Huge Trout in Southwestern Manitoba

Canadian trout expert Bob Sheedy with a typical Silver Beach Lake brown trout.

If there's a knock on fishing the Blue Ribbon streams of the western United States, it's the crowds. I've fished the Big Horn and several other trout Mecca's in recent years and even though the angling for browns and rainbows can be superb, it's a turnoff when you often find yourself elbow-to-elbow with too many others.

Maybe that's why, after traveling to southwestern Manitoba to fish the wonderful lakes around Russell, Manitoba in early May 1998, I made two more trips before the year ended. Maybe the sheer size of the fish, browns and rainbows, had something to do with it. Yet, I must say, I enjoyed the solitude as much as the fabulous trout fishing.

And, I'll go out on a limb by saying these lakes may hold the largest trout on the continent, maybe even the world. Yes, I know there are some stillwater fisheries in Montana and a few others scattered across the northwest, that produce great trout fishing. But, for the most part, they're private waters where you'll often be faced with a hefty rod fee for a day of fishing. That's not the case in Manitoba. They're all public waters and the fishing is fantastic.

In fact, if you fish certain lakes, you have a bonafide shot at a rainbow that may exceed 30-inches.

I had one such fish on while float tubing in Silver Beach Lake. The fish grabbed a black woolly bugger when it was just a few feet from my rod tip, turned, then leaped six feet into the air before taking off on a sizzling run that ended only after the fish had taken me to the end of my 100 yards of dacron backing and snapped a 2X tippet like it was sewing thread. If you're a newcomer to fly fishing, 2X breaks at 10-pounds.

I'd first heard about these amazing lakes from North Dakota fly fishing pals. Then I dialed up Bob Sheedy's website. (http://www.rural.escape.ca/angling_north/fishing/bobs.htm) I was enthralled with his tales of the "Big Seven," lakes that give you a real shot at rainbows in excess of that magic 30-inch mark and browns nearly as large.

The lakes are: Bower Lake, Tokaruk Lake, Silver Beach, East Goose and Spear, all within a short drive of Russell, plus nearby Duck Mountain Provincial Park lakes, East Blue, Perch and Laurie. I have fished all but those in the Ducks and have caught larger trout there than anywhere else I've fished.

And all are public waters. All are easily accessible. Nor will you find friendlier local folks than the Canadians in this area. As far as a place to stay, I've done a bit of fishing traveling in my time and the Russell Inn in Russell, Manitoba offers the best service I've ever experienced at a motel along with another rarity, a motel restaurant that serves gourmet level food.

Let me offer but one example of their service. If you visit during the summer and want to take advantage of the sundown bite (their restaurant closes at 10PM), just place your order for dinner when you leave in the morning...and they'll have it for you when you return late at night. Incredible!

The guru of Canadian trout fishing is my friend, Bob Sheedy. Bob has an interesting past with experience as a Forest Ranger, refrigeration expert, bush pilot and more. However, in the end, he is what he wants to be. A trout bum. He lives in a modest farmhouse amidst an aspen thicket in the middle of nowhere in Manitoba though his listed address is Inglis, Manitoba. Walk inside and his wife, Jean, thrusts a cup of coffee into your hands. Two rooms, that's right, TWO ROOMS, are computer centers for he is also a computer expert and maintains the best and most informative stillwater fly fishing page on the net. Yes, there's also a table that is used for fly tying and, though he says he's no great shakes as a tier, he's far better than most. He's done more research on stillwater trout fishing in high prairie lakes than anyone alive and I am currently collaborating with him on the publication of a fly pattern book of the most devastating still water fly patterns ever developed.

Even the patterns are unique. Sure, there are some standard still water patterns and a few knock-offs on some standards. For example, even though avid trout fishermen on these waters will swear the Tokaruk's Special is a unique fly, I still consider it another version of the most effective fly of all, the woolly bugger. But, there are some interesting new patterns you'll want to have in your box if you journey to these fabulous waters. But, you won't find them in most fly shops. There is a fly shop in Dauphin, Manitoba that carries most of them but it's an hour drive from Russell. Better to bring your own. Or, access Bob's page and click on Master Tier Mark Olinger's section. Mark is an airman stationed at Minot Air Force Base and lives in Lansford, ND. He is currently North Dakota's only professional fly tier and he'll send you a free catalog which you can obtain with an email after getting on his page,

There is only one guide service operating in the area. Ken Arthur operates Segunda Wildlife Adventure Services (Box 130, Dauphin, and MB, CANADA R7N 2T9). Bob Sheedy highly recommends him and you can phone him toll-free at 1-888-872-0599 or E-Mail him at karthurs@galaxy.mb.ca. Ken will supply waders, flippers, float tube, etc. All you bring is your fly rod. As an interesting sidebar, there's some great walleye fishing in the area too. Nearby Lake of The Prairies is excellent with big pike, too.

Best time of year? That's a crapshoot. I fished Spear, Silver Beach and East Goose Lakes in early May and had a ball fishing for big spawning rainbows. I also managed to catch a few browns in the 20-inch range. I returned in June and while East Goose and Spear were pretty dead, Silver Beach browns were on a roll. In one two hour period, I caught and released 15 big browns ranging from 20 to 26-inches. I returned in late September, a bit too early for the great fall rainbow fishing but still caught some big 'bows on Tokaruk's Lake. As is usually the case with stillwater trout fishing, spring and fall offer the best but, doggone it, June isn't bad.

I won't hesitate to make some fly tackle recommendations. Stick with heavy rods. A 5-weight is too light as I learned the hard way. Yes, you can whip big fish on such an outfit but you stress them badly. Go with a 6-weight or, better yet, a 7-weight.

You need a reel with a good drag. These are the strongest fish I've caught in freshwater. It's no place for a cheap reel. Wind it with at least 100 to 150-yards of dacron backing. As for lines, in an ideal world, you'd carry three. A floating line can be useful in shallow water but it should be a weight-forward line. Then, I'd add a Scientific Anglers Uniform Sink I line and a Uniform Sink II. The first will be your workhorse line and can be used in shallow water down to about 6-feet. If the trout go deeper, you're much better off with an II sinking line. That's what I used on the day I caught so many big browns. The fish were at the 12-foot mark and the II sinking line got there quickly.

Russell, Manitoba is located on Highway 83, very close to the Saskatchewan border. From my home in Pierre, SD, it's a nine-hour drive, counting gas and lunch stops. To get your bearings, it's straight north of Minot, ND. I usually cross the border just north of Westhope, ND, one of my all-time favorite snow goose haunts.

The country you'll be fishing is a unique mix of prairie, wheat and parkland. Spear is just a couple miles west of Russell and looks like a typical large prairie stock pond. Silver Beach is a half-hour east just south of Riding Mountain National Park. Tokaruk's Lake is another 20-minute drive east of Silver Beach. These two lakes are surrounded by trees and offer much more of a "Canadian" northwoods look. East Goose Lake is right within the community of Roblin, some 30-miles north of Russell. There are deer, timber wolves, bears and moose. I've seen all while traveling through the region. The border crossing is easy. Carry identification and your proof of auto insurance.

The last thing I want to do is oversell these lakes. Fishing is fishing, no matter where you do it. There are times, even here, when the fish won't go. But, then there are times when it borders on, well, wonderful trout fishing.

Big trout, no crowds and all public water, a combination that's hard to beat.

Great Manitoba Trout Fishing - Bob Sheedy's Page http://www.rural.escape.ca/angling_north/fishing/organz.htm