Winter in Saskatchewan offers outdoor enthusiasts countless adventures, including incredible ice fishing. Once the lakes and rivers across the province freeze, communities of ice fishing shacks pop up.

To consistently catch trophy pike these days, you have to venture to far northern Canada, to vast bodies of water where toothy critters are the dominant species and plentiful enough to deliver frequent hookups for anglers. 

Derrick and Desi Uniat are always happy to share the story of how childhood visits to Lloyd Lake Lodge eventually led to owning one of Saskatchewan’s premier fishing lodges.

When was the last time you wandered through the woods? Enjoy the call of the wild at Prince Albert National Park with 3,875 sq. km of outstanding natural wonders where parkland meets forest. 

Itching to get out and feel the (cold, cold) air on your face? Here are five activities to make you fall in love with Saskatchewan winters.

Ask a local – “What is one of your favourite things about summer in Saskatchewan?” Chances are, the answer involves visiting a lake or beach. 

It is an outdoor playground for those seeking a relaxing getaway or rugged northern adventure. 

The journey is always part of the adventure. Half of Saskatchewan's lodges are road-accessible. Drive-in lodges are an affordable option for those travelling with families or groups. Anglers are able to experience the remoteness of a fly-in lodge or fly-out lake without breaking the bank. 

While northern pike are the main attraction here, other species lurk beneath the surface such as walleye, lake trout and arctic grayling. Your quest during your stay is to catch some of each to qualify for the grand slam.

Larry Ladowski recounts his experience fishing out of Milton Lake Lodge and disconnecting in the pristine northern Saskatchewan wilderness.

While pike may not be a highly targeted species in the states, in Canada pike are a top prize. Why? One reason is that they get huge!

During a fishing adventure with buddies, a story came up about a far-off lake full of lake trout. He told us of driving 15 hours and then flying into this little remote lake where they caught lake trout like crazy.