Although I’ve relished my adventures in the southern hemisphere from Africa to New Zealand, I’ve enjoyed my South Dakota hunts just as much. However, my favorite direction is north. Moose and caribou hunts have been awesome, but my favorite is fishing the waters of Northern Saskatchewan. It might be the smell of the great north woods, the cry of loons, a moose or bear swimming across the lake, dipping my cup into the lake for a cool drink, fresh walleye fillets for supper, or big, pugnacious northern pike. Maybe it’s just sharing this corner of paradise with friends.

I’m determined to get back to those waters this summer. In fact, I’d like to get back more than once, and I’m looking at three options. These include Lake Wollaston and Reindeer in the far north. Both hold huge northern pike, walleyes, grayling, and lake trout. Art Jones of Spearfish, his son and grandson, and I made thetwo day drive to Wollaston in 2019. In 2012 the late Vern Carpenter and I made the day-and-a-half drive to Reindeer. On those trips we stayed at commercial lodges. My third option is a “do it yourself” trip to Lake Besnard.

There was a time in the late 70’s through the early 90’s when friends and I made annual trips to Besnard in early June. I see Besnard as one of the best drive to, camp, and launch your boat fishing sites in North America. Besnard lies northwest of La Ronge. I first became familiar with Besnard in the spring of 1977 when Wagner’s Francis Doom invited myself and friends to join him. We stayed at the Besnard Lake Lodge and were guided by Miles Rat, a very talented Cree Indian. The lodge had been a fly-in operation until the Prince Edward Pulp Mill built a logging road into the lake.

I learned my way around the lake on that first trip, and eventually led groups of friends to join me. There were times when 12-13 of uspulled two boats, one upside down over another, plus a third boat on the top of Gene Kisch’s old school bus. Great memories! Besnard is an easy 800 mile drive. There’s a good chance I’ll once again go back to Besnard in early June with friends, but there’s one reason I’d like to make a second trip to Wollaston or Reindeer – the lake trout Besnard doesn’t have!

My first choice would be Wollaston Lake with Wilderness Family Outfitters. A flight in from Saskatoon is available, but either way it might run $3000-$4000. My second choice would be Reindeer Lake with Lawrence Bay Lodge or Tate Island Lodge. I’ve fished with all three. Cabins, boats, guides, and meals are part of the package. You can view Wilderness Family Outfitters, Lawrence Bay Outfitters, and Tate Island Outfitters on Google.

I have some ideas on possible Wollaston/Reindeer partners, and I’ll ask them, but we can always do a group thing if you’re interested. I’d like to aim at early August. If this sounds good to you, drop me a line. Why am I looking for partners? Most of my former partners are gone. or have quit fishing.

Getting back to Besnard, I haven’t fished Besnard in 25 years, but I’m confident that the fishing is still pristine. Also, my good friend, Gene Kisch, says the fishing is as good as ever, and he has continued to fish it over the years.

When I return to Besnard, there are two things I’d like to try. On previous trips, none of our boats were equipped with depth finders, and these would be great for finding reefs. The second? The last time at Besnard, my father and I made the long ride to Banana Bay – a haven for big pike. The pike ignored everything we threw at them until I tied a surface lure directly to the end of my line and fished largemouth bass style – no steel leader. They attacked with fury, but I lost half my lures to their savage teeth. I’d like to try the more resilient fluorocarbon line on those beasts and see if that would hold them.

I mentioned cost with regard to the lodges. The Saskatchewan lodges may seem pricey, but these outfitters need to make a living after two barren years with Covid. I’m far from wealthy, but I can afford it thanks to the South Dakota Retirement System. The SDRS has paid me a million dollars since I retired, and I only paid in fifty thousand while working. We need our most talented young people to become educators, and I’m hoping that this personal revelation will motivate them.

See you next week.