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Here’s a summary of the FLYCASTER October 2025 newsletter from the Edmonton Trout Fishing Club:

🎣 Club Updates

• No general meetings until November; enjoy the open water while it lasts.
• Executive meeting on October 7 to discuss future plans and budget. Members are encouraged to send suggestions to: communications@edmontontrout.ca

🐟 Spring Lake News

• Aerators installed on Sept 29; fencing and signage will follow once ice thickens.
• Water conditions are muddier and lower than usual.
• Stocking update: 5,000 rainbow trout (20 cm) added.
• Prussian Carp are thriving and spreading—now found in at least six regional lakes.

🚫 Carp Management

• Eradication not feasible: Rotenone poisoning is too costly and risky; netting and electrofishing have failed elsewhere.
• Recommended actions:

1. Prevent spread to other lakes (e.g., Star, Muir, Salters Pond) via the “Clean, Dry, Drain” campaign.
2. Embrace carp fishing—challenging and popular in Europe.

🎯 Carp Fishing Tips

• Carp are sensitive and easily spooked.
• Feed at all depths; bottom feeders with “rubberlips.”
• Use light drag and lighter lines.
• Effective baits/lures:
• Corn 🌽
• Worms 🪱
• Fly patterns: San Juan Worm, Mop Fly, Carpinator, Clouser Swimming Nymph, Woolly Bugger

🌈 Rainbow Trout Strains

• Spring Lake stocked with Campbell Lake strain (diploid, heat-resistant).
• Other lakes stocked with Riverence strain (triploid, sterile).
• Diploids show better survival in rising temperatures and catch-and-release scenarios.

🐠 Catch-and-Release Best Practices

• Promoted by Keep Fish Wet initiative.
• Small changes in handling improve fish survival and recovery.
• A mini-lesson is available to share with educators and fellow anglers.

🦗 Backswimmers & Boatmen

• Backswimmers: Larger, predatory, bite, swim upside down.
• Boatmen: Smaller, herbivorous, swim right side up.
• Both are trout food and can be imitated with surface/subsurface flies.

📽 Casting Techniques

• Fly Fusion released a video titled “The Distance Cast” to help anglers improve casting range.

Click here to view the newsletter.

Here’s a summary of the FLYCASTER September 2025 newsletter from the Edmonton Trout Fishing Club:

🎣 Club Updates & President’s Message

• The club is resuming activities after a quiet summer, with the first meeting planned for November.
• The Annual General Meeting is scheduled for January, and volunteers are needed to refresh the executive team.
• Members are encouraged to suggest speakers, newsletter content, and new initiatives to keep the club vibrant.

🕊️ In Memoriam

• Longtime member Les Campbell passed away in August. He was a dedicated contributor and will be fondly remembered for his stories and fly-tying expertise.

🚤 Raffle & Fundraising

• The club successfully sold all raffle tickets. The winner received a boat and accessories, and proceeds will support the fall aeration program.

🌊 Aeration Program

• Volunteers are needed in mid-October to install four aerators at Spring Lake. The club is also requesting increased financial support from the village council to cover power costs.

🐟 Spring Lake Fair & Outreach

• The club will participate in the Spring Lake Fall Fair on September 13 to engage with the community.
• Fly casting demos and fishing discussions are planned, but more volunteers are needed.
• Members are reminded to clean, rinse, and dry gear to prevent the spread of invasive species like Prussian carp.

🐠 Forage Fish Spotlight

• Brook Stickleback and Fathead Minnow are the two native forage fish in Spring Lake.
• Sticklebacks build nests and males care for eggs.
• Fathead Minnows reproduce rapidly and are a key food source for trout and birds.

🎣 Fishing Tips

• Best times to fish with small fish imitations: overcast days, sunrise, and sunset.
• Effective flies: Muddler Minnow, Clouser Minnow, DS Butt Monkey.
• Hardware lures: spoons, spinners, crankbaits, jigs.
• Use silver/gold in clear water; bright colors in murky conditions.
• Balanced fly patterns and strike indicators can improve success.