I am spreading the word on this trip as a favor to my good friend, Scott Gardner, the associate editor and flyfishing columnist for Outdoor Canada magazine, which is kind of the Field & Stream of Canada. I think he has a small number of anglers signed up so far and he would like to add a few more. 

You rightly asked who is going from our club and what is the connection with our club members and Scott.  Ron Mayfield is considering the Cree River Trip. Ron met Scott on the first Chetumal trip and he mentioned tonight that Scott wrote a story about that trip. Ken Kosut also met Scott on the first Chetumal trip and they are good friends. Ron, his wife Lauralynn, Ken and I also fished together with Scott in the Bahamas in 2022. 

I first met Scott on a magazine assignment to a Manitoba lodge and we have since teamed up on flyfishing stories in Guatemala, Belize, Bahamas and Mexico.

I am not able to make this Canada trip but I have fished in this remote area on assignment in years past and the quality and numbers of fish are off the charts. Scott puts this Lodge as the best of the best he has fished and he will be writing a story about the trip. I suspect the lodge owners and guides will be making their best effort to show off their waters for this group.

So whether it’s this trip or a future one, I think Scott is a good contact for our club members who are looking for a true Canada 🇨🇦heartland  fly fishing experience. 

Interested anglers can contact Scott directly or contact me and I’ll be glad to answer any questions.

Thanks for your help,

Phil

Hello Friends of Phil, and fellow anglers:

I’m the associate editor and fly-fishing columnist for Outdoor Canada magazine, and I’m putting together a trip for trophy northern pike from June 12-16, 2025. Pike on the fly are uniquely exciting, with tons of action and pugnacious fish—including truly large ones—all in a unique wilderness setting. I hope you’ll consider signing on. I have space for 7 anglers. And we need to book fairly soon to ensure that prime June slot. (Full info below.)

Our destination is Saskatchewan’s Cree River Lodge (www.creeriverlodge.ca), accessible only by float plane. No one fishes here except lodge guests, and the action is exceptional—even by Canadian standards. There are also Arctic grayling, and endless walleye. The photos above are all from a single afternoon at CRL, during my 2016 visit. 

I’ve been to a dozen well-known pike destinations in northern Canada, and the Cree is the best—by far. The fish are unusually large and plentiful  A typical day at CRL is 20-30 pike/angler, averaging 26-30 inches, with bigger ones mixed in. And 40-inch fish are landed almost every day of the season. 

If you don’t know northern pike, they’re aggressive ambush predators (a bit like snook). The big fish are mostly in knee-deep water, and you can often sight-fish for them. The strikes are electrifying, and in the clear water you often see the hit. Pike are real street fighters. They run, thrash, spin, make sudden turns, shake their huge heads and even kookier antics. Add in North America’s southernmost population of Arctic grayling, plus walleye that fight over your fly, and it’s quite a place. 

Destination: Cree River Lodge, near Stony Rapids, Sask. This is just 100 miles south of the 60th parallel. There are no other lodges within 50 miles.

Fishing: Trophy northern pike in shallow bays and river pools, Arctic grayling in fast water & walleye everywhere

Date: June 12-16, 2025 (4 full fishing days)

Travel: Arrive in Edmonton, Alberta, on June 11, spend the night, and take a dawn charter flight to the lodge. We’ll arrive to a hot breakfast, and a full fishing day. Fly out of the lodge early on June 16, arriving back in Edmonton at midday.

Weather: Daily June avg in mid-70s

Cost: $4350 for lodging, meals & guiding + charter & floatplane flights from Edmonton ($1500 value)

Format: Two anglers/boat, swapping on the casting deck & both fishing when anchored. If you like to stay busy, you can also throw a spin rod while you partner is on the deck

Fishing days: 8am- 5pm. But… sunset isn’t until 10:30 you can also arrange to go out after dinner

Accommodations: 4-person cabins with heat and hot running water + a dining/lounge area in the main building. It’s not fancy, but it’s comfortable. Another highlight: Daily shore lunches of fresh walleye

Gear: Basically 8-wts & saltwater/predator streamers, but I’ll provide a detailed list, incl flies and leader set-ups

Also, solo travelers are welcome! Everyone already signed up so far is solo, so we’ll pair up as needed. 

I’d be delighted to answer any and all questions.

I look forward to chatting—and hopefully fishing with you up north!

-Scott Gardner

PS – Below are a few more of my personal Cree River photos. The last one is a real kick…

Feel free to e-mail me at gardner@outdoorcanada.ca or phone at 647-867-1248. We can also Zoom or FaceTime.

SCOTT GARDNER 

Associate editor, web editor & fly-fishing columnist | Outdoor Canada magazine
56 Scarborough Golf Club Rd, Scarborough, Ontario, M1M 3C5
Office: 647-847-3952 

Cell: 647-867-1248

gardner@outdoorcanada.ca

www.outdoorcanada.ca

@OutdoorGardner