Arctic Grayling Fishing at it's Best

You probably didn't travel to remote Northern Saskatchewan with Arctic Grayling as your primary species to fish. But while you are here, now is the chance to take part in what is one of the top light tackle fishing experiences anywhere, any species. Arctic Grayling are a treat to fish, whether on a light weight rod throwing spinners and micro-spoons or on a 4 or 5 weight fly rod. The experience is unforgettable. But that's what Cree River Lodge is about, providing an outstanding fishing experience and a level of variety most fisheries can only wish for.

When the midges and caddis are hatching, the top water action is a fly-fishing dream, and light top-water lures on a spin-cast rod will land you plenty of fish as well. The catch is the start of an epic aerial display. Leaping from the water with twists and a somersault (or two) plus the brilliant flashes of colour from their iridescent bodies and you will believe the Grayling should be know as the "Acrobat of the North". It's not. Add the oversized dorsal fin to the visual display and the name "Sailfish of the North" needs no explanation.

View the Fishing Gallery

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Arctic Grayling Fishing Tackle Tips

Rods

5’ to 6’ light to medium action

Reels

light spinning reels with 4 to 6 pound test mono

Lures

Small spinners (#00 - #1) Mepps, Blue Fox, Panther Martin, etc

Flyrods

4 to 6 wt rods with floating line

Flies

Dry – Sizes 8 to 14 – mayfly, caddisfly and stonefly patterns, heavily hackled for fast water. Foam patterns work well too.
Wet – sizes 6 to 12 – Nymphs of the same species as well as streamers and soft hackle patterns.

Fly Fishing for Arctic Grayling

Fly fishing for Arctic Grayling can be some of the best action on the water. With light weight fly rods and an assortment of dry flies and nymphs, the "sailfish of the north" can put on a spectacular leaping display and keep you busy casting and releasing these spectacular fish.

We don't want to give away all our secrets, some of those stay with our guides, but we have several decades of fishing and testing a variety of flies and techniques for casting to these fish in our rivers. From dry flies to specific nymph selections (see section above), we are happy to share them with you when you come to visit.

See more on our Fly Fishing for Grayling Page below.

Fly Fishing for Grayling

You don't have to go far to start getting that feeling that the next trophy might be just within casting distance...

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"Very knowledgeable guides that are lots of fun to fish with. Lots of fish and very big!! Looking forward to come back. Thanks for the memories."

Timothy Nethery

“Big year Patty, 49-1/2" + 50" for us. It'll be tough to beat those numbers ... but we'll give it a shot next spring. XO."

Paul Hamilton

“Excellent facility, excellent fishing, excellent people, excellent food. First class place that I will tell all about. Trip of a lifetime, many memories. Thanks."

Richard Crowe

“Made the trip with high expectations. All expectations were exceeded, blown out of the water. Was hoping to land a few pike on my fly rod and broke all my personal records with a 46" pike on the fly. 8 pike 40" or larger in 3 days. Thanks to the guides, Darren, Joel, Georgie for putting us in the right spots, again, again, again. ”

Galen Sonntag, Dan Reynolds

"Had a great time! Looking forward to returning another time. Thanks to all the staff!"

Bryan

"Thanks for a “great time”. Excellent fishing and meals. Awesome staff. This is a first rate resort!!"

Fraezer Hillstrom

"What a great time! Thanks for the wonderful meals Doreen and Betsy! Looked forward to them as much as the fishing! Pat & Paul – thanks for the effort – I realized that you can lead a horse to water…great laughs too! Have a great winter."

Dale Atkinson

"Excellent food!! Excellent fishing!!! Awesome time!! Thanks Pat, Paul & the ladies!!!"

Geoff Bedard

"Richardson Pioneer & Synergy group arrived Sunday August 22nd. Sunny day, little cool. Everyone has a smile on their face. Departing August 25th still smiling, what an awesome time!!!"

Jon Habok

"Thanks for the great hospitality. The fishing was unreal, the meals were crazy good, thanks for the great memories."

Heinberger group (Robert, Travis, Preston, Alex)

"Pat & company, great lodge and wonderful fishing experience - thank you for making my initial pike and walleye experience so awesome. Hope to see you again"

P. Kelley Weber, ID, USA

“We had an awesome time! Caught the biggest fish ever! Food was great, guides were amazing. Wink wink to Bob! Can’t wait to come back again. Thanks to Bob, Dorreen, Pat, Cindy, & Wade"

The newly engagers, Darren & Kim

“Patrick, Best walleye fishing in 10 years! Thanks for doing a great job as our host! You continue to improve the wonderful experience. All the best."

Mitch Irvin Hillsborough, CA, USA

“LOVED IT ALL! Thanks."

Don Whitaker Auburn, CA, USA

“Great fishing!"

Richard T. Fedor Southington, CT, USA

“Had a very good time, see you soon."

Don Ray

“Thanks for a great trip and lots of fun."

Bobby Nichols

“Thanks for my 1st fish!! 36.5” pike. Cant wait to come back."

Matt

“Thanks for a great time. Hope to see you next year. Fun fun fun."

Frank P. Southington, CT, USA

“Thanks for an awesome time. The fishing was great, you cannot keep them off the hook. The hospitality was second to none. Thanks for a wonderful, relaxing time."

Carsen French

“Thank you for a great time. Most fish and biggest fish I have ever caught. Cabins were very nice and the cooking was great."

Jamie Kause

"Thank you very much for the hospitality. I have never caught so many fish. 41.5” pike, many 37-39”. Great time.”

Lou Parent

“Thanks for the great time. I have never been a fisherman, but this was one of the best experiences I have ever had.”

Vincent Shank

“These are memories that last a lifetime especially with pics. Truly an exceptional 3 days of fishing mammoth northerns. Excellent food & great people & fellowship! Will NOT forget!! Thank you for everything!”

Daniel

“Thank you for a super weekend full of fun, never a dull moment. True natural setting with excellent hospitality, much appreciated. I would highly recommend for the best fishing I’ve ever experienced. Thanks again.”

Scott Sware

“Thank you for a fantastic trip. Exceptionally well managed. The best fishing / great food. Well done.”

Larry Miller

“The Dilly Guys from Philly. Where do I start? 2nd year at Cree Lake, the best lodge in Canada. Fishing is over the top – Chip is a great guide and friend – the food and hospitality cannot be beat. Patrick you know how to please – hope to be back. Still the Philly two.”

Bill Baddy Philadelphia, PA, USA

“30th year anniversary trip of a group of fishing buddies – perfect choice! Thanks for everything. Prime time!"

Bill Turpin Houston, TX, USA

“World class in every way, trip up river to the dunes ranks in the top 3 big pike days of my life. Thanks for everything.”

Fisherman Fosston, MN, USA

“We had an incredible, wonderful time! Fabulous fishing, great food, and awesome hospitality. Hope to return again and bring family and friends. Thank you so much, Pat and staff!!”

Jim Fitzpatrick Houston, TX, USA

“An amazing experience, great fishing, fantastic guides, and wonderful food. A trip I will never forget. It was fun to spend a week with my son and friends!”

Mark P.R., MN

“Great food, great group of people, awesome guides. Had nonstop action on the fly rod for both pike and greyling. Awesome week that I will not forget. Thanks again!!”

Logan Van Hoof Madison, Wisconsin, USA

“First class accommodations and guides. Biggest Pike caught in 40 years (45”). The food was amazing.”

John Van Hoof Appleton, Wisconsin, USA

“Fantastic week! Pike, Walleye, Grayling were all a blast. Team Cree River Lodge were all awesome! Thanks to all, greatly appreciated.”

Dave Van Hoof Appleton, Wisconsin, USA

“First time fishing in 25 years, you guys made it so easy. Awesome people, great food and a super time. Hope to be back.”

Scott Zurflua Edmonton, Alberta, CAN

“Great lodge, great staff, great guides, and most importantly, great fish!”

Robert Ortiz Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

“Hoy muchas pescas, no? Great guides, staff, fish. Thank you for the memorable week!”

Scott Eaton Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

“Amazing trip, tons of fish. Amazing staff and lodge. Dunes was a great day trip. Will be back, thanks all.”

Chris McLennan Webster, Alberta, Canada

“Awesome times on the lake and at the lodge. Big fish. Thanks to all the staff at Cree River Lodge. River trip to the sand dunes was amazing and huge Jack on the river!!”

Lance Patterson

“Cree River Lodge is fantastic!! The only place in Canada where the fish bite better than the mosquitos!!”

Frank Balderrama New Mexico, USA

“Good times, great fishing. Had a blast! Great meals and guides. Thanks for everything, especially the 45.5” Jack!”

Scotty Busch

“As an outdoors writer for the past quarter century, I've had the opportunity to fish a great deal of water with a great number of people, from the far north to Mexico. I can truly state that never have I spent time with better, more experienced anglers than the folks at Cree River Lodge. I felt comfortable from the moment our boat touched the dock at Cree River until; sadly it was time to depart. The fishing, food and hospitality were top notch and I am eagerly awaiting round two with those big pike and walleye.”

Luke Clayton Writer & Radio Host, Outdoors With Luke Clayton

“I have fished a lifetime to catch the quality of fish I battled with at Cree River Lodge. The pike fishing is so insane I had to make time to fish for walleye and arctic grayling—I love first world problems like these.”

Brad Fenson Freelance Writer

“I have been in outdoor media industry for 11 years, and in that time I've been able to travel to some amazing places to fish. But I can say that of all the incredible locations I've visited, none has stuck with me more than Cree River Lodge. I have an insatiable passion for pike on the fly, and I truly don't believe any experience will ever top the fishing at Cree River. It was as close to paradise for a guy in love with toothy fish on the fly as you can get. If I could visit every year, I would.”

Joe Cermele Fishing Editor, Field & Stream

“Cree River Lodge is a truly outstanding destination for giant pike! In the vast river system there, you can catch huge ‘gators in weedy backwaters, rocky river sections, and in wide-open lakes—loads of pike over 40 inches, with some pushing 50! If you get worn out by these monsters, take a break with a hot walleye bite, with most fish over 17 inches and some close to 30 inches. Finally, big grayling are waiting for the right spinner or fly pattern in the fastest river sections. The guides and accommodations are awesome, too”

Steve Quinn Senior Editor In-Fisherman Magazine

“Patrick, Best Walleye fishing in 10 years! Thanks for doing a great job as our host! You continue to improve the wonderful experience. All the best. ”

Mike Irvin Hillsborough, California

“Cree River Crew, We had an outstanding time at the lodge and on the lake this week. Biggest pike on the fly. Stef's biggest pike, grayling and walleye and summer whitefish! Meals were too good. Hope to see you again soon. Cree river lodge is like fishing in a dream. Thanks All! ”

Brad and Stef Fenson

“Unreal. What I love about Cree River is you are in walleye, monster jack and grayling within minutes of the lodge - no 20 minute boat ride. I would recommend time at the rapids and the river. Four casts with 4 fish over 40 inches has to be the highlight!! The amazing food and shore-side lunches topped off the trip.”

Dan Johnson

“Date: Aug 21, 2015 Thx for the awesome fishing + Great food and Company, Completely awesome, Thx.”

Brennan Tucker

“Date: Aug 21, 2015 Best fishing ever! 46.5" Jack, lots of Walleye! Awesome food, awesome people. Keep doing what your doin. thanks for the experience.”

Kevin Johnstone, Saskatoon, SK

“Date: Aug 21, 2015 Great fishing, Great people, Great food, Tons of fun. Thanks for everything.”

Mitch + Max Herzog - Wilkie, SK

“Date: June 10, 2014 Greatest fishing experience I've ever had!"

Calvin Auchie

“July 5, 2014. Thank you for the family atmosphere, good laughs + the BEST fishing these green eyes have seen. Also thanks for not sending us to the hospital during spoons! Cheers from Chicago! 29 inch Willy the Walleye. 45 inch Jack."

Kurt Andrews Chicago, Ill

“Date: June 30, 2014. What a great time - food fish and food. Take the River trip and see the Canadian North. Thanks for the lesson on catching the Walleye. Pike fishing was Great. We both enjoyed it a lot."

Connie and Judy Schindle Worthing, MN

“Date: July 5, 2014. My first 40" Northern, 28" Wally, and a very nice grayling to say the least it was a trip of firsts. So lucky to have had the chance to experience such a friendly and fun family. Can't wait to come back."

Aaron Graunke Chicago, Ill

Saskatchewan, Canada

Saskatchewan, Canada

Arctic Grayling Fishing at it's Best

Arctic Grayling Fishing Tackle Tips

Fly Fishing for Arctic Grayling