Quote:
Originally Posted by SNAPFisher
I wonder how the Manitoba Parkland got started. Maybe some forward thinking people that wanted to make things better at lakes that were considered not sustainable in their current state. I'd like to think Struble has the same potential.
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http://flippr.ca/about-flippr/
FLIPPR is a grassroots volunteer group of Parkland residents, municipalities and business partners whose vision is to create a world class still-water trout fishery for economic and recreational opportunities in the Manitoba Parkland Region. Our goal in the words of our first chairman Robert Sopuck is to develop a necklace of lakes along the west and southern boundaries of Riding Mountain National Park.
History
The evolution of parklands trout fishing is quite interesting. In the 1950’s Manitoba Department of Natural Resources started the first stocking of rainbow trout in Norc Lake southwest of Erickson Manitoba. The lake quickly produced large trout – the first indication of the phenomenal growth rates produced by Parkland waters. The lake winter-killed every 2 to 3 years and the project was abandoned.
In the late 1960’s, scientists from Winnipeg’s Freshwater Institute initiated fisheries research within the Parklands Region. Many waterbodies had no official names so they were designated numbers such as, Lake 14, Lake 17, Lake 400, etc. The objective of the research was to facilitate the development of fish farming as a method of increasing the economic potential of the area. A new type of farming! The research documented the incredible growth rates of trout in the waterbodies. An unnamed lake west of PR270 was home to the first aeration system in the Parklands.
The knowledge generated by the research did not translate into the development of a fish farming industry. Regional residents did not like the table qualities of rich trout flesh, especially when many trout lakes produced a very muddy tasting meal. Citizens much preferred traditional Northern pike, pickerel and perch for their table. Little thought was given to the idea of recreational fishing nor its economic potential.
After the widespread winter-kills of 1988, ’89, and ’90 local fish and wildlife groups thought they would “try” some brown and rainbow trout in these now empty or dead lakes. Perhaps the local proponents were not aware of the hight fertility of these lakes or that the lakes literally swam with some of the largest gammarus scuds (freshwater shrimp) found anywhere. No one anticipated that trout would gain over a kilogram a year during prime growth years. Within 4 years many trout in excess of 27 inches were available. Locally new words became common in the fish folk community; wads swell as silver pigs, shame, and Tokaryk Take.
Word spread rapidly and reinforced the idea of a world class trout fishery was achievable. Local leaders worked with Fisheries Branch staff, and soon were promoting “Big 7” Lakes; Perch, East blue, Gull and Laurie lakes in the Ducks, plus East Goose Spear and Tokaryk within the Parklands. FLIPPR was organized and became a reality in 2000. FLIPPR moved forward and started identifying potential new lakes to broaden the resource base to develop larger economic and recreational opportunities, while strengthening a partnership with Fisheries Branch and local government. While it may be true that few saw and were prepared for the success of the fishery, the results clearly proved that vision was being achieved. Some seven lakes have now been developed, more on the horizon. These lakes, plus those in Duck Mountain Provincial Park, plus lakes others have developed have resulted in ever expanding opportunities for fisherman.
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