Week 15 in Review: One for the Books

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