Lawrence Bay Lodge
La Ronge, Saskatchewan
Family-run fly-in fishing and hunting lodge on Reindeer Lake in northern Saskatchewan, operating since 1971.
Overview
Lawrence Bay Lodge is a family-owned operation on Reindeer Lake in remote northern Saskatchewan, founded in 1971 by Randy Engen of Tolna, North Dakota. Randy started the business after purchasing an old prospector's camp on the lake, and today the lodge is run alongside his son Phil and daughter Mindy. The main lodge can accommodate up to around 30 guests across nine cabins, and the operation also includes its own float plane service, operating under the name Lawrence Bay Airways.
In addition to the main lodge, Lawrence Bay operates two fully modern outpost camps at Kamatsi Lake and Pagato Lake, offering self-guided options for those who prefer a more remote setup. The lodge also offers moose and black bear hunting in the fall, and holds an annual allocation of 12 moose tags, which Phil Engen has described as the largest moose outfitter allocation in Saskatchewan.
Established: 1971
Highlights
The Fishing
Reindeer Lake is the primary fishing water, a large and deep lake covering more than 2,500 square miles straddling northeast Saskatchewan and northwest Manitoba. The four main target species are northern pike, walleye, lake trout, and arctic grayling. The lake averages 100 feet in depth and reaches over 700 feet in places, providing suitable habitat for all four species throughout the season. Guests can also access day lakes and additional waters by float plane from the main lodge.
The lodge operates a strict catch-and-release program for larger fish, a practice maintained for more than 30 years. Northern pike up to 53 inches have been caught by guests, with a large number of fish in the 40 to 49 inch range reported. Guided trips use 18-foot deep-transom Lund boats equipped with casting decks, padded swivel seats, and 40 horsepower Mercury outboards. Local Cree guides lead all guided trips and prepare a shore lunch at midday. Fly fishing for northern pike is also available, particularly effective in late summer when fish move into weedy shallows.
Accommodations
The main lodge features nine log cabins, each with hot and cold running water, flush toilets, a shower, electricity, and a heating stove. Cabins are cleaned daily by staff. The main lodge building serves all meals: breakfast is served at 7 a.m., guides prepare a shore lunch on the water at midday, and dinner is served at 7 p.m. The main lodge also has a tackle counter, ice machine, ping-pong table, and Wi-Fi. The two outpost camps at Kamatsi and Pagato Lakes are self-guided and self-catered; guests supply their own sleeping bags, food, and fishing gear, though the Kamatsi cabin has hot and cold running water, a flush toilet, shower, refrigerator, and a full stove with oven, and sleeps up to eight people.
Fish Species
What They Offer
Amenities available at one or more of this outfitter's properties.
Getting There
The primary staging point is Southend, Saskatchewan, from which Lawrence Bay Airways operates float plane service directly to the main lodge and outpost camps on Reindeer Lake. Guests can reach Southend by driving from La Ronge or Saskatoon, where vehicle rentals are available. Commercial flights connect to La Ronge from Saskatoon. American guests also have the option of flying by jet to Lynn Lake, Manitoba, from which the lodge arranges float plane connections to Lawrence Bay. Charter packages from Minneapolis are also available for larger groups.
Access:
Air bases:
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