Quick pic and released no problem.

I have been chasing big northern pike all year, though I have only fished for two seasons. I have been chasing a big hog after dozens of times out on the water and ice with not being able to crack into the surreal 15lb+ range and on the last day on the ice (for me) Sunday March 29Th it finally happened! A beautiful 40” pike which was safely released back into the water! This is what fishing is about! Tight lines everyone

I have only been fishing for a total of two seasons. Over the last two years I have given my heart and soul to fishing, wether it be chasing monsters in deifenbaker or enjoy a beautiful day on the shores of the south Sask river! But I will stand by that very few things beat a peaceful evening when you are the last one on the lake, at the shore, or in this case on the ice of last mountain lake! There is something surreal about being out there at the alone as the sun crawls behind the horizon to complete a good day of fishing!

At 93 kilometres long, Last Mountain Lake is the largest naturally-formed lake in southern Saskatchewan. The north end of Last Mountain Lake is not exceptionally deep. It is, however, extremely productive. The wetlands in the north make up part of the Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area. The bird sanctuary was the first ever in North America, and is one of the most important resting areas for birds of all types. Fishing the north end of Last Mountain Lake is excellent, if challenging. As a major spawning area for walleye, this part of the lake offers anglers a great opportunity to test their walleye smarts. The north end of Last Mountain Lake has some prime pike and walleye areas in the early spring. Big Arm Bay, on the western side, is a perfect place for early season fish. After the spring spawn for walleye, local anglers suggest trolling bottom bouncers and spinners, because they’ll be all over looking for food. In the early season when the water is clear, nickle, copper and other flashy colours are your best bet, moving into glow-in-the-dark and flourescents when the algae bloom and the water clouds up. In the summer, anglers should look for points and transitions, moving shallow to deep. Lake Access From Humboldt, there are several different route options, and several different potential stopping points along Last Mountain Lake. Here we preview the route to the far north end and the Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area. From Humboldt, drive south along Hwy 20. Before Govan, turn right (west) and follow straight through to Last Mountain Regional Park, where there is a public boat launch. Numerous facilities and amenities exist around Last Mountain Lake, and beach areas are plentiful. Be sure to check road conditions before heading out, as some access points may be more challenging in rough weather. The south end of Last Mountain Lake is where a lot of the action takes place. The water is a little deeper than in the north half, and there are several points where fishing is hot. There are a couple of spots that seem to be good for all species in this end of the lake. Perch, pike and walleye all hang around Rowan’s Ravine in the summer. In June and July, perch can often be found off the points near Collingwood. Last Mountain Lake is also one of the best ice fishing lakes in the west. If you’re after walleye, local anglers suggest heading out near the stone barn at Grandview Beach just after first ice. Another good ice fishing spot is at Sarnia Beach for walleye. As in summer, Collingwood is a great place for fishing for both walleye and perch. Local angler, Greg Prokopetz says some of the best fishing in the past few years has been for carp. “Carp fishing is huge. Lots of locals overlook the carp fishery, but tourists love it”. “They’re like catching a freight train. Carp are like picking up a block of cement with fins. They’re solid, they’ll run and run fast.” Prokopetz continues, “In the spring, they spawn. They move into the main lake and they eat. They’re like vaccuums. They’ll be dormant all winter and barely move. Come summer, they’re all over, eating. They love corn”. “We bait a lot with corn.” In the spring, try fishing for carp at the south end of the lake, near the river. There are two big tournaments to watch for: Regina Beach Lions Walleye Classic on June 1st and 2nd, and the Last Mountain Fall Walleye Classic September 6th and 7th. Both of these annual tournaments are part of the Saskatchewan Walleye Trail, with the Trail awards being handed out at the Last Mountain fall tournament.

Perch fish can be a blast especially if you get one 14”!

Two buddies and me headed out to Etter’s Beach on Last Mountain Lake, Saskatchewan. We started fishing and started catching really nice walleyes. My two buddies was doing ALL of the catching. I hadn’t caught a single fish in 2-3 hours. My one buddy says “the fish that decides to bite your hook, will be a monster! Mark my words.” So we continued to fish. All of a sudden, something bit my jig head tipped with a crawler. As soon as I set the hook, this fish took off fast! We pulled anchor and had to chase the fish down. After about a 20 minute fight, the fish was tired and we were anxious to see what it was. Up comes this massive, hog carp. We didn’t get a measurement. Weight was in between 32-33lbs. The weight isn’t perfectly accurate as the scale we were using wasn’t a very good one. But that doesn’t matter, all I know is I caught my biggest fish in my life that day. Truly, a great fishing story!