US travel restrictions impacting fishing season
We are starting to hear from some of our favorite fishing lodges that they are implementing partial or full shutdowns due to the United States & Canada travel restrictions as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Although the border closing may be lifted June 21st, there are rumors that the closing will be extended to the end of July. Even after reopening the border, the required self-quarantine for two weeks, so one can fish at a lodge or outpost for 3 or 4 days, is proving to be too restrictive for American anglers to make the trek over the border.
We’ve heard from several lodges that they have either closed through the month of June or made the difficult decision to shutter completely for the 2020 fishing season. Scott Lake Lodge and Wollaston Lake Lodge in the Saskatchewan Province have both announced within the last two days they are closing for the season.
Other Lodges such as North Haven Resort have postponed the opening of their season until June 29th or later. Most of these lodges have left open their prerogative to extend the shutdown or close up completely for the balance of the fishing season. If the border closing is in fact extended through July, that will almost certainly destroy any chance of a successful 2020 season.
What this means for the guides and staff of the lodges remains to be seen. We’ve heard from some of the guides that have been kept on by the owners to make infrastructure upgrades to the resorts or build new cabins to handle more anglers. Others have found jobs with winter outfitters to prep for their season. Unfortunately, for most of the guides and staff, it’s proved difficult to land alternative positions.
We wish the best for all our friends in Canada a safe and healthy summer! We will be casting lures and throwing flies with you next year.
