Fishing at Sandfly Lake, Pinehouse, Saskatchewan

• Overview

  Set in Pinehouse, Saskatchewan, this is Sandfly Lake. The surface lies 379 metres up. At roughly 95.87 sq km it ranks among the larger waters in the region. The form is ragged, which puts a lot of structure within casting range. It ranks among the bigger water on our Saskatchewan list. La Ronge at 86 km is the nearest place to stop. Further out sit Buffalo Narrows (150 km) and Pelican Narrows (209 km). It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Sandfly Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Survey and observation records for Pinehouse include walleye, northern pike, cisco and lake whitefish. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. On Sandfly Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -20°C in January to roughly 17°C in July. This far north the hard season runs and runs. Winter locks it down, and early May brings it back. In an average year the thaw lands around early May and the freeze near early November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Anyone fishing Sandfly Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Failing this one, try Kinosaskaw Lake, 12 km away. Confirm before you fish Sandfly Lake.