A guys trip: fishing for northern pike at Reindeer Lake, Saskatchewan

Getting ready to go fish at Reindeer Lake.

It took us 4 days of grueling travel just to get 4 days of fishing, but that still beats fighting three feral kids at bedtime. ✈️🎣👶

Reindeer Lake, Saskatchewan is a massive, deep-water wilderness system sitting right on the edge of the Canadian arctic. It is world-renowned for its pristine, untouched waters and rocky island system that creates the perfect environment for massive fish. People trek up here from all over the world for one specific reason: the lake is an absolute factory for big ass fish, offering some of the most consistent, world-class freshwater sport fishing on the planet. This is where you catch monster northern pike, specifically trophy fish measuring over 40 inches in length.

We headed up north in July, and the weather was great—temps at 70°F, and it was mostly sunny. 

The luxury of a world-class wilderness camp

When you are doing a deep-wilderness trip, you can either rough it in a tent or glamp. We stayed at Arctic Lodges, which is a premium, all-inclusive luxury fly-in lodge. The setup is highly exclusive and intimate, featuring just 10 private guest cabins and a main clubhouse where everyone hangs out.

For 4 days of fishing, the lodge charges about $10,000 CAD per person. That luxury price tag includes your private lodging, gourmet meals, professional guides, premium boat and rod rentals, and the private charter flight running directly from Saskatoon into the lodge.

We were incredibly fortunate because my father-in-law decided to foot the bill and take the boys out for this epic adventure. To say we are #forevergrateful is a massive understatement. The experience was flawless from start to finish, the hospitality was incredible, and the food in the clubhouse was spectacular; we’re talking prime rib, beef brisket BBQ, and fresh fish fries every single day.

Travel hacking to get to Saskatoon

While the lodge charter covers the private flight from Saskatoon straight into camp, you still have to find your own way to Saskatchewan. WestJet is your best bet for navigating into Saskatoon. Since I was flying all the way in from Mexico City, buying a cash ticket retail was expensive. Instead, I used a classic award travel strategy.

I transferred 49,000 points from my Capital One Venture X card over to the KLM/Air France Flying Blue program. Because of airline alliances, Flying Blue allows you to book directly on WestJet flights.

By utilizing points, I paid a total of just $600 out-of-pocket (points + taxes) for the roundtrip. Compared to the $1,400 retail cash price, I saved about $800 on flights.

Catching northern pike in Reindeer Lake, Saskatchewan

The actual fishing on the lake exceeded all expectations. We spent four days on the water doing heavy-duty, 8-hour days. The lodge groups you up with 2 to 3 people per boat, alongside a highly experienced professional guide who knows every hidden bay and weed bed in the lake system.

We caught over 70 fish a boat every single day—no joke. The volume was relentless. While we spent the majority of our time target-fishing for massive northern pike, we also hauled in some beautiful lake trout and walleye. I landed the absolute biggest fish of my life on this trip. The other guys landed some real big ones that measured over 46 inches long.

Every single day at noon, the guides pull the boats up onto a remote island for a shore lunch. They build an open wood fire right on the rocks and cook up a delicious feast using the freshest walleye and pike caught straight out of the lake that morning.

When we weren't wrestling pike, the local Canadian wildlife put on a serious show. We spotted a massive moose walking the shoreline and counted at least two dozen bald eagles soaring over the trees.

Why time away from the family matters

In the non-stop hustle of daily life—navigating schedules, logistics, bills, chores, spousal duties, and the chaotic beauty of raising kids—it is incredibly difficult to find a way to truly unplug and clear your mind.

Trips like this are an absolute necessity, and every parent should find a way to make them happen. Taking an intentional break from full-time family mode does something important: it forces you to completely disconnect. It gives you the space to appreciate the silence, laugh with your closest friends and family, and return home with a completely reset baseline.

A trip like this requires your spouse to pick up the slack, hold down the fort, and power through solo parenting for a bunch of days. And for that, we are ever so thankful. I will also return the favor when she needs an adventure of her own. But in the meantime, when you finally return home relaxed, clear-minded, and energized, the whole family wins. Well, at least, that is the story we try to sell our better half on.  

This post is part of our 'finding our why' series, sharing real-world stories of why families choose financial independence and early retirement with kids.