory cards.

Here's a little info from a canoeing site....
http://www.adventures.com/gasnet/517-8.htm

Oh ya... I would think they were talking 45 inch Pike. That would be in excess of 20 lbs. Whatever ya do... don't try to lip one!  :o

Be careful handling the Walleye as well. Their dorsal fin has spines and their gill plate edges are like razor blades. You also don't want to try to lip a Walleye either.  ::)

You'll have a blast Caney... When is the trip planned for?

Mike

[Caneyscud]

Mike,

July 9th through the 13th.  Traveling/flying all day the 9th.  Three days of fishing, then another day of travel/flying to get back late. Scrambling now to get an expedited renewal passport. 

Momma did not raise no dummy.  She wouldn't know a pike from a broom handle, or a walleye from a pillow, but gave me enough sense to not lip one of those toothy creatures.  However, was not aware of the sharp gill plates. 

Camera - check.  Probably going to take 3 - my Nikon D2x with 2 lenses and lots of gigs, my Flip, and an underwater digital.  But then again, I'm limited to 45 lbs.   ;D

Speaking of boreal.  Is there any chance of seeing the aurora borealis?  I think I'd pee my pants if I got to see that! 

[RAF128]

It might be just a little early for the Northern lights but close.   Depends on the condition.   They are spectacular.

[Caneyscud]

Thanks RAF

I'll be in Saskatoon at 1:47 on 7/9.  I'll wave at ya coming in!  You are probably right about the float plane.  I do think we are flying into LaRonge and then the float plane.