The Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety says in 2020 Pinehouse Lake conservation officers became aware of an unlawful outfitting operation on the southwest shore of Cree Lake.

In a news release the ministry says Cree Lake is 81 kilometers long and is located approximately 220 kilometers north of Pinehouse Lake. With no highway access, most summer anglers and outfitting services can only access this area by float plane. The investigation included visits by boat and multiple float plane inspections.

The American owner pleaded guilty to one count of operating “without an outfitter’s licence endorsed for that activity to act as an outfitter” contrary to The Outfitter and Guide Regulations, 2004. On December 23, 2024, he was handed a $10,000 fine, plus a $4,000 surcharge, in La Ronge Provincial Court.

The Conservation Office Service says Cree Lake is visited by anglers from all over the world and when recreational lease holders use private cabins for unlawful outfitting, it negatively impacts provincially licensed outfitters who rely on guiding and outfitting clients for their livelihood. They say it can also impact the province’s fishery resources and populations.