Saskatchewan’s Cree River belongs on every pike angler’s bucket list—especially if you fly fish. Here’s why

#3  The location is wild and remote, yet comfortably civilized

Getting here feels like an adventure. There are no roads into this part of northern Saskatchewan, so you load your gear onto a floatplane and lift off over a vista of boreal forest and nameless lakes. When the pontoons touch down, you’re stepping into true wilderness: no towns, no crowds, just eagles wheeling overhead and loons calling across the bay. In fact, CRL is the only outfitter on Wapata Lake and a long stretch of the river, so there’s no competition for good spots.

But even though it’s remote, it’s still plenty comfortable. The lodge has cozy, modern cabins, a cheery dining and lounge area and first-rate staff. Here, the skilled guides are all anglers themselves, and the boats—including both traditional aluminum models, the poling boats and even a pontoon boat for those who need more stability when fishing—are perfectly matched to the fishery. This isn’t roughing it; it’s wilderness fishing with just enough civilization to make life comfortable.