The province of Saskatchewan, with its thousands of lakes and rivers, is located directly within the center of North America’s premier ice fishing destinations. With large fish, plentiful stocks and ice for nearly six months of the year, it’s no wonder ice fishing is this provinces’ fastest growing winter sport. Walleye, pike, perch and lake trout are on the top of the species list and there are world class specimens of each of these species present throughout the province. With such an amazing array of lakes and species available, it’s a tall order to limit mention to only ten waters, but here are some of our favorites.
Piprell Lake
Location: 3 hours N/E of Saskatoon
Peak Time of Year: Late November – Early December
*Note it is important to be very cautious on the ice at this time of year. Always check for local information and fish in pairs!
Species of Fish: Stocked Trout, including Splake, Brook, Rainbow, Brown and Tiger Trout
Trophy Potential Alert: Piprell Lake holds the Catch and Release record for tiger trout and former provincial rainbow (over 20 lbs) and brown trout (just over 17 lbs.)
Tackle: Try small spoons or jigs. Jigs can be tipped with various baits including minnows or Berkley Power Bait. Some anglers like to use bait rigs like a standard pickerel rig.
Last Mountain Lake (AKA Long Lake)
Location: 1 hour N of Regina
Peak Time of Year: Early season–first ice, usually beginning of December through ‘til Christmas
Species of Fish: Walleye, Pike, Perch, and Burbot
Trophy Potential Alert: Well known for monster walleye, with fish over 10lbs. Solid pike and perch fishing throughout the winter season, and a very popular spot for burbot from late January/early February through the end of the season. Last Mountain also holds the current catch and release world record for walleye.
Tackle:
Walleye – Try jigging spoons and variety of jigs tipped with minnows or perch eyes (if you can find some).
Pike – Quick strike rigs under tip ups baited with smelts or cicso, jigging with spoons and heavy action rods.
Burbot – Spoons and jigs tipped with minnows bounced off the sand bottom.
Perch – Light or ultra-light rods with smaller jigs (tungsten Marmooskas are one of our favourites) with minnows, maggots or meal worms for bait, switching to perch eyes anytime you can obtain them.