By Bob Morenski
Back in October while Jim Harris and I were fishing on Patterson Lake, we had the fortune of meeting Rudy Krystalovich. Rudy is FLIPPR Board member fro the Rossburn area an the chief proponent of the Patterson Lake project. Jim and I had a very enlightening conversation with Rudy. One thing that I never knew was that the local municipalities are forced to pick up the tab for aerating these lakes. The cost to operate an aeration system throughout a Manitoba winter is about $700 Canadian a month and about $3500 Canadian a year. This was a real eye opener.
What does this mean to us? It means that funding the aeration systems is one of the biggest impediments to getting more lakes in this region. For areas like the Oakburn/Rossburn areas that do not have a lot of infrastructure to capitalize on the tourism, it could end up killing the project. Through the grapevine, I know that Rudy is under a lot of pressure from locals and the only way that this project is going to succeed in the long run is if we as fly fishers belly up to the bar and help with some of the costs.
I fished Patterson Lake this Fall and it is going to be a keeper. Trout were just stocked there in 2002 and there were fish in Patterson that were already 24.5 inches last Fall. It is not even going to hit its peak until 2007. As the fish chew through the forage base, fishing will improve there. I think that we will start seeing fish in the 27 to 28 inch class by next Fall and 30 inch plus fish by 2006. In short, the lake is poised to be the next Silver Beech only better. In 1995 and 1996, I landed 34 trout from Silver Beech that were between 25 to 29.5 inches. I lost 3 fish that I know were at least 30 inches. So when I say that Patterson is going to be better, I have some big shoes to fill. That is how good that I think this lake is going to be.
At our December meeting, we voted to create the Patterson Lake Aeration Fund. Our goal is to raise $750 from our club. At this writing, we are at $460 but we are still $290 away from our goal. Those that have donated to the fund have been very generous. If you have donated anything yet, please consider doing so. If you can only afford $5.00 or $10.00, don’t let that stop you from donating.
In addition to our donations, I have written to Mike Andeason to see if him and some of the guys from Utah would like to contribute to the fund. Mike said that he would do so and that he would also bring up at their club meeting. With their help and help from the Missouri Valley Fly Fishers, I am hoping we can bump the total contributions over $1000. The money is to be presented at the FLIPPR banquet in Rossburn on June 5th. If we reach our goal, it will only represent about 40% of what it costs a year to aerate a lake. However, the PR benefit will be huge.
If you wish to donate, send a check made out to the Dakota Fly Fishers to:
Dakota Fly Fishers
c/o Jim Harris
1837 6th Street SW
Minot, North Dakota 58701