Blair Lake is the best lake trout day fly-out I have ever experienced in my life. A mere 15-minute floatplane flight from Thompson’s Resort, Missinipe Saskatchewan and you are into nonstop lake trout action ranging from 2-20 ponds. From June to mid-July, anglers will experience an incredible shallow water lake trout bite. Lake trout can be caught on a variety of baits such as Len Thompson Lures, Lucky Bug Lures, Buzzbomb Lures, SteelShad Lures as shallow as eight feet but most commonly in 10-15 feet of water. From mid-July into September, anglers will need to jig or three-way rig the deepest parts of the lake for consistent action. However, at this time of the year, anglers can expect to consistently catch lake trout ranging from 10-25 pounds.

I did an incredibly unique trip during my last stay at Thompson’s Resort. I fished 4 of the 7 smaller stocked trout lakes. All these walk-into lakes are all within 30-minutes of Thompson’s Resort. I fished these lakes from the comfort of my float-tube and caught and released three of the five different trout species that can be caught in 6 of the 7 small lakes/ponds. However, northern pike and walleye can also be caught from your float-tube, canoe, kayak, and in some cases, the shoreline, and all species can be caught with fly-fishing gear or spin-cast gear and all species are more than willing to test your gear. The next time you plan a vacation to Thompson’s Resort plan a day or two to fish the stocked trout lake/ponds that are a short distance from your cabin door.

I just returned from a self-guided fly-in fish trip to Upper Foster Lake in northern Saskatchewan on June 9-12, 2020, with Adventure Destination International (ADI). The night before our fly-out we stayed at Thompson’s Resort where we stayed in a beautiful log cabin with all the comforts of home. The next morning after a hearty breakfast in the restaurant we met our floatplane on the dock and buckled in for a breathtaking 45-minute floatplane flight to Upper Foster Lake a lake that is only fished by (ADI) clients. Upper Foster Lake is well known for the monster northern pike that stretches the tape well past the 40-inch mark, however, my goal was to target the lake trout that lurk just below the surface at this time of the year.

Anyone that has done battle with lake trout knows that this species will test any angler’s stamina and equipment. When you speak about lake trout fishing you often think about deepwater and long battles with a hardy species with a never give up attitude. During the month of June, that same hardy species with a never give up attitude is calling the shallow water 20-5 feet in depth home and when you hook up, which is extremely often, the battle is instant and starts only a few feet from the tip of your rod! During my trip, I lost count of how many lake trout I caught and released in the shallows and at least 40 of them came within eyesight of the remote cabin.

To answer your next question. Even though I was in the remote boreal forest of northern Saskatchewan, the facilities at Upper Foster Lake were amazing. A wood-burning stove provided the heat while the generator-powered the lights, fridge, freezer, stove, hot water tank, water-pump which provided running water and the shower-house which soothed your aching muscles after a long day of catching and releasing large lake trout and northern pike.      

We sat on the raised deck overlooking Otter Lake eating our homecooked breakfast and watched the sun cast a golden glow across the water. We enjoyed a peaceful sleep in one of Thompson’s Camp’s beautiful log cabins comfortably nestled into the boreal forest of northern Saskatchewan, Canada. Thompson’s Camps on Otter Lake is a complete drive to lodge. Everything you can ask for is there including. Beautiful log cabins of all sizes to accommodate the entire family, boat rentals, fish cleaning facilities, amazing fishing, and if you don’t feel like cooking or barbequing at your cabin, a fully licensed lounge with a huge deck overlooking the setting sun on Otter Lake it the place to rest and tell fishing stories with other anglers. And don’t forget to take a run at the (BFB) Best Friend Burger.

We spent three full days at Bill’s Lake Outpost Camp and lost count of the number of fish we caught and released. Large numbers of Arctic grayling and whitefish were caught at the river’s outlet less than a 15-minute boat ride from the cabin. These fish were repeatedly caught and released casting #6 Len Thompson Lures or a Big Sky Jig into the fast current of the river outlet.  Lake trout were caught trolling a #2 and #4 Len Thompson lure behind a three-way rigging system.

Walleye were caught almost everywhere in the lake including off the dock and in the river right behind our beautiful outpost cabin. We consistently caught two and three-pound walleye casting into two feet of water in the river. Walleye as big as 10-pounds were abundant and a thrill to do battle with but the two-pound walleyes that joined us for lunch and supper every day during our stay at Bill’s Lake were the most talked about and memorable walleyes. 

Northern pike was our number one targeted species and we lost count of not only the number of pike we caught but also the number of pike that stretched the tape past the 40-inch mark, including several pike stretching the tape past the 43 and 50-inch mark. One of the many highlights of our trip was catching nine northern pike over 40-inches on 11 casts. This was truly a trip for anglers that have a goal of landing monster northern pike. There’s no shortage of monster pike within the depths of Bill’s Lake. I can’t wait to return.

Nestled into the boreal forest of beautiful northern Saskatchewan, Canada, Twin Falls Lodge is an anglers paradise regardless of your angling skill level. Large northern pike and walleye are the targeted fish species and the experienced guides have no trouble consistently putting you on the quality fish. After a day on the water losing count of the number of fish you did battle with, you can rest in your sore arms in your breathtaking log cabin before you eat like a king at the main lodge. That’s if you’re not still full from your walleye shore lunch.