Winter Update 2019

Winter Update 2019

by | Feb 12, 2019 | 2019 Season, gear, Island Life, staff

February 2019

Winter Update

When records are being broken daily on the Canadian Prairies for low temperatures the only logical thing to do was head north…

Surely it couldn’t be any colder, could it?

POLAR VORTEX

Turns out, when you fly into the polar vortex the bottom falls out of the mercury. Guides Paul Hamilton and Steve Yanish braved the conditions (temps plunging below -50°) with the help of our pilot, Travis, hauled 4 tons of lumber and supplies into the lodge.
 
The caribou migration is still far north of Scott Lake and very few tracks of hunters heading north to pursue them were seen. The lodge was in good shape, cold, still and waiting for our 2019 anglers to visit. The materials, from windows to deck boards have been earmarked for the completion of the new guest cabin, Ptarmigan, the new upgraded fitness/sauna complex and new staff housing, plus about 50 or so other projects.
 
We strive to use every opportunity regardless of the weather to honor our commitment to incremental improvements. Keep your eyes open for what’s new when you step off the plane this summer! 

The lodge was in good shape: cold, still and waiting for the 2019 anglers to visit.

The Right Sunglasses

To start, we can’t stress this enough, you need some sort of sunglasses, your eyes will thank you.  From a safety standpoint alone having sunglasses on all the time while fishing is a good plan, as flying hooks tend to not be friendly to eyes.
 
There are 2 places (well 3 if you count a fishing trip to Scott Lake Lodge) we recommend buying the best product in your budget: raingear and sunglasses. 
 
For fishing at Scott Lake Lodge get polarized glass, this will cut glare and allow you to see into the water. Your ability to make the right cast to a big fish increases tenfold if you can see it. It opens you up to the world of sight fishing and will directly affect your success. Glass vs. plastic: go glass, they can put a better-quality polarization on glass lenses which block out the yellow wavelengths of the light spectrum enhancing underwater vision. Glass is more scratch resistant, however more expensive. Plastic lenses are more economical and lighter compared to glass, will tend to scratch easier and will not be as sharp as glass.
 
The go to lens colors for sight fishing at Scott Lake Lodge have a copper base and 10-12% light transmission. Copper base with a mirror lens will be the best for high sun and heavy glare, while a straight copper will be an all-around great lens for variable light conditions. The 1-2 punch many of your guides have been employing is a higher transmission yellow/copper-based lens for early and late in the day or heavy overcast and the more traditional lens for high sun. Again, your best all-around is a copper lens with around 12% light transmission.

The brands that meet these parameters that we know, and use are Costa Del Mar and Maui Jim, obviously there are others out there too. When choosing a frame style, you need to try them on!  Make sure they are wide enough and the lenses large enough to provide full coverage with minimal gaps where light can enter around the lenses. 

Any light infiltration will reduce the eye’s ability to focus on underwater objects like that giant pike that’s at 2 o’clock 20 feet away! Listen to your guide, he’s been spying these fish for a long time. Try to wait to see the fish, then send your best cast at it. There are health benefits to using good glass that blocks harmful UVA and UVB light, but our best sales pitch is you will be a more effective angler when you can see what’s out there.

The Time Is Now

It might sound like a bit of a broken record, but here we are again with just a very few spots in the 2019 season left.
 
Now is the time to pull the trigger (or make the cast in fishing terms.) We have retained our entire incredible, professional staff (plus added a couple of great new folks.) The infrastructure improvements will knock your socks off, not to mention we have consistently set and then broken and re-set records of numbers and size of fish.
 
 Get in touch with Sales Manager and Guide Jon Wimpney (j5@scottlakelodge.com or call 306-209-7150 to stake your claim on the last few chances to be in this year’s record books.

Gift Guide for the Discerning Angler

Gift Guide for the Discerning Angler

by | Dec 21, 2018 | gear

If you’re searching for that perfect gift for the angler in your life, look no further.  Our own team of professional guides has hand picked this list of the essential gear every angler needs and wants.

Good Quality Rain Suit

We are constantly shocked to see guests arrive on a northern Canadian fishing trip with low quality, ineffective rain gear. Gore-Tex and Toray are the fabrics you need in your suit…yes a suit (bibs and a parka.) The difference between catching fish while being comfortable or miserable is an extra few bucks. Rain gear is the place to treat yourself and a good suit will last you a lifetime. Retreat it with Revivex which maintains the water repellent coating. Simms, Patagonia, Cabelas, Bass Pro Shops and Helly Hansen all sell the good stuff.

Simms Riverbank Chukka

Perfect height for keeping you dry in and out of boats, that one step from the float plane to the beach without all the bulk of knee high boots. An added bonus is you can pack them in a smaller bag.

Tickets to the 2019 Stoke Reel

Tickets to this year’s flyfishing film tour to get sufficiently pumped up for the upcoming year of chasing fish.

https://flyfilmtour.com

Waterproof Duffel Bag

A bag like this will save you grief traveling the world over. They are easier to pack on small planes and protect your gear from rain, unplanned dips and everything else an adventure might throw at it. As you trek to remote parts of the world chasing fish baggage carousels tend to be replaced by patches of gravel beside the plane.  Simms, Patagonia, North Face and Cabelas all make solid versions.

Waterproof Camera

Everyone wants to snap a photo on their phone. We love the idea of making your friends and family drool over that big pike that came flying out of the weeds and almost ripped the rod out of your hand!  But your phone is not waterproof.  The Axis Go Waterproof Smartphone Housing (& float) lets you expand your fish photography skills. The wide angle lens lets you capture both above and below the water, keeping the fishing wet and getting the angler’s big smile.

AXISGO

Waterproof Hard Case

Pick something that fits your needs but as small as possible (such as Pelican 1040 or 1060.)  They are just the right size to store your phone, camera, fishing licence and medication in a crush-proof, waterproof home.

Quality Polarized Sunglasses

In fact, get 2 pairs. Find a frame you like and buy a back up! Squinting your way through a week of fishing or being frustrated with poor fitting ones is not cool. We strongly recommend glass lenses. They have quality polarization and protect your eyes from flying lures. To test if your glasses are polarized find a digital LCD display (car radio, watch, gas pump, ATM machine), take them off, hold them out in front of your eyes.  You should be able to see the display through the lens.  Then turn the frame slightly to an angle and the display should be blacked out. Our guide team loves Costa Del Mar shades with mirrored green lenses – perfect for sight fishing. The rate of success in casting to a fish goes up immensely if you can see it and are not just guessing!

Gaiter or Buff

This amazing tube of fabric has endless uses. It keeps sun, wind and bugs off your face and neck. Plus, it looks pretty cool. Lighter colors work better for sight fishing. Think of a fish looking up from underneath the water… light colors blend into the sky, while a bright pink Buff might just catch its eye while you are trying to stalking it.

Multi tool

A good multi tool is an indispensable accessory for thousands of uses. Look for scissors and a file as fishing – friendly options. Leatherman is the standard.

Travel Mug

You likely have a couple of these in the cupboard at home already but splurge on a good quality one for your angler. Having a vessel to carry your coffee in the morning or a cold drink at night is never a bad thing. If you are visiting Scott Lake, you can even experience the the rare pleasure of dipping it over the edge of the boat for a drink of cold, pristine water right from the lake. YETI makes a great series of these products.

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Angler Gift Guide

Angler Gift Guide

by | Dec 20, 2017 | gear

Top 10 Gifts for the Traveling Angler

 

With the help of our guide team we put together a list of ten essential items that every wandering angler’s gear should include. These must-have items will help your favorite fisherman be comfortable, efficient and effective, which all add up to having more fun and catching more fish!  (Recommendations for brands are subjective since we are not sponsored by any.  In our part of the world we simply need to use what works.)

So without further ado here it is the 2017 Scott Lake Lodge approved gift guide:

#10 Good Quality Rain Suit

We are constantly shocked to see guests arrive on a northern Canadian fishing trip with low quality, ineffective rain gear. Gore-Tex and Toray are the fabrics you need in your suit…yes a suit (bibs and a parka.) The difference between catching fish while being comfortable or miserable is an extra few bucks. Rain gear is the place to treat yourself and a good suit will last you a lifetime. Retreat it with Revivex which maintains the water repellent coating. Simms, Patagonia, Cabelas, Bass Pro Shops and Helly Hansen all sell the good stuff.

#9 Waterproof Duffel Bag

A bag like this will save you grief traveling the world over. They are easier to pack on small planes and protect your gear from rain, unplanned dips and everything else an adventure might throw at it. As you trek to remote parts of the world chasing fish baggage carousels tend to be replaced by patches of gravel beside the plane.  Simms, Patagonia, North Face and Cabelas all make solid versions.

#8 Waterproof Camera

Everyone wants to snap a photo on their phone. We love the idea of making your friends and family drool over that big pike that came flying out of the weeds and almost ripped the rod out of your hand!  But your phone is not waterproof.  A good point and shoot camera will have a better flash to cut through shadows on sunny days, greater zoom to get up close and most importantly, let’s you capture that underwater shot.  FUJI XP and Olympus Stylus Tough are tested and approved by our guides.

7. Waterproof Hard Case

Pick something that fits your needs but as small as possible (such as Pelican 1040 or 1060.)  They are just the right size to store your phone, camera, fishing licence and medication in a crush-proof, waterproof home.

6. Quality Polarized Sunglasses

In fact, get 2 pairs. Find a frame you like and buy a back up! Squinting your way through a week of fishing or being frustrated with poor fitting ones is not cool. We strongly recommend glass lenses. They have quality polarization and protect your eyes from flying lures. To test if your glasses are polarized find a digital LCD display (car radio, watch, gas pump, ATM machine), take them off, hold them out in front of your eyes.  You should be able to see the display through the lens.  Then turn the frame slightly to an angle and the display should be blacked out. Our guide team loves Costa Del Mar shades with mirrored green lenses – perfect for sight fishing. The rate of success in casting to a fish goes up immensely if you can see it and are not just guessing!

5. Gaiter or Buff

This amazing tube of fabric has endless uses. It keeps sun, wind and bugs off your face and neck. Plus, it looks pretty cool. Lighter colors work better for sight fishing. Think of a fish looking up from underneath the water… light colors blend into the sky, while a bright pink Buff might just catch its eye while you are trying to stalking it.

4. Multi tool

A good multi tool is an indispensable accessory for thousands of uses. Look for scissors and a file as fishing – friendly options. Leatherman is the standard.

3. Travel Mug

You likely have a couple of these in the cupboard at home already but splurge on a good quality one for your angler. Having a vessel to carry your coffee in the morning or a cold drink at night is never a bad thing. If you are visiting Scott Lake, you can even experience the the rare pleasure of dipping it over the edge of the boat for a drink of cold, pristine water right from the lake. YETI makes a great series of these products.

2. Powdered Drink Mix

Water tastes different everywhere, but adding a bit of flavor can make it more enjoyable so your angler will drink enough. Products with electrolytes can keep you hydrated and can even help shake off the effects of the night before.  Gatorade, Crystal Light and Mio are all good options.

1. All-Inclusive Trip to Scott Lake Lodge

What better place to test out your new wares then Scott Lake Lodge?  Trophy pike, giant lake trout and arctic grayling all set to a backdrop of 15 million acres of unspoiled, exclusive use fishing area. Not to mention the private accommodations, luxury lodge, spa, gourmet cuisine. We are certainly proud of our fishery and facility but mostly of our staff, who we know without a doubt provide the finest level of customer service in the industry.

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