Hooked contributor Ken Kansas put together an article outlining the state of the trout fishery in the Parkland region of Manitoba. He collected data from a number of different sources. While it might be a bit late for the open water season, it allows anglers to choose future ice fishing destinations in the region
SPRING 2017 SURVEY/ASSESSMENTS
In 2016 FLIPPR, SVSFE, IMSFE and Manitoba Fisheries Branch combined together to form a single assessment entity in order to perform various surveys on numerous trout lakes throughout the Parkland. This type of attack plan is not new, however this past couple years has seen greater cooperation between the Regional Fisheries Branch and FLIPPR after limited contact in years previous.
In the spring of 2017 Non-Lethal Sampling Protocols (NLSP) were conducted on Persse and East and West Goose Lakes. Similar surveys were completed in 2016 on Patterson, Tokaryk, Pybus and the Goose Lakes. The Duck Mountain trout lakes received work in the form of white sucker and northern pike removals on East Blue and Glad Lakes respectively.
2017 SURVEY RESULTS
PERSSE LAKE
Boat Electrofishing transects showed what we had feared for a couple of years. Those fears were substantiated. Heavy perch and sucker infestation has occurred. There are still good numbers of brown trout available in Persse Lake with very few brook trout evident. These results were interesting because brookies have been stocked at a ratio of 4 to 1 in favor of brook trout. Perch and sucker numbers need to be reduced. Brown trout growth is slow compared to most other Parkland area trout lakes. This is due to heavy competition at both ends of the food chain by huge numbers of perch and white suckers.
WEST GOOSE
This lake was a gem from 2005 – 2008 and then ran into some problems. A positive step towards increased productivity came with stocking larger fish from 2010 – 2013. This lake has come back big time. Electrofishing surveys showed decent numbers of big browns and bows equally. A most interesting fact is that the number of perch encountered with this most efficient capture method, were real low. Some huge Markosky rainbows were stocked in the spring as well.
EAST GOOSE
Electrofishing surveys showed average trout numbers and size to be increasing since previous sampling took place. Even perch numbers were lower than expected. Walleye still abound in numbers and size. We also captured a single seven pound channel catfish in one of our trap nets. Some inconsiderate person must have caught this fish below the dam at Lake of the Prairies and decided East Goose needed one. Not a smart move. It was well fed until it hit the smoker.
GLAD LAKE
Pike removal continued on Glad Lake in the spring of 2017. This project has been conducted for a few years now with some positive results. There is a lake trout population as well as a few rainbows in Glad Lake. Recently as this past spring, Arctic Char were stocked once again in order to enhance angling for the area.
EAST BLUE
This classic oligotrophic lake has seen it all since the mid 1900’s. During my tenure we saw a drastic and rather quick reduction in the number of master angler rainbows. This was remedied in three years with a switch to larger rainbows at a lower number at time of stocking and also switching to spring stocking via boat distribution which reduces most forms of predation greatly. This phenomenon has repeated itself since then, with Fisheries Branch going back to fall stocking small fish. Now again, they have gone back to spring stocking larger fish and at the same time, removing thousands of pounds of suckers from the lake which are thought to compete for forage (larval insects) with rainbows.
ANGLING EXPECTATIONS
There is no doubt in my mind that a trip to the Parkland for a sample of first class Stillwater trout fishing with many species and hybrids available all within a two our radius is well worth it. Top picks for the Duck Mountain Lakes would be; Laurie Lake for big browns and splake, West Blue for 24 – 26” brookies, Black Beaver for 19 – 21” brookies, and East Blue for 20”+ rainbows.
Western Duck Mountain trout fisheries is dominated by Twin Lakes for catch and release only master angler sized plus tiger trout. Tees Lake is not quite ready keeping in mind it received about 200 brood stock browns last spring as we as a few thousand albino rainbow trout. Persse Lake has its’ problems at the moment with perch and suckers but still can give up some nice browns in the 20+” range with persistence.
East and West Goose Lakes are both a pleasant surprise the last couple of years with great numbers of 22 – 27” rainbows and browns and reduced perch populations. These lakes both received a few Markosky giant rainbows as well and are all tagged to monitor growth rates.
Patterson Lake is still one of the top rainbow and brown lakes in North America but it has seen better days. Rainbow numbers are definitely down, for a couple of reasons I believe. First I think the strain of rainbows that the Whiteshell Hatchery has moved to since 2008 is a bad fit for Patterson Lake, and steady reports of a large numbers of trout that have been removed by bait fishers. This leads me to believe that since enforcement, to my knowledge, has been almost non-existent or at least non-effective on Patterson Lake, that an overall bait ban on lakes like Patterson might be required. Patterson Lake is scheduled for an NLSP survey and sucker removal project this fall.
Tokaryk Lake has a ton of perch and now pike as well. It still is being stocked. Some minor perch removal has occurred in the past couple of years but not enough to make a difference. If I was travelling a long distance to catch trout I would not go here, but if I lived close to it I would be happy. Future plans on Tokaryk Lake needs to be led by Manitoba Fisheries Branch to find out what kind of a plan should move forward.
Corstophine Lake should be back to normal since its aeration equipment problems. It has been restocked with trout and should be good to go,
Pybus Lake is done like dinner. The local municipality did not turn the aeration on last winter due to the massive perch and pike invasion and/or illegal stocking.
THE FUTURE
The future looks good. It really does. Sure we lost some lakes and as usual lakes to cycle to the good and bad. But the Parkland has banded together again, when it comes to this stillwater trout paradise. Recent partnerships with users groups and Manitoba Fisheries Branch increases the communal knowledge base and will reap rewards. FLIPPR is still a functioning group that wants to get back on the trout ‘glory train’ of the past. Surveys of current FLIPPR lakes and new potential lakes are ongoing. The Roblin and area Municipality have totally immersed in this initiative and have invested time and money in 5 lakes to date. Rewards have been reaped with the Canadian National Fly Fishing Championships and Bug Chucker cup occurring two years ago. Build it and they will come. Build it right and they will return.
I would like to thank Roblin Economic Development Officer Ben Brodeur, Phil Rowley of the New Fly Fisher TV Show and Phil at Patch’s Bait and Tackle in Roblin for their not only tireless efforts in developing and promoting the Parkland Stillwater Trout Fisheries, but also their views and angling reports for the area.