Bob Sheedy - Manitoba Field Editor

Most of us are huddling over our tying benches, clicking through on-line catalogs and websites looking for that perfect pattern that will be our go-to fly for the days when the white stuff gives way to acres of rippling blue again. From a mid-winter perspective, sometimes looking backward can tell us the best way forward. That can certainly be true in the fly angler’s world when planning where when and how for the next season.
So where will we go?

The Manitoba scene gave us a few surprises and some hidden successes that one might note when planning next year. The temperatures were extreme after a long open autumn but the ice that accumulated in the -40 C days was crystalline as regards light passage and photosynthesis. That’s a major plus when coupled with lighter snow cover. The specter of winter-kill on most of our non-aerated lakes may be held at bay, provided El Nino continues to treat us kindly.

Bass fishing was reported to have been fair to good for those visiting the lakes in the NE of the province. A few members of the MFFA club advised that Footprint Lake near Grand Rapids produced some great photos for several members who fished it extensively. Here’s hoping that Footprint will go though the winter without a hiccup. It and Barbe Lake, north of The Pas, continue to be major draws. The fish in both are always huge and healthy.

Most of the fly-fishing action for trout continues to be built around the so-called FLIPPR lakes in the SW of the Province. The special regulations on these waters ensure that a strong population of over-sized salmonids are available in several species. Coupled with the always excellent historic lakes in the Duck Mountains the region has emerged as a go-to spot for the entire continent. Some have commented that the license plates seen in the parking lot at Patterson Lake reflects the United Nations at times. That might be a slight exaggeration but the hot-fishing lakes like Tokaryk and Patterson, located side by side, produced glowing accounts enviable anywhere. In 2009 the "Tokaryk Take” came back to the area when anglers on that lake began complaining (or perhaps bragging) of 2x and 0X material parting on the original grab. Others complained of sore arms and reel fingers after a day on the lake. Fun stuff indeed.

Twin Lake, the tiger trout C&R lake located on the western flanks of the Duck Mountains, played its usual role for entertaining one and all last spring and fall. Fish to 26 inches demonstrated the endless fight characteristics of brookies combined with the inbred characteristics of browns to several visiting folks. Somehow the aerobatics of rainbows seems to have leaked out of the hatchery as well, because these finned critters are true aerialists, to top off the fun. Twin has become a must-fish entity for anyone visiting the area and justifiably so.
Persse Lake, another new lake located right beside Twin Lake will come on-line in 2009. This water body has textbook structures ranging from sunken islands to saddles to mid-lake shoals. After a few short years this one will be a major draw for anglers. The road, parking lot and aeration building are already in place and most of the equipment on hand.

There are some small treasures that have escaped notice of many anglers. When the wind and whitecaps drive folks off the major mainstream lakes such as Patterson and Tokaryk, there’s no need to sit on the shore after enriching several oil companies while getting to the Parkland. Just down the road, near the sleepy Parkland town of Sandy Lake there’s a small fishery that was designated as put-and-take. Lake 400 lacks an aerator but has strong enough spring activity to carry trout through some winters. Last winter was no exception and the trout are now 18-inches and full of fight. Since the winter of 2009-20 appears to be again amenable to the livelihood of salmonids, folks should look at this as a windy-day lake. True it is smaller and not a mainstream lake that can match the production of the carefully thought out FLIPPR waters but it’s a clear water gem that offers some great fishing when the conditions render the others unfishable.
 
Lake 400 is one of four such lakes in the Parkland. Another is Anton’s Lake, located at the junction of Highways 16 and 10. The fish in it surpassed the 20-inch mark a year ago and now some are approaching Shamu status. The third is Little McBride Lake, located near Twin and Persse Lakes. Last, but certainly not least, is the C&R trout-bass fishery known as Perch Lake, in the Duck Mountains. All four offer some protection from the elements and can be located on the FLIPPR website at flippr.ca. GPS coordinates are available.
A few folks have commented on the fishing at William and Bower Lakes with mixed results. We’re hoping for clearer water on Bower this opening season and conditions look good for that earliest-of-all southern water, where anglers congregate for that first cast of spring.

Looking ahead for 2010 open water we have to recommend the usual suspects, Patterson, Tokaryk and Twin. However Pybus Lake hosts some 25-inch plus specimens as does good ole Spear Lake. The same goes for the Goose Lakes in Roblin and a trip north to the Ducks still is rewarding. Gull Lake remains my personal favorite but East Blue will challenge Provincial records for years to come. There are several other well-maintained trout lakes in that region of the province. A map of the Ducks can be downloaded off the FLIPPR website