A Legendary Prairie Angling ‘Tight Line’ Adventure at Lloyd Lake Lodge
By Nancy Dorrans
“Deep in the Saskatchewan wilderness, rivers and lakes are still peaceful and unspoiled. It’s in this northern paradise that one lodge has become the epitome of fishing, friends, and fresh food. Family-owned and operated, Lloyd Lake Lodge delivers a secluded experience resting on a fishing experience that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world. Memories are made, hearts and minds transform, and the culinary delight that follows every catch? Legendary.” –Lloyd Lake Lodge
It took two private flights to begin our Prairie Angling “Tight Line” Adventure at Lloyd Lake Lodge. From Saskatoon we flew to Fort McMurray (yes, back into Alberta) aboard a luxurious corporate jet, complete with a catered lunch, leather seats, and a variety of snacks and drinks. On the second flight from Fort McMurray to Lloyd Lake Lodge the plane was much more basic, but the pilot was very friendly and the scenery was breathtaking.
From where I sat I could see winding rivers, ponds, grassland, countless lakes, and dense, rugged forests where recent wildfires had left their mark. Smoke billowed far in the distance from fires still burning. In fact, just six years ago a wildfire came frighteningly close to engulfing Lloyd Lake Lodge. Thankfully, with the help of fire fighters pumping water from the lake onto surrounding treetops and a plane that dropped fire retardant, the property was saved.
Our pilot circled the lake shore giving us our first glimpse of the lake and lodge. We landed on an isolated sand strip and were warmly greeted by brothers Derrick and Desi Uniat and their dog Finn. The brothers, owners of Lloyd Lake Lodge since 2011 claim to have found “Freedom in Fishing.” They first visited the lodge as young boys on a fishing holiday with their grandfather and have been returning every summer since. Derrick is a trained chef, teaches culinary arts in the off season. He has even appeared on the Canadian version of Chopped and has been invited to participate on “Top Chef”! Needless to say the food was amazing! Desi does whatever else is needed to keep the property ship shape!
The “Lodge”
The “lodge” consists of a collection of six guest cabins plus a dining building, general store, gathering cabin with pool table, deck and an outdoor fire pit, and a spacious wood burning hot tub.
We spent five full days breathing in the fresh air, fishing, eating, and fishing some more from the dock, the shore, and the boats. The setting was picturesque and serene. With my first cast from the dock that first day I hooked a sparkling northern pike. I was thrilled and hooked! Ha!
Our local indigenous guides Ivan, Henry, and Clarence – nicknamed Reverse – took good care of us. When I asked how Reverse got his name, Derrick replied, “There are about fifty different stories… Who knows which one is true?” Reverse just smiled and said “…YAHHHH!!”
“Tight Lines”
These three men maintained and drove the boats, set up the equipment, chose the lures and bait, found the best fishing holes, and gently coached us. “Tight Lines” was their creed. When we had a fish on the line, they grabbed the net, unhooked the fish (northern pike or walleye), reset the hooks… Then we did it over and over again…
Matt the official photographer from Tourism Saskatchewan and I had Ivan as our guide. Sometimes Ivan drove the boat (Fog Ducker) with one hand and fished with the other. We listened to his stories about his family, his forty years as a guide, his Dene roots, and his thoughts on life after death. {The Dene people are an Indigenous group of First Nations who inhabit the northern boreal, subarctic, and Arctic regions of Canada.)
Ivan listens carefully to his surroundings. He understands messages from birds and other animals… I was captivated!
Shore Lunch – Time to eat!
Each morning after breakfast we boarded the boats and fished until we had enough walleye to enjoy a shore lunch somewhere with a fire pit and a view. Then our guides, working together like one finely tuned machine, cleaned the fish, chopped the wood and/or onions, built the fire, and cooked.
A pristine view, fresh fried fish, baked beans or potatoes with onions, and chef Derrick’s special sauce topped off each day’s shore lunch. The used oil and fish remains were left for the bears… We didn’t see any, but heard stories…
From Lloyd Lake and the mouth and rapids of the Clearwater River to Lost Lake and Langley Lake… Each day was different yet the same… Surrounded by peaceful serenity…
There was something in the air over Lloyd Lake Lodge that bonded us tightly with our hosts, guides, and new friends… I can’t quite figure out what it is. Perhaps, it is… Freedom in Fishing! Yahhh!!!
Lloyd Lake Haiku
Saskatchewan fish
From a boat named Fog Ducker
So many biting
Read Part 1 of Nancy’s Saskatchewan adventure here:
Saskatche-what? Where? When? – The West End News
