OC Online - Hot Spots 2006

text by Tom Adamchick, Mark Anderson, Ken Bailey
Patrick Campeau, Brad Fenson, George Gruenefeld
Jake MacDonald, Paul Marriner, Jim McLennan
Wayne Phillips, Gord Pyzer

Simply the Best
(Brown Trout, Bull Trout, Carp)

BROWN TROUT
Cowichan River, B.C. Access the river from the Cowichan Fish and Game Association parking lot. Salmon fry imitation lures and flies work well in April, and there are major hatches of mayflies and caddis into May. More info: Cowichan Fish & Game Association, (250) 746-1070. –G.G.

Bow River, Alberta Cast Clouser Minnows, Woolly Buggers or Original Floater Raps. Focus on the stretch between Calgary and Carseland in May and early July. More info: Country Pleasures, (403) 271-1016. –Jim M.

Figure Eight Lake, Alberta A small, brown or rainbow-trout-patterned Rapala crank can be deadly in the fall. Casting or long-line trolling is key. More info: Tackle Shack, (780) 539-6354. –B.F.

Piprell Lake, Saskatchewan For big fish, June and July evenings are the best times to work small, shallow-running, minnow-shaped crankbaits from close to shore toward deeper water. A stealthy approach is essential. More info: Tourism Saskatchewan, 1-877-237-2273. –W.P.

Bull trout hot spot: Pitt River, B.C (Nick Didlick).

Laurie Lake, Manitoba Fish the east shore at nighttime during the summer. Monsters are taken on nightcrawlers floated off the bottom on Lindy Rigs. More info: Childs Lake Lodge and Outfitters, (204) 546-2746. –B.F.

Spear Lake, Manitoba Cast to browns pushing baitfish into the shallows in September. Small spoons and spinners work well, as do golden shiner streamer patterns. More info: Bob Sheedy, (204) 564-2447. –P.M.

West Goose Lake, Manitoba This tiny lake produces shockingly large trout. Fish dark backswimmer patterns in the spring and fall, then switch to caddis emergers during the summer hatch. More info: Bob Sheedy, (204) 564-2447. –M.A.

William Lake, Manitoba A favourite with fly anglers, the big browns are also enticed by perch- and trout-patterned crankbaits in the fall. Bait anglers do well with Lindy Rigs or bobbers. More info: Manitoba Conservation, Boissevain office, (204) 534-7204. –B.F.

Niagara River, Ontario From early December to late spring, launch at Queenston and fish down to Lake Ontario. Use a three-way swivel rig to vertically drift a single salmon egg, or yarn fly. More info: Niagara Sportfishing, (905) 788-9384. –G.P.

Cornwallis River, Nova Scotia Carefully prowl the banks on late-May evenings, looking for swarms of mating caddis flies—and feeding trout. Then carefully drift an adult imitation caddis over the feeding lanes. More info: Mahar Sales & Service, (902) 542-7956. –P.M.

BULL TROUT
Birkenhead River, B.C. Prime time is spring during the salmon fry hatches. Small, sparse streamers work well, as do small, Krocodile-style wobblers. Target the flat runs on the middle to upper river. More info: Spud Valley Sporting Goods, (604) 894-6630. –G.G.

Kootenay Lake, B.C. Jigging on the east arm or trolling with downriggers throughout the lake in early spring produces some monster bullies. A plain bucktail jig with a stinger hook does the trick. More info: Split-Shot Charters, 1-877-368-3474. –B.F.

Pitt River, B.C. The upper Pitt has awesome catch-and-release fishing for aggressive bulls weighing three to 12 pounds. Use salmon fry patterns in spring, leech patterns in summer and egg patterns come fall. More info: Pitt River Lodge, 1-800-665-6206. –G.G.

Little Smoky River, Alberta Concentrate on the water upstream of Fox Creek in August and September. Toss large Clouser Minnows or Original Floater Rapalas. More info: The Fishin’ Hole, (780) 475-0555. –Jim M.

Oldman River, Alberta Fish the water from Forestry Trunk Road to the Oldman Reservoir, from July to September. Cast giant streamers or Original Floater Rapalas. More info: The Crowsnest Angler Fly Shop & Guide Service, (403) 564-4333. –Jim M.

CARP
Last Mountain Lake, Saskatchewan May finds carp spawning in the shallows; avoid spooking them by casting small, weighted, olive Woolly Buggers. Aim well ahead of moving fish by adding splitshot to your line. More info: Tourism Saskatchewan, 1-877-237-2273. –W.P.

Red River, Manitoba In June, suspend fermented corn kernels just above the bottom in back eddies or sloughs that have been baited a day or so beforehand. More info: Cats on the Red, (204) 757-9876. –P.M.

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