Qu'Appelle River, Saskatchewan

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The Qu’appelle River runs roughly west to east across southern Saskatchewan, Canada. The river is located north of Regina, and creates a 430-kilometre sheltered corridor from its headwaters at the South Saskatchewan River (which lies to the west), eastward to the Assiniboine River in the province of Manitoba.

In a way, the Qu'appelle is a river of lakes. Before reaching Crooked Lake and Round Lake on its lower reaches, it passes through the four-lake chain of Pasqua, Echo, Mission and Katepwa, in the vicinity of Fort Qu'appelle. Long known collectively as the "Fishing Lakes," the area is a year-round magnet for anglers.

The lakes are stocked by the Saskatchewan Fish Culture Station (located near B-Say-Tah on the south shore of Echo Lake), creating a special attraction for walleye fishers. The hatchery raises 20 million walleye every year, in addition to half a million trout. The area's annual catch-and-release Walleye Cup draws participants from across North America, and is the fourth in a series of regional walleye tournaments on the "Walleye Trail."

In winter, ice fishers jig for perch.

All four lakes offer public boat launching locations, including:
• Echo Valley Provincial Park, to access Pasqua and Echo Lakes
• Haffner Beach in Lebret, to access Mission Lake
• Katepwa Point Provincial Park in Katepwa Beach, to access Lake Katepwa.

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Resort Villages and Activities

The resort villages of the fishing lakes are about an hour's drive from the urban centre of Regina, and offer boating, swimming, picnicking, golfing, hiking, camping, craft shops, cottages and cabins. Among them are:
• Resort Village of Fort San - on the eastern shore of Echo Lake, with a scenic walking path that runs the full length of the village, sailing on Echo Lake, and tours of the historic Fort Sanitarium.
• Resort Village of Katepwa Beach - on the north shore of Lake Katepwa, near a nine-hole golf course and the beach of Katepwa Point Provincial Park.
• Resort Village of B-Say-Tah - on the south shore of Echo Lake, just east of Fort Qu'appelle, with the B-Say-Tah Point Beach and the nearby Saskatchewan Fish Culture Station.
• Resort Village of Sandy Beach - on the north shore of Lake Katpewa, near Katpewa Beach Village.
• Haffner Beach - on the northeast shore of Mission Lake, in the village of Lebret.

Provincial Parks

Several of of Saskatchewan's provincial parks are found in and around the Qu'appelle Valley.

• Crooked Lake: on the lower Qu’Appelle River south of Yorkton. Lakeside camp sites, fishing, boating, hiking, biking and nearby golfing.
• Rowan's Ravine: on the eastern shore of Last Mountain Lake, near Craven. Swimming, sailing, beaches, fishing (for trophy walleye, northern pike, carp and perch), camping.
• Echo Valley: near Fort Qu'appelle. Large picnic areas at the Pasqua and Echo day use area. Swimming, fishing and boating. Valleyview and Aspen Campgrounds are located on the flat upper plain, and Lakeview Campground is situated in the valley.