Arctic grayling, a cousin to the trout that swim in prime Lower 48 destinations, like Yellowstone National Park, are willing fish that can salvage just about any day spent on the water in the northern reaches of Canada's provinces.
Grayling in northern Saskatchewan's Fond du Lac River, for instance, are a nice change of pace from the region's burly northern pike that can wear out an angler's casting arm and test their mettle. Pike are brawny fish that require heavy fly tackle; grayling are less bulky, almost feminine in comparison. On lighter tackle, however--say, a 4-weight rod--they're every bit as exciting as their pike brethren.
At Camp Grayling, situated on the shores of Black Lake just as it empties into the fast-moving Fond du Lac River above the mining community of Stoney Rapids, Saskatchewan, anglers can enjoy the best of both worlds with a fly rod. During the day, they can put themselves at the mercy of a Camp Grayling guide and stalk trophy northern pike in the shallows. In the evenings, after a hearty lodge dinner, they can wander down the river and pluck opportunistic grayling from the tannin-stained waters with regularity.
"The grayling are a nice change of pace," said Blake Frederickson, operator of Camp Grayling. "They allow us to offer clients a bit of variety--the fish in the lake are heavy-tackle fish, and the grayling require something a bit more delicate."
That word--"delicate"--is a bit misleading. While the fish do have a certain "lacey" appeal, what with their sail-like dorsal fin and their svelt, metallic frames, under the right circumstances, they can put a serious bend in a fly rod.
In the Fond du Lac, pods of grayling are rather easy to identify--it's rare to stumble upon any pocket water and not see grayling dimpling the surface after insects. Grayling are the dry-fly fisher's best friend, and they'll hit most attractor fly patterns, like Adams in sizes 12-16 and Royal Coachmans in the same size range.
But for anglers looking for trophy grayling--20 inches or better--small, weighted streamers, like black or olive Woolly Buggers or Woolly Worms, can't be beat. The larger fish hold in deeper water, but they're no less likely to chase streamers on the swing than their smaller relatives are to nail high-floating dries.
To experience trophy grayling--and northern pike--fishing in far northern Saskatchewan, call Frederickson at Camp Grayling. He can be reached at (866) 455-4488. Traveling to Camp Grayling isn't terribly complicated, and rates are very reasonable. A number of U.S. air carriers provide service to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, in the southern end of the province. From there, it's a scenice plane ride north to Stoney Rapids, where Frederickson meets clients at the airport for the short drive to the lodge.
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