A Canadian Fishing Adventure

Hatchet Lake Lodge

Marti Buscaglia

I’m the type of person who squirms at the thought of putting a worm on a hook or touching, up- close-and-personal a slimy, scaly fish. So when my then-boyfriend asked me to go with him on a fishing trip to Canada, you can imagine my concern.  “Don’t worry,” he assured me, “you won’t even have to touch a fish. There are guides who do it all for you. All you have to do is reel it in. They take care of all the rest.”  What I didn’t know then was that reeling in one of those 40-inch Northerns was going to take all of my strength, and then some. Ah, but I’m getting ahead of myself. 

We drove —a beautiful wooded drive— to Winnipeg where we boarded a chartered DC-10 to Hatchet Lake, a remote but luxurious fishing resort in the heart of Northern Saskatchewan, Canada where guests are usually greeted by bagpipes as they arrive on the dock after a short boat ride from the landing strip. In our case, the owner, Scotsman George Fleming, was away for medical reasons so we missed out on the bagpipes, but the arrival was nevertheless memorable as we approached the three-story log lodge complete with fitness room and lounge.

Deep in the wilderness, Hatchet Lake nevertheless presents a 5-star luxurious experience to its guests. Its cuisine is beautifully prepared and presented in a dining experience that is family style, yet at the same time elegant. The lounge, game area and exercise room are easily accessible and fully equipped. But the best part is the shore lunches, cooked by Native fishing guides who present these beautiful nutritious meals featuring your own fresh catch of the morning.

For me, an animal lover (yes, even fish) it was heartening to learn that Hatchet Lake Lodge has a barbless lure policy. Fish are caught and released with minimal trauma — you keep only the fist you plan to eat for lunch. The Native guides share their culture and traditions with you and you come to rely on them for their skill and expertise.

When we came upon a loan wolf standing on the shore our guide Rheale expertly maneuvered the boat as close as he could get so that we could take a photo that captures a once-in-a-lifetime experience, an encounter with a wolf who probably had seen few, if any humans. She sniffed the air around us as if trying to figure out exactly what we were. The smell of fish from the boat probably kept her on the shore as we snapped photo after photo as she paced, looked at us, then paced some more. Finally, convinced that we were probably too big to eat, she retreated back into the forest and left us with a memory we will cherish throughout our lives.

We flew to nearby lakes each morning, landing on the shore of small islands in a seaplane, then spending the day on the water fishing. Even I, an inexperienced novice, managed to catch a 40-inch northern pike and a 39-inch trout, both thrown back into the lake. I even made the famous “Catch of the Day” board with the trout, feeling pretty proud of myself. In the evenings we’d head back to the lodge for cocktails and wonderful meals in the company of the other guests, each with their own delightful fishing story to tell.

The accommodations, the service, the camaraderie of the group, all were magical. But for me the best part was the morning it rained. We ducked our heads as the rain poured down, and as I looked out upon the water, it looked like mercury, silver drops falling heavily into the lake and creating shimmering ripples of liquid magic. It took my breath away and I was grateful I had decided to fly out on what started out as a dull, gray morning. Here I was surrounded by drops of silver rain, feeling one with nature and the earth – a moving experience. It was that same day we saw the wolf.

I will never think of fishing the same again.  And yes, I’ll do it again. Anytime.

For more information on Hatchet Lake Lodge, visit their website at www.hatchetlake.com