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 PrairieOutdoors.com is pleased to list our resources on Rainbow Trout fishing including the best places in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba to fish for Rainbow Trout and our listing of Rainbow Trout fishing guides and lodges.

The recommendations are based on our own experiences, suggestions from friends and relatives and from visitors to our web site offering their own recommendations. Please respect landowner rights and request permission prior to Rainbow Trout fishing on private property.  This information is intended for the recreational angler to aid them in finding a great adventure in our great Canadian prairie outdoors.

Our Favorite Places for Rainbow Trout Fishing

Location: Craven
Comments: Where can I purchase Rainbow trout for my dugout?
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Location: Pine River
Comments: Just to let you know Pine River, Manitoba is the Rainbow Trout Capital of Manitoba! It is east of the Duck Mountains and about an hour north of Dauphin, Manitoba!
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Location: Nordegg
Comments: If you wanna be close to the Mountains, enjoy pulling in plenty of fish, and bring the kids out for their first time, then Harlech Fish Pond is the place to go. It's stocked annually, with fresh and jumpy rainbows, and bow do they ever bite in late May/early June. It's best for taking the kids out and giving them their first catch, and showing them the extreme fun in fishing.
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Location: Reesor Lake
Comments: Last night the Trout farm near by closed down and let all their fish go.
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Location: Flin Flon
Comments: Nistum Lake is about a 20 minute drive from Beaver Lake, Saskatchewan. About another 20 minute walk or a quick quad ride through the bush and your there. It's a relatively small lake but produces huge rainbows consistently. Average sizes range from 5 to 15 lbs. 15 pounders are not uncommon. Fishing pressure is relatively low due to the location and the fact that the area is haunted, plus there's also a family of big foot terrorizing the area. I've heard tell that the screams of the dead will scare the crap out of the most fishermen. Don't go-Don't go!!!!!
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Location: Chain Lake
Comments: Located 70km north-west of Athabasca. A stocked fishery with beautiful, deep Rainbows up to 5lbs. Easy access with a lakeshore Recreation Area, good camping and free firewood. Most anglers fish from shore with baited hooks on a jig. Trolling is popular also, although with electric motors only. Excellent fly fishing spot also!
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Location: Piprell Lake
Comments: In Narrow Hills Provincial Park- Big rainbows there.
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Location: Blood Indian Reservoir
Comments: A great little lake north east of Brooks, AB. The edge drops off quickly and good weed beds can be found around much of the reservoir. Easy access to the shore from almost anywhere. The rainbows are often caught in the 2 to 3 pound range and I've heard many reports of 8 to 10 pounders. Try the shallow bays in the spring when the weeds are still small then near the boat launch later in the year. When they are active, they can be caught with various methods, a pickerel rig and minnows or power bait work well from shore. If you're fly-fishing, try a brown wooly bugger. The lake is also small enough to belly boat from side to side.
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Location: Lake Tokyryk
Comments: This lake is stocked with rainbow and brown trout and is great if you have a row boat, canoe, or belly boat. There's almost no place to fish from shore except for the boat launch area which is only about 25 feet wide. The lake is in between Russel and Clear Lake. Take PR 566 to Rossmore Rd. then west to the old church.
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Location: Michele Reservoir
Comments: You can find this lake south of Medicine Hat, along the edges of Elkwater park. It's small enough to park and walk around within a half an hour. Minnows and power bait work well off a suspended rig and fly-fishing works well from shore or by belly boat.
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Location: Reesor Lake - Cypress Hills Park
Comments: A great little deep water lake for rainbows. I haven't found many large fish but it's still great fun. Good bait casting off the dock on the north side and even better fly fishing from a belly boat along the south shore.
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Location: Lake Diefebaker
Comments: Half a million rainbow trout escaped from the trout farm near Riverhurst. Need I say more?
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Location: Saskatoon Trout Ponds
Comments: There is a trout pond at the Saskatoon Zoo, open to the public. Great place to take the kids or a good spot for a few hours during the day. Plenty of smaller trout and we have heard of some 4 to 6 pounders. Best luck we've had has been fly-fishing with any bright coloured fly. Take Forest Road north and follow the trout pond signs. Saskatoon Wildlife Federation has started a new pond stocked with trout. Both ponds require barbless hooks. S'toon trout pond, last year i pulled out a 7 1/2 pounder. The park attendant was an eyewitness even
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Location: Silver Spring Trout Ranch
Comments: Just north of Regina off highway 11. A short drive from the city. Includes a catch & keep rainbow pond and a catch & release perch pond. A great place to take the kids for an afternoon.
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Location: Silver Spring Trout Ranch
Comments: A very scenic pond. Once caught 8, 2-4 pounders floating a grasshopper and another time caught a 3 pounder with a worm. Huge fish up to 8 pounds can be seen, biggest caught was just over 7lbs.
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Location: The Bow River
Comments: I had read about the Bow and the great fishing many times, but until this fall, I had never had the chance. I was in Calgary for business and figured I'd bring my rods and tackle, hoping to get a chance on what many call North America's best trout river. I spent the last afternoon of my trip south west of Calgary, about 20 km's. Everything I have read is true. Great fishing, lots of fish and lots of water. The only problem I found was finding a place that wasn't already occupied. I had equal success with fly fishing, bait casting with power bait, and casting spinners. If I'm ever back in Calgary, for business, I'll pack my rod again.
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Location: Pine River
Comments: Just to let you know Pine River, Manitoba is the Rainbow Trout Capital of Manitoba! It is east of the Duck Mountains and about an hour north of Dauphin, Manitoba!
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Location: Nordegg
Comments: If you wanna be close to the Mountains, enjoy pulling in plenty of fish, and bring the kids out for their first time, then Harlech Fish Pond is the place to go. It's stocked annually, with fresh and jumpy rainbows, and bow do they ever bite in late May/early June. It's best for taking the kids out and giving them their first catch, and showing them the extreme fun in fishing.
------------
Location: Reesor Lake
Comments: Last night the Trout farm near by closed down and let all their fish go.
------------
Location: Flin Flon
Comments: Nistum Lake is about a 20 minute drive from Beaver Lake, Saskatchewan. About another 20 minute walk or a quick quad ride through the bush and your there. It's a relatively small lake but produces huge rainbows consistently. Average sizes range from 5 to 15 lbs. 15 pounders are not uncommon. Fishing pressure is relatively low due to the location and the fact that the area is haunted, plus there's also a family of big foot terrorizing the area. I've heard tell that the screams of the dead will scare the crap out of the most fishermen. Don't go-Don't go!!!!!
------------
Location: Chain Lake
Comments: Located 70km north-west of Athabasca. A stocked fishery with beautiful, deep Rainbows up to 5lbs. Easy access with a lakeshore Recreation Area, good camping and free firewood. Most anglers fish from shore with baited hooks on a jig. Trolling is popular also, although with electric motors only. Excellent fly fishing spot also!
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Location: Piprell Lake
Comments: In Narrow Hills Provincial Park- Big rainbows there.
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Location: Blood Indian Reservoir
Comments: A great little lake north east of Brooks, AB. The edge drops off quickly and good weed beds can be found around much of the reservoir. Easy access to the shore from almost anywhere. The rainbows are often caught in the 2 to 3 pound range and I've heard many reports of 8 to 10 pounders. Try the shallow bays in the spring when the weeds are still small then near the boat launch later in the year. When they are active, they can be caught with various methods, a pickerel rig and minnows or power bait work well from shore. If you're fly-fishing, try a brown wooly bugger. The lake is also small enough to belly boat from side to side.
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Location: Lake Tokyryk
Comments: This lake is stocked with rainbow and brown trout and is great if you have a row boat, canoe, or belly boat. There's almost no place to fish from shore except for the boat launch area which is only about 25 feet wide. The lake is in between Russel and Clear Lake. Take PR 566 to Rossmore Rd. then west to the old church.
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Location: Michele Reservoir
Comments: You can find this lake south of Medicine Hat, along the edges of Elkwater park. It's small enough to park and walk around within a half an hour. Minnows and power bait work well off a suspended rig and fly-fishing works well from shore or by belly boat.
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Location: Reesor Lake - Cypress Hills Park
Comments: A great little deep water lake for rainbows. I haven't found many large fish but it's still great fun. Good bait casting off the dock on the north side and even better fly fishing from a belly boat along the south shore.
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Location: Lake Diefebaker
Comments: Half a million rainbow trout escaped from the trout farm near Riverhurst. Need I say more?
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Location: Saskatoon Trout Ponds
Comments: There is a trout pond at the Saskatoon Zoo, open to the public. Great place to take the kids or a good spot for a few hours during the day. Plenty of smaller trout and we have heard of some 4 to 6 pounders. Best luck we've had has been fly-fishing with any bright coloured fly. Take Forest Road north and follow the trout pond signs. Saskatoon Wildlife Federation has started a new pond stocked with trout. Both ponds require barbless hooks. S'toon trout pond, last year i pulled out a 7 1/2 pounder. The park attendant was an eyewitness even
------------
Location: Silver Spring Trout Ranch
Comments: Just north of Regina off highway 11. A short drive from the city. Includes a catch & keep rainbow pond and a catch & release perch pond. A great place to take the kids for an afternoon. A very scenic pond. Once caught 8, 2-4 pounders floating a grasshopper and another time caught a 3 pounder with a worm. Huge fish up to 8 pounds can be seen, biggest caught was just over 7lbs.
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Location: The Bow River
Comments: I had read about the Bow and the great fishing many times, but until this fall, I had never had the chance. I was in Calgary for business and figured I'd bring my rods and tackle, hoping to get a chance on what many call North America's best trout river. I spent the last afternoon of my trip south west of Calgary, about 20 km's. Everything I have read is true. Great fishing, lots of fish and lots of water. The only problem I found was finding a place that wasn't already occupied. I had equal success with fly fishing, bait casting with power bait, and casting spinners. If I'm ever back in Calgary, for business, I'll pack my rod again.
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If you would like to suggest a location, please use our recommendation form.

You can also tell us your story and submit pictures to be posted on line in our  section.

Rainbow Trout Fishing Pictures and Stories from The Campfire

October, 2000
Terry Wiebe, Michele Resevoir
Michele Resevoir, AB


July 2000
Friday afternoon on Lake Diefenbaker with my daughters Amanda and Melissa.  We caught this 19" rainbow about a 1/2 mile from the fish farm.
Lake Diefenbaker


July 2000
Amanda pulled this on in from the same spot, but didn't want to touch it!
Lake Diefenbaker


July 2000
Melissa with her second rainbow of the day.
Lake Diefenbaker


July 2000
Casting from shore, using a pickerel rig and lime green power bait.  A pretty good tasting 16" rainbow.  I tried for a few hours with my fly rod and about 10 different flies that day but no luck.
Lake Diefenbaker


July 2000
This gentlemen was fishing just off a point about 1/2 mile from the fish farm.  He was kind enough to let PrairieOutdoors.com take his picture with a nice rainbow trout caught that evening.
Lake Diefenbaker


Sept 2000
Mick, I was visiting my friends at their campsite for the day, relaxing in my chair.  It was too windy to fly fish very much so we tossed in some rigs with minnows.  We caught about 5 rainbows, all 1 to 2 pounds and had a good bar-b-que'd shore lunch.
Blood Indian Reservoir


Sept 2000
Eldon Wiebe, A two and a half pound rainbow.  This one was caught on my 8 weight fly rod using a brown wooley bugger I tied the night before.  Good thing I had my heavy rod as the fish weeded me and I had to yank it out.  Lighter tackle and I would have lost my lunch.
Blood Indian Reservoir


June 2001
Kyle Kurytnik2.5 lb Rainbow TroutBuffalo Pond, SK
Buffalo Pond, SK


Father's Day, June 2001
Brett Sonntag, Rainbow Trout, Buffalo Pond, SK
Buffalo Pond, SK


Father's Day, June 2001
Kyle Sonntag
Buffalo Pond, SK


Father's Day, June 2001
Brett Sonntag
Buffalo Pond, SK


April 2000
Terry Wiebe, The snow had just fallen the night before. It was still cold out but we decided it would be a good day for fly fishing anyway. My brother and I where were casting from shore for about 45 minutes with little success. Then I tied on a red-headed leech and two casts later, I had a strong hit. It ran 4 or 5 times, each time it got near shore.  After about 5 or 6 minutes, I landed the 18-1/2 inch rainbow. First of the year and best of the day.
Blood Indian Resevoir


April 2000
Galen Sonntag, Got one on the line, fly fishing from shore on the north end of Blood Indian Reservoir in Alberta (picture #1). It wasn't real big, about 14", but it was feisty (picture #2). Caught with a brown woolly bugger. Later in the day we would catch some large rainbows just across the lake from our belly boats, but, no pictures.
Blood Indian Resevoir


April 2000
Galen Sonntag, Got one on the line, fly fishing from shore on the north end of Blood Indian Reservoir in Alberta (picture #1). It wasn't real big, about 14", but it was feisty (picture #2). Caught with a brown woolly bugger. Later in the day we would catch some large rainbows just across the lake from our belly boats, but, no pictures.
Blood Indian Resevoir


April 2000
Butch Demer, Using a red headed egg sucking leach and casting from shore, I pulled in this 18" rainbow. It ran at least 3 times for 20 to 25 feet each time. We put him in the bucket and had him for supper that night, along with BBQ moose roast, potatoes, and a hearty supply of beer and rum.  The next day the weather was a little warmer and the fish got real active, especially from 6 to 8 pm. Many smaller rainbows were caught that evening.
Blood Indian Resevoir


October 2000
Terry Wiebe, A good catch of Rainbows, all within an hour of action!
Michelle Reservoir


July 2004
Galen Sonntag. Here's two pictures of the same fish.  A nice 18" rainbow trout caught using a double nymph rig.  This rainbow took the stone fly nymph which was the bottom fly, attached 18" below a san juan worm with a strike indicator at the top of the 9 foot leader.  We put this one, and the other 10 fish we caught this day, back in to the river.
Read the full story in the Journal.


July 2004
Galen Sonntag. Here's two pictures of the same fish.  A nice 18" rainbow trout caught using a double nymph rig.  This rainbow took the stone fly nymph which was the bottom fly, attached 18" below a san juan worm with a strike indicator at the top of the 9 foot leader.  We put this one, and the other 10 fish we caught this day, back in to the river.
Read the full story in the Journal.


July 2004
If you can't read the name of Ian's boat, it is the "I'm Gonna Miss Her".
Bow River, Alberta


July 2004
If you can't read the name of Ian's boat, it is the "I'm Gonna Miss Her".
Bow River, Alberta


2009-05-31

Blood Indian Resevoir


2009-07-01
casting a caddis fly with a slow retrieve. Caught 5 rainbows, 9 - 10 inches each, in a n hour.
Saskatoon


2009-07-01
The first and smallest rainbow of the day.
Saskatoon


2009-07-04

twin lakes rocky mnt house


2009-08-31
Rainbow cought near Nipawin
Nipawin


2009-09-16

Quesnel B.C.


2010-02-10




2010-04-23

Idaho


2010-04-23

Idaho


2010-04-23

Idaho


2010-04-30
It may not be a fish picture but it is a really cool picture anyway.
Snake River, Idaho


2010-04-30
fly fishing



2010-05-17
Tim the Wizard displays the fine art of fish juggling.
Stanley, ID


2010-09-07
St. Mary rainbow trout, caught 7 rainbows dry fly fishing south of Lethbridge
Lethbridge, AB


2010-09-07
Floating dries on the St. Mary river
Lethbridge, AB


2010-09-07
Caught on a tan colored caddis fly on the St. Mary river.
Lethbridge, AB


2010-09-21
Weekend of fishing with family, steelhead and flyrods... Scott has some more pics of the trip and fish he landed on his camera but I don’t have them yet. That first pic was a quick stop on the Little Salmon, the rest are on the S. Fork/Clearwater…
Little Salmon


2010-09-21
Weekend of fishing with family, steelhead and flyrods... That first pic was a quick stop on the Little Salmon, the rest are on the S. Fork/Clearwater…
S. Fork - Clearwater


2010-09-21
Weekend of fishing with family, steelhead and flyrods... That first pic was a quick stop on the Little Salmon, the rest are on the S. Fork/Clearwater…
S. Fork - Clearwater


2010-09-21
More S. Fork - Clearwater steelheads
Clearwater


2010-09-21
Oh Great Tim, what manner of man are you that can summon up fish without flint ot tinder?
Idaho


2010-09-28
caught on a tan caddis
St. Mary River, AB


2011-04-09

grande prairie ab


2011-04-26
Hard to fish with this distraction.



2011-05-25
Spring fishing with my son at Swan Lake, Alberta east of Grande Prairie.
Swan Lake, Alberta


2011-07-04
Caught this little rainbow trout on the first day of summer, 2011. Not a big one but one of many. Best part was the sunlight was still useable at 10:30 pm.
Saskatoon


2011-07-04
Caught about 4:30 am on the first day of summer just as the summer sun was making it's appearance.
Saskatoon