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Week 16 in Review: Sending off Summer in Style

by Jason | Aug 31, 2026 | 2026 Season, Website Fishing Blog

Week 16 in Review: Sending off Summer in Style

Sometimes it’s tough to notice from the water, but from a bird’s-eye view, hints of yellow and red are visible across the landscape. This time of year, those birds are likely migrating waterfowl; you can see and hear a mix of ducks, geese, cranes, gulls, and terns overhead. The Scott Lake season isn’t quite over; we are still rolling along at full steam, and the fishing hasn’t been better. Fish are fat, eager to chow down on spinners, plastics and flies and are giving the best fights of the year. This is fall in the north…we love it here!

The Pike Parade

Our anglers plied the lakes and rivers in northern Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories in search of pike, lake trout and the arctic grayling. Stories from the boats included great numbers of fish caught, busy days on the rapids for grayling, and many animal sightings. The big fish happened early and often this week, with a trio of giant pike on the first day making headlines. Mike Nixon caught a 47” tanker, then Garin Standridge added a 48” er from Wholdaia Lake, two incredible fish. Then Bella Powers’ flight came in from Selwyn, and she weighed in with a 49” giant! Big fish of the week and an incredible start to the week for big pike. As we settled into the flow, the big pike came in great numbers; 46’s were on tap for Bill Lacy, Betsy Spork and Mike Gobis; the flyouts were firing as well at Scott Lake. Rebecca Graf added a 46.5 on the last afternoon, adding to a great trip. The Grafs spent some time on the tundra up at Mosquito Lake, chasing grayling and trout to great success. It’s berry season on the tundra, and apparently muskox season too, judging by their photos and videos. In all, 17 pike eclipsed the 45” mark, making for one of the larger tallies of the season. An incredible 137 pike over 40” hit the nets and made some anglers happy, adding to the story board of the week’s memories.

Trout Time

Trout made up a few more of the trophies this week, 17 in total; for whatever reason, the trout fishing hasn’t been on fire this season. Likely, many anglers are choosing to spend their time on pike…a reasonable plan of attack, with results consistently great. Tenured trout tactician, Mark Graf, was the hot stick for lakers this week, pulling big Flat Fish T60S for a 43” tundra shark, on his way to a season-leading 110 total inches!! Mike Nixon was close behind with a 42.5” blimp that came out of the depths of Selwyn Lake. Dan Gobis added a 41.5 while Mike Nixon Jr. yarded in a 40” er on his first visit to Scott. We are always looking forward to the fall when the big trout come up shallow, fins and tails on the reefs…it’s chaos in the best way.

The northern lights made a few appearances; the wood smoke from a bonfire at the lodge curled up while the bean bag toss was in full effect. Great wines flowed, the food was superb, and guests and staff alike made memories that will last a lifetime.

Check out the link to our Orvis Endorsed page. We’d love to be considered for the Orvis Fly Fishing Lodge of the Year; your reviews can help us achieve that lofty goal!

https://www.orvis.com/product/scott-lake-lodge/3GSF.html

August 28

Aubrey reeled in this perfect pike with Anderson this week. They came rolling back onto the island with great smiles, already itching for the next adventure on the water. #getoutthereandexplore #NWT #orvisendorsedguides #NorthernPike

August 27

It’s like riding a bike! This is John’s first catch on the fly in years & what a beauty it is. #NorthernPike #orvisflyfishing #getoutthere #herefishyfishy #OrvisEndorsedLodge

August 26

A little hike, a lot of sun, a few hours of fishing & the perfect day was made. #graylingflyfishing #waterfallslover #nature #getoutthere #canadianfishinglodge

August 25

The wind didn’t stop Dan & Biff from crushing it today! This fat laker was Dan’s first trophy trout ever & look at the size! Another great day on the lake. #laketroutfishing #herefishyfishy #exploremore #fishinglife

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Week 15 in Review: One for the Books

by Jason | Aug 25, 2026 | 2026 Season, Website Fishing Blog

Week 15 in Review: One for the Books!

It happened 365 days ago: an all-time record of big fish caught in a single five-day period at Scott Lake Lodge. We didn’t know it at the time; everyone had a great week, but when it came time to crunch the numbers and produce our Annual Report, it became apparent Week 15 was special. Last year, 269 oversized lake trout, grayling and pike were landed by our crew. An incredible feat and the source of countless memories and fish stories by our 2026 angling cadre. This year was setting up to be much the same. After some unsettled weather, a high-pressure system was moving in from the northwest; it got warm, downright hot even. The winds switched south, stymying the fall migration of the waterfowl for a few days, and fishing went crazy. Off the water, the sauna was hot every morning; some whoops carried over the still lake as the early cold plungers hopped in. The northern lights danced overhead as the black spruce crackled in the bonfire; we ate well, drank nice wines and whiskey, and made memories only shared time in a wild land can create.

In the boats, our anglers landed a record-setting 285 big fish, the most in the modern era of Scott at least, and we’ve kept careful records since 1996. There’s something about a bit of nice weather as fall approaches that gives the fish a sense of urgency in their feeding. Of this impressive tally, 129 northerns over 40” were brought into the nets as the feeding frenzy was on. Logan Gaskins was the top pike stick this week, landing a four-footer with guide Spencer down in Premier Lake, having a shot of bourbon from the 4-Foot Club Decanter. First-time Scott angler Hunter Yackel was lucky on a 47” fatty from Snowbird Lake, then came some 47’s for Danny Peugh, Charles Collins and Van Gaskins. Selwyn Lake was hot this week with a run of big fish, a 46.5 for Jim Merritt, and 46’s for Manda Gaskins, Ethan Zant and Keith Thorton. In all, sixteen fish eclipsed the supersized mark over 45”. A pile of mid-thirties were talked about over après fish beverages at the Last Cast Bar, too.

All the fanfare wasn’t just reserved for the big pike; lake trout made a splash this week as well. As fall approaches, the trout aggregate a bit more; when you find them, there are a few around. This week, a few more lakers came topside wearing their spawning colours, vibrant oranges, yellows and reds, with white leading fin edges…they are cool-looking fish. Sam McInnis tied the season lead on big trout with a massive 45-and-a-half-inch laker that looked like it could be 75 or 80 years old; truly amazing that this fish could have been swimming around Selwyn Lake during the Second World War. Randy Graham set the hook and hauled up a 40.5” denizen of the deep, while Charles Collins landed a 40, then Manda Gaskins nailed a 39, as did Ron Helm. Fifteen of our anglers…exactly half earned Trophy Triple caps catching all three species in larger-than-average size. And thirteen of those lucky enough to gain entrance to the 100” Plus Club and a custom-made jacket.

In all, it was simply an incredible week; you could feel the buzz in the lodge the final evening: big fish, nice times, a bit of a celebration to cap off a week well enjoyed!

Check out the link to our Orvis Endorsed page. We’d love to be considered for the Orvis Fly Fishing Lodge of the Year; your reviews can help us achieve that lofty goal!

https://www.orvis.com/product/scott-lake-lodge/3GSF.html

August 23

Ending the week on a high note with a photo that says it all. These three know how to make every day count, and those smiles prove it! #getoutthere #fishingfun #canadianfishinglodge #northernpikefishing

August 22

Look at the size of that Laker! Sam landed this hog with Josh to complete her trophy triple & get her into the 100+ Club! A legendary day. #LakeTroutFishing #exploremore #canadianfishinglodge #OrvisEndorsedLodge

August 21

Sometimes the sun’s shining and you reel in a 4 footer on your last cast of the day, way she goes! Nice work Logan & Spencer! #pikefishing #OrvisEndorsedLodge #herefishyfishyfishy #getoutside

August 20

After reeling in a fat 39″ Trout yesterday, Meagan decided to give pike fishing a go! Evidently, it was a success. #NorthernPike #fishinglife #getoutthereandexplore #herefishyfishy

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Week 14 in Review: The First Hints of Fall…Northern Lights and Big Pike

by Jason | Aug 20, 2026 | 2026 Season, Website Fishing Blog

Week 14 in Review: The First Hints of Fall

We’ve ignored the signs for a week now; those yellow leaves on the birch trees must be a mistake. Once the high V’s of geese start to fly over, it’s a sure sign fall is marching its way south from the land of little sticks north of us. Summer has been great for the most part, enough rain to keep the fires at bay, warm enough weather to keep the pike fishing superb and as it draws to an end, another season full of memories and laughter on this 12-acre island. The weather for the first week of fall has been stellar: cool overnights, mild days and some angry pike in the weeds and on the rocks of Scott and the flyout network. The fourteenth week of anglers enjoyed some incredible fishing.

This week, an incredible 257 trophy-sized fish were caught: pike over 40”, lake trout larger than 35” and Grayling surpassing 15”. Making for one of the highest tallies of the season, these August weeks have a great pedigree for fishing, with all three species hungry and ready to chow down. Big pike were plentiful; 116 big girls hit the nets this week, showcasing their vicious boatside hits, engulfing flies, Cull Shads, spinners and almost everything thrown their way. Some first-time Scott Lakers led the big pike charge this week; Laurie Tipps landed the biggest northern at 47”, while her husband Steve was hot on her heels with a jumbo 46”er. Jeff Knorr, on his first trip to Scott, also scored on a 46” northern, while Bob Oullette and Joe Sauger were lucky on a couple of 45.5” fish, respectively. Long-time Scott angler Ian Gesmundo found his biggest pike ever, with guide Nuggs, a big 45”er. The pike this time of year can be everywhere and nowhere; our guides did an incredible job keeping our anglers on the bite, with fish in 3 or 4 different patterns around the lake. Rocks, weeds, shallows, windy points and shorelines all added to the success of the week.

The lake trout weren’t the focus again this week; great pike fishing kept our anglers targeting Esox instead of the deep-water-dwelling char that pull so hard. Greg Kippenhan was our top trouter, hauling in a 39.5” Salvelinus, Jeff Knorr was lucky on a 39 and a 38.5” trout. 38 specials were in order for Bob Oullette and Tim Kippenhan. Our youngest angler of the week, Matt Brzek landed his first trophy laker a 35”er, while dad Brian nabbed a 36.5” fish. There were three generations fishing and making memories together in the Brzek boat this week, Grandpa Gene was directing traffic and watching the boys learn all about fishing at Scott Lake…they learned quick as both Brian and Matt earned some Trophy Triple Hats!

The northern lights danced above the island; we celebrated some staff birthdays this week, ate well, drank probably more than we should, and downright had a nice time. If this is fall in the north…bring it on!

Check out the link to our Orvis Endorsed page. We’d love to be considered for the Orvis Fly Fishing Lodge of the Year; your reviews can help us achieve that lofty goal!

https://www.orvis.com/product/scott-lake-lodge/3GSF.html

August 18

Oliver & his dad Walter had an unforgettable week fishing with Red. Enjoying every moment, every cast & every fish. #FamilyFishingAdventures #luxuryfishinglodges #getoutthere #northernpikefishing

August 17

Jeff reeled in this nice fat laker alongside that monster pike getting him into the 100+ club! The fishing has been absolutely electric this week & it’s not over yet! #laketrout #pikefishing #canadianfishing #luxuryfishinglodge #exploremore

August 17

August 16

Big fish, familiar feeling! Ian & Nuggs have been fishing together for years & todays hog fits right in! #northernpike #lakeliving #herefishyfishy #makingmemories #getoutthereandexplore

August 15

Gene & his son Brian & grandson Matt have been enjoying the fishing fun, quality time & overall beauty of the trip. Generations of fishing in the boat, creating more lifelong memories. #fishinglife #familyfishingtrip #graylingflyfishing #orvisfishing #getoutthere

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Week 13 in Review: The Sun Came Back and So Did the Fish!

by Jason | Aug 14, 2026 | 2026 Season, Website Fishing Blog

Week 13 in Review: The Sun Came Back and So Did the Fish!

The last few weeks have wreaked havoc on the wood chip paths around the island; daily showers have kept things soaked and in less-than-ideal condition. Our maintenance team has been working double time to get things back in shape, using harrows, tractors, and just plain sweat to get all the wet chips dug out and things prepped for a fresh layer. What we needed most was a break from the rain and some sun…we got it! Not only does it help our landscaping efforts, but it also gets the big fish back up shallow and ready to eat. Lucky 13 was a great week; the crew caught fish, drank fine wines, hot tubbed, steamed in the sauna and had a darn nice time. The northern lights put on a couple of spectacular displays over the lodge on some clear nights. There is nothing like sitting on the lodge deck or one of the docks, northern lights dancing overhead, loons lifting their haunting calls across the big lake…that’s fishing in the north at its finest.

Back to the angling side of things, our crew landed a lofty total of 184 trophy-sized pike, trout and grayling; northerns made up the bulk of this, with 125 fish over 40” being brought to hand. To continue our record-setting pace on giants this year, Andy Edwards, a first-timer to Scott, landed a fat 47.5” er in some fast water near an outflow. Similarly, Paul Schultz set the hook into a hungry 47” fish with guide Sean; these two megas bring our season’s tally to an incredible 53 fish over the 47” mark…leaving the past record far behind. The big fish didn’t stop there; Dave Underwood added a 46 and 46.5” pike to the week’s big fish parade. Jason Laughran landed a 45.5” northern, while 45’s were on tap for Justin Crawford, Matt Brown and Al Williamson. Fly rods, spinners, spoons, plastics- all methods were employed, and it sounded like our anglers enjoyed success all around.

With the pike fishing being on such a hot streak this season, our anglers haven’t put the time in for big trout as in the past. Conditions are prime for tracking down the big tudra sharks in the deep summer holes, although a few already adorned in their fall spawning colours are being caught. Paul Schultz landed a mammoth 43” laker this week, and a 41” er, vaulting him into the season’s lead in the 100+ Club with an incredible 107 total inches for his three trophies. Bill Holvey was over to Selwyn Lake with Poacher; he found a 42-and-a-half-inch hog trout in the big hole there. Ryan Higginbotham added a 41, and Karen Morse a 40 to round out the giant trout of the week.

The grayling rapids continue to draw our anglers to these wild northern rivers; many enjoyed days fishing from the bank or boats, slinging dry flies to these eager bug eaters. Some incredible video made the cut for the evening Fish Pornsegment after supper; slow-motion leaps and eats in the rapids are always fun to watch. Lefty Falls again drew interest in a final day trip with the Tilton/Fehrenbacher family. A pizza shore lunch above the falls, some grayling fishing and a nice hike…what a way to end the week. For the first time in a while, our outgoing group sat outside in the sun waiting for the plane ride south. Summer is still here, and we are loving it.

August 13

For their last day, Jim, Stephanie, and Lee made the run out to Lefty Falls for one more chance to soak in the wild beauty the North has to offer. They caught a few fish, enjoyed a proper shore lunch, and spent the afternoon wrapped in the roar of the falls and the kind of view you don’t forget. #getoutthereandexplore #nature #fishinglife #FamilyFishingAdventures

August 12

The perfect blue sky, a massive pike on the line & the energy in the boat dials up a notch as Dave reels in this beauty. #pikefishing #OrvisEndorsedLodge #herefishyfishy #exploremore

August 11

What a day out there. Karen hauled in a tank of a Laker, and Bill on the other side of the boat followed it up. Non‑stop action, great company, and hungry fish…pure perfection. #laketroutfishing #OrvisEndorsedLodge #lakeview #setthehook

August 10

Paul reeled in an absolute hog, one of those fish that you just never forget. #pikefishing #scottlakelodge #exploremore #pike #GetOutdoorsAndExplore

Week 9 in Review: Big Fish and a Bonus Evening

by Jason | Jul 25, 2026 | 2026 Season, Website Fishing Blog

Week 9 In Review: Big Fish and a Bonus Evening

It’s not too often we get to keep people around for some extra time, but this week was one of those times. In the past 15 years as GM, this is the fifth time this has happened. The weather was perfect, sunny and high skies; our crew were relaxed and ready to head home, but luck wasn’t on our side with some unplanned maintenance on the RJ90 Jet we fly from Edmonton. The understanding of the north and southbound crews was appreciated; this one was out of our hands, and we just hate to lose. After another prime rib supper, all were in bed early, ready for a trip back home after a stellar week of fishing. One windy, rainy day with four perfect northern fishing days is a pretty good run. That stormy day, let everyone hot tub, sauna, read, or head to the Stone Haven Spa for some treatments. It’s a holiday, and the crew seemed to enjoy some downtime.

The fishing this week continued its incredible track of good numbers and some very nice fish. For the first time this season, pike were not the trophy leader; the grayling rapids were full of anglers looking to find these feisty dry fly eaters. From the chatter around the bar each evening, it must have been a blast, as there were lots of fish tales going around about adventure on these wild northern rivers and animals spotted. Ninety-eight larger-than-average grayling hit the banks and nets this week; a heck of a week admiring these beautiful creatures. Suzanne Noble hit up the rapids at Dubawnt River to great effect. Mosquito Lake was a hotspot this week; Dallas and Wade Clark both hit 19.5” ers, as did Susan Murphy on her first trip to Scott Lake. Her partner, Dale Sellers, found an 18-and-a-half; this boosted all four into the 100+ Club! Of note: Wade is the season leader up to this point with a tally of 107” total for his three trophy fish, a 45” northern, 42.5” trout and that 19-and-a-half-inch grayling.

Wade’s big trout led the way this week, while dad Dallas was right there with a 40” er. Cindy Bixler worked on her bicep curls with a 41” tundra shark, and Jerry Kolek hoisted a 40.5” from the depths. As the trout begin to concentrate in the summer holes, our anglers were able to target the big ones both by jigging and trolling. Lots of fun was had battling one of the hardest-fighting freshwater gamefish, the forked-tail lake trout.

The pike didn’t take the week off either; big fish were found both shallow and deep. Flies, plastics, spinners and spoons all seemed to have their moments. Big fish of the week went to Darren Deeter with a 47.5” jumbo; Harry Moulopoulos and Randy Lail also netted 47’s. This is big news as it ties our annual total of giant pike over 47 inches from last year, with a whole lot of season yet to go! Who knows where things may end up this season. Aris Moulopoulos and Matt Yackel both got fat 46’s, while Cindy Bixler, on her hot streak, landed a 45.5” supersized pike. In all, ninety-four northerns better than 40” were caught.

The wildlife sightings were hot this week; more moose than ever were making an appearance, and some muskox on the northern flyouts were coming down from the tundra. This was topped off by a sow black bear with three young cubs, caught swimming a channel. One rascal was left behind and caused quite a fuss, according to Dale and Susan. Even though the group were treated to two prime rib welcome dinners at Scott Lake, everyone took the hiccup in stride, and we appreciate you for that. The 9^th week was one we won’t soon forget!

July 23

It’s been easy laughs and good times with Eddie & Bryon in the boat…plus beauty pike like this one! #getoutthere #memories #pikefishing #herefishyfishy #canada

July 22

Ron reeled in a birthday pike like it was meant for him! Big smile & a fish that showed up right on que. Happy Birthday Ron! #northernpikefishing #exploremore #fishinglife #canadianfishing