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Frequently Asked Questions
This section attempts to answer some of the most common questions asked by our guests and prospective guests. If you have a question that is not answered here, please feel free to contact us at one of the numbers to the left (or via email). You can also join our free Google Group (see the subscription box to the left), where you can join a group of real people that have visited our camps and who like to talk about fishing.
What type of tackle should I use?
- Some of our anglers like to bring two or three rod/reel setups, so that they have backups in case one breaks and so that they can set up different reels for different types of fishing (e.g. one for Pike, one for Trout, and so on).
- Rods: bring at least two quality medium power or better rods such as a Whuppin' Stick. Single piece rods do not have the risk of coming apart at crucial moments but are harder to transport.
- Reels: bring at least two quality reels capable of handlng 10-12 pound line
- Leaders: bring a number of steel or titanium leaders, as Northern Pike teeth can easily cut normal fishing line
- Swivels: bring an assortment of swivels, matched to the line capacity you purchase
- Line: bring an assortment of line; monofilament or braided is fine, in varied weights.
Is bait fishing allowed (from the 2008 Saskatchewan Anglers Guide)?
- Earthworms or night crawlers may be imported and used as live bait, but they must be shipped in a soil-free medium such as peat moss or shredded paper
- Live fish or fish eggs, leeches, crayfish, aquatic invertebrates, frogs and salamanders (waterdogs) may not be imported into Saskatchewan
- Live fish may not be used as bait. Only bait fish that have been commercially frozen or preserved may be used.
- Crayfish and leeches originating within Saskatchewan may be used as live bait;
- Frogs and Salamanders may not be used as bait.
What types of lures work best?
- A wide variety of lures work very well on our lakes, including "lead head" jigs, spoons, soft plastics and crank/stick baits that work at various depths.
- It is advised to bring a good variety of types and sizes of lures so that you can try different combinations to see what the fish are biting on.
- Adventures North has a well-equipped tackle shop that features the specific lures that have been found to be very effective on our lakes.
What equipment is provided on the boats?
- Our boats are large S-14 aluminum hulled Lunds equipped with Honda or Johnson outboard motors and comfortable swivel seats..
- We also provide nets and fuel for the day's fishing
- Guests are required to bring their own rod holders, fish finders, life vests, tackle and lures.
What optional equipment would you recommend?
- Portable fish finder
- GPS unit (coordinates for shore lunch and landmarks are provided)
- Rod holders
- FRS/GMRS two-way radio
- River anchor
What clothing should I bring?
- Rain gear
- Layers: it is advisable to dress in layers, so that you can add and remove layers of clothing as the temperature varies.
- Shorts: you probably will not need shorts, although a zip-off pair is not a bad idea in case of a heatwave!
- It is advisable that you bring a variety of light and heavy clothing, as weather conditions can vary from day to day. It is safe to leave tuxedos and other formal wear at home!
- Waterproof boots
Is there a telephone at the camp?
- Yes. The camp has a satellite telephone in the Davin Lake manager's cabin that can be used by guests for a nominal fee. Guests may be contacted by calling our camp number (+1.403.774.4058) or lleaving a message at our office number (+1.306.874.5558) and we will make every effort to get the message through to the guest as soon as possible. It is important to know that satellite communications are at the mercy of weather and other factors and as such are not available at all times.
Do you recommend baitcast or spincast reels?
- Personal preference; either will work fine. Since it is quite possible to catch fish that are well over 10 pounds in weight, it is advised that you purchase medium duty equipment that can handle fish of this size.
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Are showers available?
- Yes. Both camps have common hot water showers.
Do I need to bring my own bedding and towels?
- Davin Lake Lodge: we provide all bedding and towels
- Wathaman Outpost: you will need to bring a bed roll and towels
What are the meals like?
- Breakfast and dinner at Davin Lake is hot, hearty, home-style food served buffet style. Examples include scrambled eggs and bacon, steak, pork chops and chicken.
- Breakfast and dinner at Wathaman are your choice, since you bring your own food and do the cooking!
- Lunch at both camps is "shore lunch," which consists of fried fish and potatoes, baked beans and a beverage.
Are alcoholic beverages available?
- Alcoholic beverages are available at Davin Lake Lodge, as we have a licensed dining room.
- You may also bring your own alcoholic beverages, but be aware that there are strict limits on the quantities that you may bring across the Canadian border without paying duty.
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Will I catch fish?
- Yes. Last year one out of every three fishermen at Wathaman and Davin caught a trophy-class Pike (over 30 inches). Walleye range from 2-4 pounds, and Lake Trout average 5 pounds, and it is not uncommon to catch 30+ pounds of fish. If you plan on bringing fish home, bring a large cooler!
What are the limits and regulations?
- Full rules and regulations are set forth in the Saskatchewan Environment Angler's Guide, which may be downloaded here.
- You must purchase an angling licence prior to fishing our lakes. Licences are available at sporting goods stores, at our camp, and via the Saskatchewan Environment Web site. Fishing license costs are approximately $80 CDN for an annual non-resident license (annual licenses are required to fish in the Northern Zone).
- 2008 possession limits (Saskatchewan Northern Zone):
- Six (6) Northern Pike, only one of which may exceed 75cm (29.5 inches)
- Five (5) Walleye, only one of which may exceed 55cm (21.6 inches)
- Four (4) Lake Trout, only one of which may exceed 65cm (25.6 inches)
Are your lakes catch and release?
- We encourage a catch and release policy, particularly for the smallest and largest fish. We realize that people like to bring fish home, which is a practice that we encourage provided that our guests follow the rules and regulations set forth by Saskatchewan Environment.
What is your filleting and freezing service like?
- Our guides professionally fillet and freeze your catch at the end of each day. Fish are placed on styrofoam trays and shrink wrapped, and we leave a small patch of skin on each fish so that officials can verify that you are in compliance with possession limits.
Are there fly fishing opportunities?
- Absolutely! Adventures North offers some of the finest fly fishing available. Our lakes offer a wide variety of fishing environments including lakes and rivers.
Will I only catch trout in the spring and fall?
- No, we catch trout all season long in Davin Lake. When the weather turns warmer you will have to fish deeper and use a different lure. Davin is a very deep lake (over 150 feet deep in places), so a fish finder is very useful in finding trout.
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How long does it take to get there?
- Driving times from some locations to Davin Lake Lodge:
- Denver, Colorado: 23 hours
- US Border (Minton): 10 hours
- Regina: 8 hours
- Prince Albert: 6 hours
- Saskatoon: 8 hours
- Calgary: 13 hours
- La Ronge: 3 hours
What are the roads like?
- The roads are paved to La Ronge. From La Ronge to Davin, the road is a year-round, all weather gravel surface that is maintained a minimum of three times a week by the Department of Highways.
What are recommended stops / lodging along the way?
- For people coming from Denver, Regina is usually a good overnight stop on the way up, and Miles City (Montana) is a good stop on the way back. Other good cities for stopovers are Saskatoon and Prince Albert.
What can I bring across the US border into Canada?
- NOTE: US residents are REQUIRED to hold a valid US passport in order to pass through US customs on the way home. You may be able to get by with an original birth certificate, but get a passport to be 100% sure you can return home.
- Full details on Canadian import regulations are available here. Please review these rules and regulations; the information below are only guidelines.
- items must be declared when you first contact Canadian customs officers. It is not uncommon for Canadian customs officers to remove every piece of luggage and equipment from a vehicle during the inspection process.
- If you are over limit on certain goods, you may leave them at the border and retrieve them on the way back for no charge.
- Liquor: providing you are of the proper age, you are allowed to bring 1.5 litres of wine OR 1.14 litres (40 ounces) of liquor, OR 24 355 millilitre (12 ounce) cans or bottles of beer or ale, per person.
- Tobacco: providing you are of the proper age, you are allowed to bring up to 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or cigarillos, 200 grams (7 ounces) of manufactured tobacco, AND 200 tobacco sticks, per person. ** Please check the most recent regulations before attempting to cross the border. This information is to provide a basic guideline only. **
- Food: Canada has complex requirements, restrictions, and limits that apply to importing meat, eggs, dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables, and other food from around the world. In general, it is a good idea not to bring uncooked items into Canada--purchase them once you are across the border.
- You are generally allowed to exceed these limits, but be aware that the import duty for doing so is very high. A debate constantly rages about whether it is still cheaper to pay the import duty, however, as alcohol and tobacco are very expensive to purchase in Canada.
What are gasoline and diesel prices like in Saskatchewan?
- In general, gasoline and diesel prices are higher in Canada than in the U.S. In general, gas and diesel prices in Saskatchewan range about a dollar higher USD per gallon than the prevailing rates in the U.S.
- One resource for checking gas prices can be found here.
What is the current exchange rate?
- A good currency exchange rate web site is oanda.com .
- As of January 2009 the exchange rate was approximately $1 US to $0.85 Canadian..
What is the mobile phone coverage like in Saskatchewan?
- In general, there is good digital coverage in larger Saskatchewan cities and sporadic analog and digital coverage between cities.
- There is no mobile phone coverage North of La Ronge, so make your last mobile phone calls in La Ronge!
- The camp has a satellite phone service that you can use for a nominal fee.
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What is the weather like?
The weather in Northern Saskatchewan in the summer and early fall is very pleasant, with high temperatures virtually never exceeding 80 degrees F (27 degrees Celsius). Low temperatures can get down to freezing at times, so it is very important that you bring warm clothing, and that the clothing you bring is layed (so you can add and remove layers as conditions change).
Rain is a common occurence, which is usually welcomed by fishermen as fishing conditions tend to improve as the sky clouds over. Be sure to bring some good rain gear!
For the local weather forecast, click here. You can also look up historical weather for our area on the same site.
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Can I expect to see bears, eagles, wolves, and moose?
- You sure could. It is not uncommon to see bears, moose, caribou, wolves, pine martins, otters as well as Bald Eagles and other bird varieties. The scenery is breathtaking, so be sure to bring a camera. For some examples, check out the Gallery tab to the left.
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