Pike

Northern Saskatchewan might sound remote, but by the time Jason Hamilton and I were done talking, I was already mentally standing on that casting...

There’s a point in fly fishing where casting stops being the hard part, and decision-making takes over. In this episode, Dave Stewart is joined by Nick Elcheson from Scott Lake Lodge to break down sight fishing Northern Pike in shallow water, where patience, positioning, and timing matter more than power. Nick explains why fly fishing for pike is essentially freshwater flats fishing, how seasonal water temperature controls fish location, and why waiting for the right fish often leads to better outcomes than covering water. You’ll learn how small decisions near the boat affect success, how to approach shallow bays, and what separates a missed opportunity from a clean eat when targeting big pike.

Mark Melnyk from The New Fly Fisher returns to the podcast to explore one of North America's most overlooked fly fishing destinations—northern Saskatchewan. From giant northern pike and shallow-water lake trout to Arctic grayling and floatplane adventures, Mark shares why Canada's Prairie Provinces deserve a place on every fly angler's travel list. Drawing from more than two decades of filming remote fisheries, he offers a firsthand look at what makes Scott Lake Lodge and the surrounding wilderness so unique. The conversation covers planning a fly-in fishing trip, choosing the right gear for northern pike, targeting lake trout on the fly, and the unforgettable experience of landing on a remote lake by floatplane. Along the way, Mark shares stories from filming The New Fly Fisher, explains why Saskatchewan remains one of Canada's best-kept fishing secrets, and highlights the people and places that keep drawing him back.