Hatchet Lake Lodge

Northern Pike

Northern Pike are the single most sought-after fish in our system of lakes, and we have some heartstopping pike action awaiting your arrival. While pike in the 6-15 pound range are the norm, there were dozens of trophy fish in the 20-30 pound class as well. (Lodge Record Northern Pike is 35 lbs!)

Tackle Tips

Rod: 6- to 7-foot medium-heavy spinning or casting

Reel: Spinning reel spooled with Berkley 10-12 pound mono or casting reel with 17-20-pound line

Leader: 6- to 9-inch steel with ball-bearing swivels

Bait: Five-O-Diamonds, Johnson's Silver Minnow, #3-4 Mepps Spinners, floating Rapalas, crankbaits, Suick jerk baits and bass spinner baits

Lake Trout

Lake Trout are the signature fish of the North Country, and Hatchet Lake is a tremendous laker fishery, with huge fish being caught every season. When the bite is on, you can land dozens in just a few hours. Our current lake trout record is 44 pounds, with fish in the 4-10 pound range being routine.

Lake trout cruise the shallows right after ice-out in June. They drop deep during the summer months and return to shallow reefs and rocky points in September to spawn. During July and August, vertical jigging the lakers from deep, cold-water holes is great fun.

Tackle Tips

Rod: 6- to 7-foot medium-heavy spinning or casting

Reel: Spinning reel spooled with Berkley 10-12 pound mono or casting reel with 17-20-pound line

Leader: 6- to 9-inch steel with ball-bearing swivels

Bait: Five-O-Diamonds, #4 Mepps spinners, Red-Eye Wigglers, Doctor Spoons.

Spring (June) and Fall (September) trout cruise the shallows and are caught by flat-line trolling lures which run in the upper 10 feet of the lake. Spoons seem to produce best when trolling.

In mid-summer, most trout are caught by vertically jigging 2-4 oz. slab spoons and heavy jigs in 40-70 feet of water. Check the map for Hatchet Lake, Nordbye, Hannah, Charcoal, Cunning Bay. Don't miss this terrific action!

Arctic grayling

If wading the banks of a cold, crystal clear stream in search of an exciting, spirited species sounds tempting, this is what you're looking for!

While fish in the 3-4 pound range would be considered a real trophy, arctic grayling average 1-2 pounds and are one of the most muscular, acrobatic fish to be encountered on ultra-light tackle. (Lodge record: 4 pounder from Hatchet Lake rapids) If you're using a fly rod, you'll have the ultimate set-up! Check the map for the rapids on Hatchet Lake, Charcoal, Durrant Lake and others.

Tackle Tips

Rod and reel: Ultra-Lite, matched with 4-6 pound test mono #0 or #1 (very small) Mepps or Blue Fox spinners or a small casting bubble ahead of a dry fly.

Fly fishing: 5-7 wt. fly rod; single action reel; #2 tippet material with wet or dry flys. (Popular fly patterns for our local Arctic grayling are available at the lodge tackle shop.)

Walleye

Hatchet Lake is at the far northern limit of the walleye’s range. However, we have five or six very good lakes which regularly produce walleye from 3-6 pounds, with an 8-10 pounder being reported every once in a while. (Lodge Record walleye is 10 pounds!)

With pike and lake trout receiving most of the attention from anglers, the walleyes don't see much action up here. Consequently, those who take a break from the big, toothy critters to seek out the walleye usually come back all smiles. Our best walleye action can be found on several fly-out lakes in July and August. Check the map for Le Drew, La Rocque, Kernagan, Thrift, Kosdaw and Waterfound Lakes.

Tackle Tips

Rod: Medium action 6- 7-foot

Reel: Spinning reel spooled with 6-8 pound Berkley mono.

Use medium action 6'-7' rods with spinning reels spooled with 6-8 pound Berkley mono. Walleyes will hit smaller crank baits, 1/4-1/2 oz. jigs tipped with Power Bait twister tails and even medium size spoons. Live bait rigs not allowed in Saskatchewan).