Fly Fishing in the Parkland
Don't come to the area expecting systems,
techniques and fly patterns from other areas to always work on and in Parkland
Lakes. We've had numerous visitors from western USA in particular who learned
that lesson the hard way and found they were too oriented and inflexible with
their own patterns and techniques. The lakes indicated below hold populations of very
large trout--anomalous in any stillwater fishery. But that doesn't mean they are
easy to catch. Quite simply put, they got that way by being shy and spooky, and
they eat certain forage at different times of the year and under different
weather\lake conditions. Prepare well if you're going to try your hand at this
fishery. Your best bet is to get a hold of my Strategies Book and the related
Top 50 Fly Pattern Book before heading out, not afterward, as many have done.
They are listed elsewhere on this site. Suffice to say with gasoline prices
being what they are they are a bargain in adding to your success and enjoyment.
2009 - Spring and Summer
____________________________________________________________________
The following is a list of Lakes that are worth fishing, will be shortly--or were formerly worth
fishing--and in some cases, well above world class. They are located in the
highly fertile zone of Manitoba and Saskatchewan Parkland and in some cases
beyond. We attempt to update twice a year but I'm
going to be a wee bit busy again this year... no promises for a fall update.
Please don't ask for weekly stuff. I just don't have the time.
Lake William:
Still a great holiday spot and a good place for kids to
catch stunted perch until the night closes in. Using sizeable flies may sort out
some of the pecksniff perch and gain something worthy for a frying pan. Probably worth consideration for
the bass fishing which improves annually as they grow larger. Bruno stocks it
with trout every second year so they are still there among the masses of spiny
rays.
Bower Lake:
A golden...er...medium brown... er.. tea colored gem.
With water clarity approaching my notorious cup-of-coffee for opacity, this lake remains a difficult pond to fish unless you hit it late or early. Hit it early, before turbidity makes lateral line attraction the sole method of probing unseen slop. Bower remains a true trophy lake and is located in favorable proximity to the US border. My best results have come with bloodworm patterns in spite of the stacks of minnows that blot out sonar at times. Some bait fishermen once allowed me to examine stomach contents on some fish taken during one September. It looked like the fish has been feeding on balls of red yarn and many of the bloodworms were still alive. Consequently, my favorite Bower pattern remains the MacSheedy Bloodworm which is in my fly pattern book.
The aeration hole is broad as of this writing.
Twin Lake
This is a Tiger Trout Lake.Tigerts are the hardest fighters found anywhere.
40
fish days are still common. The lake attracts people from everywhere in North
America and justifiable so. It must remain a Catch and Release
Lake. The road has been vastly improved, toilets are present and folks, quite
using them for garbage disposal. For those who oppose C&R, nearby Persse lake
will be stocked and developed this year and you'll be able to keep one fish
under 18 inches. Bruno says we could even get Spar in that one--a cross between
char and a brookie.
Tokaryk's Lake:
Some GOOD news. Bruno B emailed to say that Tokaryk did NOT die in the winter of
2008-09. Seems the springs came through after all in spite of very low oxygen
readings last winter. Folks are catching fish and that is great news because
this lake is a major plank. With an aerator coming on-line the fish will see the
maturity they gained "way back" in the late 80s and early 90s. Whoo Hoo!.
Elgin Reservoir
Located south of Souris, MB. A a pike infestation is confirmed. Trout fishers need not apply.
Spear Lake:
Spear was fished little in 2008. I plan to fish it in 2009 as soon as I get some time and will report on it in an update for the Canadian Fly Fisher Magazine' s regional reporting website. Stay tuned.
Kennedy
Lake:
Winter killed winter of '02-03. No trout in it for those who have been asking. As far as I know there are no plans to restock it. It's difficult to keep trout through winters even on aerated lakes so I doubt if anything further will be done with this one.
East Goose Lake:
BIG SEVEN
A "hidden" gem in the town of Roblin. Folks camp beside it and head elsewhere in
the morning. There are some true salmonid hawgs in this lake but it also hosts
perch and walleyes. With Twin not far away and Persse coming on-stream people
will continue to camp there until a campground is developed further north.
West Goose
West Goose suffered a heavy kill at the end of August when tornado like winds and a Noachian deluge caused the lake to turn over and stirred the bottom layers of anoxic water to the top. The DO was still lethal when I checked it 3 days later but my sonar picked up some wide archs that show that some hawgs survived. Guess it depended upon which end of the lake they were at when the storm hit. Several other lakes we were investigating for future development suffered the same fate. West Goose is one of those lakes that requires constant observation. It is so fertile that it continues to grow the tallest cattails found anywhere! But man does it grow big fish in a hurry.
Pybus Lake
Stocked in 2007 and an aerator installed. Located just one mile south of Sandy Lake. Pybus was an icefishing paradise for the first part of 2008-09. Rainbows are 19 inches and as fat as poisoned pups. This is a good one and highly recommended for those who like to catch a lot of fish and release all but one under 18 inches.
Corstorphine Lake
Corstorphine Lake is located about 7 miles NW of Sandy Lake. Two legs quit on the aeration system in February for some as yet undetermined reason. Bruno B., the regional biologist, thinks it will suffer a heavy winter kill, if not total. Time will tell.
Anton's Lake
Located behind rest stop building at Junction of Highways 16 and 10. Trout to 20 inches have been taken. It's a pond but its very productive pond and a fun place on a windy day. This little water is a smashing success and kudos to the developers.
Lake 400
Right under everyone's nose at Sandy Lake. It's a put and take lake but should be tons of fun once it's "discovered". 12 feet deep and crystal clear. Yes it has a population of yellow perch and the trout are not likely to overwinter but on a windy day elsewhere....
Child's Lake:
Primarily a Lake trout lake but it has a good population of Splake. Lots of big spruce trees. Some power. Store and Restaurant. This is a great
place for bird-watching and boreal forest experience. When the trout come
up onto the spawning reefs in the late fall the place becomes a ff
paradise,--once you get to it. Work with the lodge to get there. It's worth the
trip.
East Blue:
Holds all the Manitoba Trout records for weight and now the record for
Rainbow length as well at 32 1/2 inches. It is so clear that
it is renowned throughout Canada as a diving lake. It can be tough to fish and you have to stay away from your
fly, use a float tube and don't move around much. Or long-line troll like everyone else
tries. I use my special bottom techniques with much more success.
This is a challenging fly-fishing lake. Water is like air and you can see bottom at 35 feet. Lots of guys do better at night. You can expect to go fishless on many occasions, even during the Hex hatch, which on the Duck Mountain lakes can be very impressive.
This is a plankton lake, that ends with some large schools of rather nebulous forage fish. However, my first choice of fly patterns favors, blood worms, gammarus scuds and hexagenia limbata patterns of variable color that usually are best fished at night. A BeaverRuff Dragon, fished right over the bottom would be my suggestion.
The
largest trout I've ever seen in fresh water this side of the great lakes was
swimming in this pristine puddle. It's a fly strollers dream.
West Blue:
Nothing new to report.
Morenski and I spent a day on this one in 2006 with him griping the entire day. What
else is new? I perfected a technique for catching 4 inch perch in 45 feet of
water with an Airflo #5 hi-sense line. It worked wonderfully and I felt every
take. I don't know what he was griping about. There's only 25 million perch per
school. He's a one species fisherperson.....
Perch Lake:
A catch and release
entity. Some of the bass are huge, true trophies, and can be seen just as it begins
to come daylight. If you're in the Duck Mountains
and the wind gets up (as it sometimes does on the prairies) head here. Some
great brown trout fishing.
Laurie Lake:
A fly troller's paradise. Why it sees such few fly fishers probably
has to do with lack of success with normal techniques. There are large fish here
but only in spring and fall do they work the shallows in the daytime. A large mohair leech in #4 was the key.
Obviously, once teh fish move deeper, daytime anglers would do well to use some of the deep-water techniques we posted earlier and is now found in the book, Bob Sheedy's Lake Fly Fishing Strategies
Gull Lake:
Still my favorite Duck Mountain lake. Splake, Whitefish, Brookies and Rainbows. Always
my Duck Mountain pick during weekdays. Hit it early in day and along
shorelines--tight to the shorelines along the weed edges because Gull drops off
quickly. It fishes well right through the season but expect summer action to be
early and late.
I suggest using some deep water techniques along the mouths of bays with bloodworm patterns or in the open lake with backswimmer imitations. In summer, work just over the thermocline, especially where it touches the shore and use your sonar to stay on that contour. Gull is one of the few Duck Mountain Lakes without a perch incursion.
Shilliday:
Shilliday is a float tuber's paradise and it's forage base promotes great growth
rates. There are a lot of perch in the lake at present but there are
some nice trout too. Popular on windy days. No launch for big boats though.
Two Mile Lake:
Rainbows and Brookies--and Yellow Perch. Lots of yellow perch so choose your fly
patterns and adjust your technique to avoid them and still offer your fly to
trout. Fish it late in the evening when it comes to life and the perch go to
sleep. It fishes best just before freeze-up, in
my opinion.
Glad Lake:
Still a good place to sniggle some large Rainbows as well as lakers if you get
there in the spring. If they aren't up where you can see 'em, probe the
thermocline and if not there, fish the bottom. Glad is a clear water lake. I
like to hit the bays. But watch for compressed balls and columns of forage fish,
often boiling on the surface.
Beaver Lake:
Very light fishing pressure. Adjustments are required to fish it now to prevent
hooking Perch. This is one I haven't got much info on at present.
Black Beaver Lake
When it goes through through the winter Black Beaver fishes well on years
when it is stocked. Not many un-aerated, shallow lakes made it through the
winter of 2008-09
Vini:
Vini is in the Porcupines. The
road can be an adventure at times but has been improved. During some visits, the lake can be
phenomenal and in the past fishing pressure has been light other than for osprey
activity. Vini has some large long-lived trout and is a highly
recommended lake when road conditions allow.
Gass
Variable rumours and urban legends abound. Some of
those ruts left behind are mine.
Mid Lake
South of Thompson, Manitoba. This is a fun
lake, right on the side of the road.
There are great old trout in it but few are taken. It was popular in 1999-2000
but has been since "fished out"--which is a less-than-scientific term
for a forage base shift. I still recommend it if you're in the area. It is
stocked annually. It will never be "fished" out.
Barbe Lake
Learning the flavor of the year is crucial. I used to troll Deep Misery patterns with great success and if they wouldn't take that, an Olive Flash Scud. Either one or the other would work. Other times, I lowered bloodworm patterns under a slip "strike-indicator" into 33 feet of water and did a lot of loafing in my float tube. Every now and again something would respond. Olive Marabou Muddlers work fine right at dark as do Zonkers when the trout come up to feed on the forage fish. The Crystal Minnow is great right after the spawn when the Fathead minnows are dying and flipping around on the surface after spawning periods. Large brown mohair leaches work at other times. The lake has a highly variable forage base and the trout can become very selective. They drive me nuts when they go onto snails. Why do trout have to go through such selective phases? Is that why the primitive species still exists? If so Barbe will be with us for a long time!
Good camping at Rocky Lake near Wanless.
Patterson Lake
FLIPPR LAKE
The Silver Beach replacement.
Thanks to the FLIPPR regulations, the RM of Rossburn and Water Stewardship plus a natural protection by acreage and the refined techniques required this has become the destinations of all destinations for North America Stillwater fly flingers. It is truly the best of the best and hosts the largest number of silver and brown legless pigs in the continent. I camp there in the summer when working on other developmental lakes in the area and often am awakened by the browns night fishing right behind my tent. I didn't fish much since I only had a 8 foot boat and taking it off the roof of the van had little appeal after dragging it through the bush all day to new, prospective lakes with no trails and no fish but it ahs folks who now camp there for weeks on end, especially since the electrical sites campground is being completed with full 30 amp services. With good toilets and a new dock it's proving to be the attraction we always envisioned. The fishing is awesome and the sizes are amazing. Ice fishing ahs dropped off for the present as well but will resume with the loss of Tokaryk for the next couple of years until the 2009 stocking comes of age over there again.
In the early morning it's a true wildlife sanctuary and the sounds of nature are unbelievable from wolf howls to Canada geese awakening to a loon chorus. Plan your vacation here!
Don't forget to drop a few dollars in Rossburn, and at the Olha store. They've definitely earned it after giving us this one!
More
Other Manitoba waters worth mentioning, although not in our immediate sphere are:
Footprint Lake, Webster Lake and Amphipod Lake
--OVER THE LINE --
SASKATCHEWAN!
You'll have to work a little harder and brush up on your trout location techniques, but the rewards are there and very large. Saskatchewan has spectacular scenery and is a favorite of mine. I just don't care for their licensing fees, park entry gouging, and the insane ability to discourage people from taking up the sport of angling.
Wilson Lake:
Wilson hosts some very large
Rainbows. It is a structure-less lake, lacking
concentrators and is subject to some truly horrendous algae blooms, but is
fertility cannot be argued. Use a giant scud.
Lake is aerated. Located NW of the town of Yorkton.
Lady Lake
North of Preeceville, Sask.
This is a great fly-fishing lake and 24-inch rainbows are common--if you
fish the concentrators. It continues to harbor the colorful Tiger Trout as
well--a 29-incher in 2002.
This is a must lake if you are anywhere near the area-- probably
the best in Eastern Saskatchewan. Fish a Beaver Leech of BeaverRuff Dragon in the deep parts if
there's no action in the shallows.
Steistol Lake
Steistol is in Greenwater Provincial Park. Steistol Lake was "discovered" in 2001. It's a worthy lake and boasts excellent structure. It has record sized Rainbows but catching them is another matter. It's a hike-in lake unless you can get permission to run your quad into the lake shore. Use the techniques outlined in my Strategies book
Lake Deifenbaker:
Deif is nowhere near the Parkland, but it must be included if you
even breathe Saskatchewan. I know everyone there in the province likes to fish the Little
Bear Country or along the Hanson Lake Road for trout, and justifiably so, but I like
Deif. Just below the dam in the tail water live world records and that is a
fact! Dief has yielded 37 lb. + Brown Trout, Atlantic Salmon,
Rainbows galore and all of the warm water species.
Its
surface area is larger than some European countries. Its shoreline and coulee contour looks like
the original hydra. Love it!
Lets hope the fish farming nets get broken again this year when the ice goes out.
Bass, Muskies and Giant Pike
Many of our readers would like to hook a giant Pike or a musky on a Fly Rod.
Most bypass southern climes to big lakes and lodges in Northern Ontario,
Manitoba, and Sask. that offer sufficient forage bases to nurture
croc-o-mo-gators to true trophies sought. Figure on 2 to 3 grand for the fly-in
experience of a lifetime. Having guided for some of these in my earlier days I
can attest that the fish are there and are now getting more protection as
affluent North Americans make the trips and enforce regulations, not wanting to
see what happened at home, happen in Canada.
For those of us with only one lifetime and
smaller purses, you may be
happy to know that it is not only possible in Western Manitoba too replicate the
experience but a real likelihood. I've released more and larger Pike in good ole
Lake of the Prairies, about a mile from here in one week than a season on the
so-called big water trips. I sure
wouldn't knock the fishing in any of of the Northern flights but a steady forage
base of walleyes can also produce some very large Essox. Moreover,
northern fishing isn't what it was 30 years ago when I guided.
I long ago discovered that water fertility makes for big fish whether it be trout, walleye
or Pike. These toothy monsters grow faster in the fertility of the lakes around the
Parkland and the Assiniboine watershed than in any acidic Northern Lake, where
longer-lived trophies take more years to reach the same dimensions. They may not
be not as numerous, however, but they are there and must
have protection .
Don't go bringing a 7 weight rod to do battle with these guys. A 10 or 12 weight would be better. More
to be able to cast the flies you have to get out than anything.
Anything less than 9 you have to bring a tent and be prepared to fight on into the night .
. .
Singuish Lake:
BASS
Lake has lots of Smallmouth bass, pike and walleyes. I fish it for Bass on occasion
because there are some true trophies usually popping around in the morning but alas I'm usually
off to a trout Lake. Great spot to ponder, procrastinate and conjure and tie the
flies I should have tied last winter.
When I first saw the bass in this lake on their nests, I was shocked at their size. Later, I
caught and released a few. Great top water action with dry flies in the calm of the
morning in the area just out from the campsite.
Primitive camping but the most beautiful spot I've ever seen in Manitoba and I've been to
a few. Towering Spruces. Grey Jays and squirrels become part of the family. Clean toilets
but no running water. Hand pump. Just a great spot to rest up.
Two Loon Lake:
BASS
Everyone knows that Nopoming and the Whiteshell has the best Bass fishing in Manitoba or
even central Canada...
Wanna bet?
And Still Others:
McNicols Lake:
Thompson. Giant Pike. Better take a ten weight.
THE RIVERS
The Pine
Picture a quiet little Appalachian Stream tucked away in the North Woods. Quiet
sun-dappled pools and runs. Stony bottoms give way to quiet and thoroughly enjoyable
pools. Good wading and sand bars and easy access. Lots of pressure and small fish,
in
easily approached stretches but there are may larger Rainbows and Brookies in upper reaches
where there is little or no pressure (or trails). If your hale and hearty and like
wilderness you can hike off the road to the various stretches and fish the log jams and
undercuts and 14" to 18" trout. Down where the road crosses the stocked trout
are fished heavily by bait fisherman and surprisingly numerous fly fishermen. I
love this place and visit it often when I need to relive life on the streams.
Steeprock River:
There is a fine madness that dwells in the hearts of men. It envisions rivers with waters
that would be as clear as air and its pools numerous and deep and its cataracts tumbling
down over moss covered rocks. It would be a wild and unspoiled wilderness and its trout
would break tackle and men's hearts. Every cast would be to an unknown lie. Its paths
would be animal trails. It would be in a impregnable wilderness. It would test every
aspect of endurance and tackle.
This was no dream.
It WAS the Steeprock River before chopping every tree off the top of the
escarpment let the flood of '95 scour the basin and flood plain. But the river is
rebounding and gaining a little topsoil to repair its riparian zones, every
year. Some of the upper reaches still host good trout and habitat.
No campsites. No trails. No roads or human presence. 100% backpack. Wild and virgin canyon
country. Fast crystal water.
Natural spawners and some supplemental Brookie stockings. After leaving the cutbanks
and hogsback regions, 15 to 20 miles of hiking, wading and sweat--living
amongst black bears, black flies, moose, wolves and some rather questionable rumors of Sasquatches from some early-day loggers that I met in the 1980's when it was a
fly fisher's paradise for those brave enough to tackle it.
The flood of the early 90's removed most of
the topsoil for some distance on each side of the river so walking is best suited for a Patagonian Rock-Hopper (that's a penguin--not a
Sasquatch). The loss of fertility reflects in the reduced size in the trout but
it's still a backpackers dream. Not for the faint of heart or out-of-condition but an experience that should be.
Right now there is only a handful of people who have ever been to its
upper reaches as fly fishermen. Biggest Rainbow I have ever taken was 22"
(before the flood and before Rainbows were excluded from stocking) and in a
pool at the bottom of a cataract right in the canyon that heads up toward Steeprock
Lake.
Now, it's mostly smaller Brookies, but the scenery will rival anything in the
West and the darkened, moody canyons could host any tale. When camping at night
owl hoots sound like rifle shots up in those segments. Wish I was younger again
...
More
There are several other streams in Western Manitoba but when you consider the size of the
trout in the Lakes it is hard to give them the attention they deserve.
Fly Patterns are covered on other pages in our sites and ARE
available in the book, Bob Sheedy's book, Bob Sheedy's
Top Fifty Stillwater
Fly Patterns complete with how, when, and where
to fish them. (Our only
ad--mine). If you want to learn the techniques required, they too
are available, in my book, Lake Fly Fishing Strategies.
REMEMBER THIS IS MY OPINION. YOU MAY KNOW OF SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK IS BETTER, SEND
ME AN EMAIL AND TELL ME ALL ABOUT IT. We'll check it out
mailto:flyfisher@mwflyfishing.net
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