Lake of the Day June 18: Suffern Lake, SK

Suffern Lake is small, with a gradual slope and shallow area. Suffern Lake is stocked with rainbow trout. In 2014, 16,000 rainbow trout were released into the lake. This is an excellent place to get out the fly rod. Rainbow trout are readily caught with both flies and lures, and the small size of Suffern Lake makes it easy to launch a pontoon or belly boat. Fly patterns of all types are great for trout fishing. Early in the season, try leech patterns. Trout are feeding heavily at this time of year, and leeches are common early-season food sources. As the spring and summer progress, trout will often feed on anything from mosquitoes to mayflies. This is a great time to experiment, especially if what you are using isn’t producing results. While fly fishers will often "match the hatch," sometimes the trout will key in to something entirely different. Successful fly fishers often study the insects and their movements. Factors ranging from cloud cover to the time of day will also affect angling methods. If you simply want to get out and fish without worrying too much about technique, jigging can work well, as can casting from shore. Cheese can work well for bait. LAKE ACCESS From North Battleford, follow Hwy 40 west to Hwy 680. Follow Hwy 680 south to Suffern Lake, near the Alberta border. Suffern Lake Regional Park offers amenities from serviced camp sites to golf. There is a playground and beach area. Please keep in mind that there is a speed restriction of 5 km/h for all boats.