It’s pretty special, sitting on the lake with nothing but the quiet, maybe the distant call of a loon and the splash of an aggressive rise. The opportunity to do that with an endless list of options to explore, is what makes us so lucky here in Saskatchewan. You can break the quiet, rev up the engine, take off and cover endless expanses of water that are here, but not everyone has that opportunity. If you are on a budget or just starting out in the world of angling do not overlook the small watercraft options that you have. It’s relatively inexpensive to get you to the point where you can effectively float and fight fish. We have long list of small bodies of waters that contain rainbow, brown, brook, tiger trout and splake. Not to mention the endless supply of water with northern pike, walleye, perch, whitefish, burbot and more. The opportunities are everywhere and some of those fish grow really big, despite being in smaller lakes. Added to all of that, each of the four watercrafts have some supreme strengths that simply can’t be matched by much larger boats.
FLOAT TUBES
This is the classic fly-fishing tool. For many years the float tube has been developing, growing and adapting. From the original donut-style model it has gone through an evolution that makes it a serious fishing tool capable of accessing some difficult to reach water and giving you the best shot at the fish that hide there. Light enough to back pack in, the real strength behind the float tube is that you can take it just about anywhere. You can even take it on a bigger boat for a portage into some more remote lakes. To be honest I don’t know why more pike and walleye anglers don’t utilize these tools more frequently. Using flippers as your propulsion mode you have the most sensitive and supreme boat control. It makes targeting and working specific areas that much more thorough and effective.
A GREAT WAY TO SEE THE PROVINCE QUIETLY
In Saskatchewan travelling with a float tube means you are almost certain to spend your time undisturbed by other anglers and boats. You have the opportunities to find more water that receives little or no pressure and did I mention that it is also really, really fun?
PONTOON BOATS
The one-man pontoon boats are what happens when guys who like float tubes take it to the next level. They are less portable, even though at some point you will portage it somewhere because it is possible. If I can get my pontoon boat to a lake I will. I have taken mine up to a mile to get into some lakes so it can be done. If my pontoon can make it in there that is my boat of choice for this provinces many stocked trout lakes.
MANY BENEFITS FROM A PONTOON BOAT
The reason for this is that I get all the benefits of a float tube, portability, boat-control etc. with the added perks of sitting higher up, out of the water and being able to add an electric motor, anchors, fish finders, rod holders, cameras and whatever else you fancy bringing. You definitely have more luxuries yet you can still cross extremely shallow water and present your lure well in all types of conditions. With the right footwear you can use these boats all season from ice-off until freeze up. Some pontoons also give you the ability to stand up and sight fish. Pontoon boats remain fairly inexpensive but there are definitely some outstanding models out there if you are willing to spend a few extra dollars.
CANOES
These boats are really a whole class of their own. Canoes are about getting out and exploring. They do not have the same stealth and control properties that the pontoons or tubes have. However where canoes go you often don’t need as much of that. They are the most efficient way to increase your range and access water that is further away. You can carry more gear for longer trips and therefore venture into more difficult to reach territory. Canoes are for the explorers who fish and have a long history in exploring and getting around Saskatchewan.
GO NORTH FOR ADVENTURE
Venture north, north of La Ronge into the Missinipe area or the Churchill river system for a start. There are so many options when you take a canoe with you. Or, a little closer to home, spend some time on the North or South Saskatchewan Rivers. With an extremely wide variety of target species available there are countless opportunities to camp on islands or on the banks of the rivers. There are many natural put-in and take-out points to be able to plan for single or multiday floats. A canoe trip provides the best opportunity to blend fishing, camping and exploring in this province.
KAYAKS
To be completely honest I haven’t fished from a kayak in about 20 years. I used to do it a lot, but I fell in love with the other types of boats and you can blame my fly rods for that. However, it is plain and clear to see the benefits of the new fishing kayaks you can get. If I lived closer to the ocean these may be my boat of choice. They are so versatile, can cover large ranges, they are heavily customizable with amazing potential. If the idea of a fishing kayak appeals to you I say go for it, I may even land up with one of these soon.
CENTRAL SASKATCHEWAN
Around central Saskatchewan there are definitely lakes that are a bit big for a float tube and if you don’t have two people for a canoe then the kayak can get the job done in an incredibly streamlined and highly customizable way.
We all love fishing and we love boats. Saskatchewan has more than enough water regardless of the type of fishing you enjoy. It’s a wonderful place to explore if you have these tools at your disposal. They’re more than just tools though, these boats really help us to have an amazing experience on the water, regardless of whether we catch fish or not. If, like me, you have ever found yourself stranded on the shoreline, struggling to catch fish, jealous of the boats zooming off to wherever they please, dig a little deeper as there are ways to get floating for everyone! n Left: Pontoon boats can provide a blend of supreme boat-control, accessibility and comfort, even late in the season.