Unless you've been living in a cave the past couple of months you know this has been one of the wettest years on record for Manitoba and Saskatchewan with record snowmelt, flooding and evacuations throughout the southern half of both Prairie provinces.   As a matter of fact, if the rivers rise and it rains any more, prairie anglers are going to start building Arks.  

(Is there any sight worse for a fisherman than a boat on a trailer and not in the water?)

The high water has made for extremely difficult, if not treacherous fishing conditions and has set the clock back at least two months or more as far as the fishing is concerned.  

Indeed, in a normal year, buddy Donovan Pearase, who operates Blackwater Cats www.blackwatercats.com on the Red River north of Winnipeg, is up to his arm pits by now in gigantic channel cats and trophy greenback walleyes.  But the high water and heavy current have created major problems, washing out most of the boat launches and creating huge safety issues.  

Fortunately, it looks like the flooding is starting to subside and the fishing is returning to at least a semblance of "normal".  

"I was out a few weeks ago," Donovan said, "exploring the creeks and marsh areas with my good friend and guide Lee Nolden.  We didn't do a ton of fishing as it was more an exploratory trip, but we got some channel cats at the mouths of creeks that meet the main river, as well as in the deeper holes up the creeks.  Creeks with current were key and sucker and shrimp have been working well."  

Donovan also mentioned that trying to anchor a boat in the main river has been next to impossible, so he has had to remain close to the shore and out of the main flow.  He was also quick to point out that anyone heading onto the river in the current high water conditions needs to be carrying a sharp knife and keeping a keen look out behind the boat.   

"A big floating tree can pull your boat under and spell disaster if it gets caught up in your anchor rope," he says. "So it is far better to simply cut the rope and loose an anchor than risk destroying your boat and possibly loosing your life. And always wear a life jacket."  

Not surprisingly, fishing from shore is probably the best bet right now, at least until the flows subside.  The other alternative is hiring a good guide like Donovan who knows the ropes and who will put you on fish in a safe environment.  

As he did the other day when he and his guests boated 13 channel cats in a couple of hours.  The monsters ranged from 30 - 35 inches and they were still biting when Donovan hauled up the anchor and headed for home.  

 (Donovan with a trophy channel cat he caught the other day in the Red River spillway)

"Fresh cut sucker, with an emphasis on fresh, was the hot ticket today," he told me.  "In heavy current, like we have right now, it is a good idea to shorten your rigs to six inches or less to make it easier for the kitties to get a hold of your bait.  I've found this greatly increases your bites and hook-up percentage in high water conditions."  

Donovan also mentioned that he tried fishing a number of favourite spots but that most of the Red River remains unfishable. So, the key is to find slower current behind points that jut out into the river and in smaller creeks and spillways.  

"You don't want to get right out of the current and into totally slack water," Donovan advises, "as that is not very productive.  The key is finding reasonable current that you can anchor in and then hold your bait on the  bottom using 2- to 6-ounces of weight. When you find that magic set up on the edges of the flow, it is game on."  

Buddy Jeff Mattity, over in Saskatchewan echoes Donovan's sentiments. In fact, it sounds like the two top sticks are reading from the same song sheet.  

With record high water levels throughout the Qu'Appelle and Souris River systems, many parks and almost every boat launch is either underwater or closed.  On Last Mountain Lake, for example, both Provincial Parks are closed and there is no access to the boat launches.  Only at Last Mountain Lake Regional Park and in local hamlets that operate their own launches will anglers find access to any water right now.  

So what's the cure for your fishing fever if you're living in Saskatchewan? 

It is fishing from shore.   "It has truly been a spring of shore fishing," says Jeff.  "With thousands of boats sitting on their trailers, shore fishing is about the only option most anglers have right now.  But that doesn't mean there are no fish being caught.  The Fort Qu'Appelle Valley, including Round, Crooked, Katepwa, Mission, Echo, Pasqua, Buffalo Pound and Last Mountain have many excellent shore fishing spots.  And anglers casting spoons, spinners and crankbaits are catching pike and walleye.  Those fishing with nightcrawlers, leeches or frozen minnows on pickerel rigs, bobbers and slip-sinker rigs, on the other hand, are cleaning up on walleye and big jumbo perch."   

But here is the best kept Saskatchewan fishing secret of all right now.  If you're looking for hordes of tackle busting fish, simply find a meandering bend in a local river and anchor a gob of earthworms on the bottom using a hefty pyramid sinker.  

 (Jason and Ben Matity with Ben's first ever carp)

"It is kryptonite for jumbo carp," Jeff explains.  "My brother Jason and I took my nine year old son Ben fishing on the river just north of Regina the other day and he landed his first ever carp.  A robust 14 pounder.  Now, that is not large by Saskatchewan's standards, but it was trophy for a youngster like Ben.  What's more, Ben went on to hook 23 more carp in the next four hours and he landed 19 of them.  Jason was timing how long it took, after the rig settled to the bottom, before a fish sucked in the bait and it was 2.5 minutes.  The shortest time was 20 seconds.  Take a look at Ben's face in this picture (see below) and tell me that carp aren't a great sport fish.  Hey, they're lemonade if you ask me!"    
  
                                  (When you're served lemons, make lemonade!)

By the way, Jeff's brother Jason Matity, is a local news anchor / producer for the CTV television station in Regina.  Jason and Jeff also produce Reel 'Em In, the only television show devoted exclusively to fishing in Saskatchewan.  As soon as the shows air on the network they're posted on the CTV website, so here is an outline of the 2011 line up of shows and the dates they will air.  Be sure to check them out at:
 
regina.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20101209/sask-reg-reel-101209/20110525/?hub=Regina
 
REEL 'EM IN 2011 SEGMENTS  

1. The Outpost - We explain the outpost, the cabin away from the main camp. We show you how to start up the generator, use the outhouse and rough it, perhaps even bathing in the lake. We explain why the outpost can offer not only wilderness, but great fishing too.  June 2nd  

2. Flying for Grayling - An age-old technique, the Arctic Grayling loves picking off flies at or near the surface. We explain the fine art of casting the fly, and how to fight the hard pulling Grayling once hooked.    AIRDATE: June 9th  

3. Dene Guides - The Dene guide is a unique story, combining a lifetime in the woods on the water with a traditional way of life. We will talk with our guide, and the lodge owners who employ local experienced Dene guides. AIRDATE: June 16th  

4. Faking it for Walleyes - We show the walleye angler how to fish successfully in the far North without the use of live bait.  AIRDATE: June 23rd  

5. Double Stacking for Trout - We show you a basic spoon modification secret which could double your odds for those elusive lake trout. AIRDATE: June 30th  

6. Cleaning Trout - We show the viewer how to field dress a trout, the quick head and gut method, and a basic concept for stuffing the trout as well.  AIRDATE: July 7th  

7. Big Bling Pike? - Is bigger and flashier better? While big baits catch big fish, do you need them? We’ll shed some light on the big bling for big pike. AIRDATE: July 14th