Article by John Pappas

Reprinted from Reel News Copyright 2002,
Every few minutes I had to turn the electric motor sideways and jazz the throttle to keep the boat straight in the following wind. There were plenty of marks on the finder, but the big rainbows weren't hitting. It had cooled quickly when the sun slipped behind a cloud, but I had experienced colder days on this Cariboo lake at the end of September. Lulled by the waves, I was startled when the port rod suddenly bent dangerously and line began screeching off the reel.

As I lifted the rod out of the holder I felt the weight and knew it was a good one. I reversed the motor and put all the pressure I dared on the six pound leader, but the fish kept going as if there were no resistance, staying deep, the leaded line long gone and monofiliment disappearing at an alarming rate. I wondered if l could get the outboard started and the boat turned before I ran out of backing.

The fish changed direction, then again, coming almost right back at me. I reeled like mad, slowed as the fish went into a head shaking dive but still headed in my direction. I got half the leaded line back before he turned and made another run. After the third run I worked the fish in close enough to get a look at him down in the clear water -my breath caught at the sight.

After another fifteen minutes of working the electric while losing and gaining back line, I slid the net under my biggest yet Sheridan Lake rainbow. At the fish cleaning hut he measured 29 inches and tipped the scales at 9 lb. 12 ounces; still four ounces short of making Bob Leith buy me a trophy hat, but I wasn't complaining.

Sheridan is one of the most famous lakes up on the Cariboo (British Columbia), about twenty miles east of lOO Mile House and surrounded by other well known trout lakes, such as beautiful Lac des Roches, Bridge, Deka and smaller top producers like Wavy and Hathaway and fly fishing favorites Fawn and Irish, all less than a half hours' drive from Sheridan. Deka is-best known for kokanee, but in the upper part you can catch lakers in the 4-10 pound range on light tackle along the dropoffs until your arm drops off. Fish these lakes in the spring or fall and a limit of 5 fat 1 1/2 to 3 pound rainbows is the rule. On a good day you'll release another dozen or more.

Sheridan is different than the others; it consistently puts out the biggest fish, 3 pounds being common and 5 will get you a nod and permission to buy a trophy hat, but every time you put your line in the water you risk hooking up with a 10 or bigger. Most of the fish over 12 aren't landed, simply because in the clear water 6 lb. Ultra Green or one of the fluorocarbon leaders is the heaviest you can use if you expect your lure to get a look. Fly fishing, I use a 4 Ib. tippet. And let me assure you light line experts, when you hook a 4-5 Ib. Sheridan rainbow on 41b. test, you will use all your skill to bring it to the net. As a rule, the 4-6 pounders jump more and fight harder and faster than the slabs. A dozen cartwheeling leaps and 100 foot runs is the rule.

For me the most fascinating thing about Sheridan is how it can humble you, even the day after you hammered them and think you've got it all figured out. What you discovered today won't work tomorrow. Each day is a new challenge. What you have to remember is that all the lakes in the Cariboo are actually high lakes, 3,500 to over 4 thousand feet elevation and subject to all the variances of any mountain lake. Four years ago, when I fished Sheridan for the first time, I had a pretty high opinion of my ability to catch trout anywhere under any conditions. This lake trashed that attitude on the first visit. And it renewed my enthusiasm for trout fishing that I don't think will ever diminish again.

Although we make Sheridan Lake Resort our base, I always fish at least one of the other nearby lakes during the trip. We usually go in the late May and late September, when the fish are in shallow water, although if you're willing to fish deep any time is good. The weather is iffy in the spring and fall, so bring all your weather gear. Last spring we left Seattle at about 6 A.M., were unloaded and had the boat in the water by 3 P.M. It was a lovely sunny afternoon in the 70's; two days later it snowed.

Gear is very specific: Power Bait can work on occasion, as will maggots, but worms are not recommended. If you troll and use pop gear/ford fenders, don't bother reading any further because it is very un- likely you will catch anything big enough to brag about. If you're serious, leaded line is a must, as is a leader of no more than 6 lb. and 70-90 feet long. Lead weights on the
line don't work very well. Leaded line moves around in the water and allows the lure/fly to maintain a more lifelike action. The long leader is necessary because you need the lure to be at least a hundred feet behind the boat -Sheridan fish don't like boats and the water is very clear-and when you're fishing shallow and only using a color or so, the long leader will get you back far enough. I use spoons, but only two kinds, and one is a crude looking thing made in Mt. Vernon that works very well in the Cariboo and other places. I also like Lyman plugs in the smaller sizes; the big one I got last fall was on a #55 Lyman. The right lures and licenses are available at the resort.

Sheridan is a big lake, but don't let that discourage you fly fishennen. There are many excellent shallow feeding areas that produce giant fish. Last spring I saw a prime 10 lb. rainbow that had just been caught in fifteen feet of water on a #14 cream bodied chironirnid tied to a 5 lb. Tippet. Shrimp imitations, green nymphs, black leaches, muddlers, blood suckers, and any stonefly-looking wet can work on any given day. Dries work sometimes, especially if you adapt quickly, so if you come in June do bring dries that resemble Mayflies and small white moths.
This is a full service facility and the rates are very reasonable.

Copyright 2002, John Pappas ~

Reprinted from Reel News