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 few roads in 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 Cree 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.