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Vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and a sleek, elegant shape. Discover the stunning beauty of the Pennask Cutthroat Trout that make the pristine waters of Douglas Lake Ranch a top destination for anglers and nature enthusiasts alike.
Ryan May contributed words and images to this post.
Nestled in the serene landscape of British Columbia, Minnie and Stoney Lakes are hidden gems for fly fishing enthusiasts. Over the past year, I’ve had the pleasure of spending a few days there with close friends on three separate occasions.
They’ve turned out to be some of the most memorable fishing experiences of my life.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by more than one million acres of breathtaking views—sprawling fields and crystal clear waters. Horses galloped and chased each other in the meadow behind our cabin. And the fresh air and tranquility were a welcome escape from our everyday hustle.
We eagerly prepared our gear and set off to the weathered, plywood-patched docks that would launch us into the renowned fishing spots the ranch is famous for.
These lakes are home to some of the biggest and hardest fighting cutthroat trout you’ll find anywhere, and private access means fewer crowds and some truly spectacular fishing.
But if you want to make the most of it, you’ll need to adjust your tactics based on the season, understand how to outsmart some very selective trout, and bring the right gear to handle fish that can easily hit double-digit pounds.
Here’s what worked for us…
A Species of Trout Unlike any Other
Minnie and Stoney are located within a 5-minute drive of each other in the heart of Douglas Lake Ranch. The ranch boasts a rich history dating back to the late 19th century when it was first established as a working cattle ranch. Over the years, it evolved, embracing the natural beauty of its surroundings and becoming a premier fly fishing destination.
The ranch's legacy of stewardship and conservation has helped preserve its pristine environment, ensuring its waters remain teeming with life, but none that overshadow the Pennask cutthroat trout.
Known for their energetic spirit and impressive fighting abilities – which continue all the way to your net – the waters of Douglas Lake Ranch are brimming with these striking fish. They offer a thrilling challenge to both seasoned anglers and novices alike.
Originating from Pennask Lake in British Columbia, this species of trout has evolved in a unique monoculture environment. This allows them to grow large and thrive in highly productive lakes without competition from other fish species. Known for their acrobatic jumps and aggressive nature, Pennask trout provide an exhilarating challenge and are a prized catch among anglers of all ability levels.
Conditions changed seasonally, so each trip offered a new challenge and level of excitement when casting our lines to these vigorously fighting fish. Each one brought to the net was a testament to the rich aquatic life of the ranch. And we could not help but admire the beauty of the fish we encountered.
The Pennask cutthroat trout has a sleek, silver body that gleams under the sunlight. Its elongated, graceful form allows it to cut swiftly through the water. This streamlined body is designed for agility, speed, and evading predators above and below.
As you inspect one in your net, the elegant shape is clearly functional but also adds to the overall visual appeal of the fish. It’s impossible not to admire their beauty.
The most notable feature is the vivid pink or red stripe running along its lateral line, which we noticed becomes more vibrant during the spawning season. This stripe contrasts sharply with the trout's darker olive-green back, creating a stunning visual effect.
I repeatedly found myself whispering, “Beautiful fish. What a beautiful fish.” An unconscious prayer.
Speckled Beauty
Adding to its appeal are the numerous black spots scattered across its back, dorsal fin, and tail. These spots are more concentrated above the lateral line, enhancing the fish's natural camouflage while adding to its beauty. The speckled pattern is a distinctive characteristic that makes each trout unique.
Fin Details
The fins of the Pennask cutthroat trout also add to its striking appearance. The pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins often have a hint of red or orange, providing a subtle but noticeable contrast to the silvery body. The dorsal and tail fins, dotted with black spots, complete the harmonious look from head to tail.
Fly Fishing Strategies for Each Season at Douglas Lake Ranch
If you’re planning a trip to Minnie Lake or Stoney Lake at Douglas Lake Ranch, you’re in for a treat. Unlike almost any other fishery that gets increasingly crowded as the seasons progress, private access here keeps the number of fishers to a bare minimum. In fact, it’s not uncommon to have the lake all to yourself and your group.
If you want to make the most of it, however, you’ll need to adjust your tactics based on the season.
Pennask trout are mid-water foragers with a particular taste for chironomids and other invertebrates. This makes them highly susceptible to a well-chosen and well-placed fly. But like any trout, they’re fickle.
Using black leech patterns and trolling at 1.5 to 2 miles per hour yielded the best results in the July wind and heat. This was in stark contrast to our trip in June, where we netted fish after fish with snow cone midges.
Flies That Work at Douglas Lake Ranch
Trout in these lakes see a lot of flies. Like most trout, they can be finicky from one minute to the next. A pattern or color that worked one day may not work the next, or even after lunch.
However, there are some flies that just seem to consistently work well for fly fishing at Douglas Lake Ranch. Here are some of those patterns, along with an educated guess as to why they’re effective in these waters, and which natural food sources we’re trying to imitate:
Woolly Bugger – A staple for a reason. With the large populations of leeches and baitfish in these lakes, a Woolly Bugger stripped at varying speeds can trigger aggressive takes from trout cruising the shallows or deeper drop-offs. We’ve had the best luck with Olive/Brown and Black/Blue or Black/Red Variants.
Balanced Leech – A must-have for indicator fishing, especially in deeper areas where trout hold off weed beds. The slow, natural movement of a leech pattern in olive, brown, or maroon (like the root beer variant you see pictured here) is something trout in these lakes can’t resist.
Color Tip: An interesting color preference to take note of here is purple. Club members have reportedly had success with purple leeches in the spring and early summer months. The maroon pattern worked well in the fall.
Damsel Nymph – With ample weed beds, damsel nymphs are a major food source. An olive damsel pattern fished with a slow hand-twist retrieve is deadly when trout are ambushing nymphs migrating toward the surface.
Scud (Freshwater Shrimp Imitation) – These lakes are loaded with scuds, making them a prime food source. Fishing a small olive or gray scud near the bottom can be incredibly effective, particularly when trout are feeding heavily in shallower zones.
Minnow (Baitfish Imitation) – When trout are targeting small minnows, a well-presented Minnow fished near structure or along drop-offs can produce aggressive strikes, especially from the larger fish in the system.
Color Tip: Another interesting color preference the fish seem to have for this pattern is blue. This eye-catching variant worked well for us in September when the waters were choked with algae.
Having these patterns on hand and adjusting your approach based on conditions will greatly increase your success at Douglas Lake Ranch. The fish here are definitely particular. But when you lock on to what they’re into, you may find yourself actually getting tired of catching so many fish.
Seasonal preferences… because fish have cravings too!
Here’s a quick season-by-season breakdown of flies, including color and size, that may work for you based on our past experiences.
Spring (Ice-Off to Early Summer)
Spring fishing at Minnie and Stoney is about as good as it gets. Trout have spent the winter in deep water, burning through their energy reserves. The minute things start warming up, they’re on the hunt for an easy meal. Early in the season, you’ll find them cruising the shallows looking for scuds, leeches, and the first hatches of chironomids (midges).
Best flies for spring:
Chironomid pupae (#12-16) in black, red, or chrome fished under an indicator
Scuds in olive or tan (sizes 12-14)
Leeches (black, maroon, or olive) stripped slowly
Dragonfly nymphs as the season progresses
A slow presentation is key. The water is still cold, so trout aren’t expending energy chasing down fast-moving prey. Hang your chironomid imitations right above the lake bottom under an indicator. If you’re stripping a leech or dragonfly nymph, keep it at a slow crawl. Late mornings into the early afternoon tend to be the best time, as the water warms up just enough to kickstart the trout’s metabolism.
Summer (Mid-July through August)
Summer can be a little trickier. The days are long, the sun is bright, and the water can get warm. These conditions push trout into deeper, cooler water during the day. But that doesn’t mean the fishing shuts down.
You just have to adjust.
During peak daylight hours, trout will often hang out in 15 to 25 feet of water, so you’ll need a fast-sinking line (Type V or VII) to get your flies down to them.
However, the real magic happens early in the morning and late in the evening. This is when you’ll see travelling sedges (caddisflies) skittering across the surface, and the trout absolutely hammer them.
Best flies for summer:
Bomber chironomids (#8-10) fished deep during midday
Dragonfly nymphs for aggressive takes in the shallows
Damselfly nymphs near weed beds
Large caddis dries (Elk Hair Caddis, Goddard Caddis) for evening fishing
Attractor flies (booby flies, blobs) for reaction bites in deep water
If you’re indicator fishing in summer, be prepared to fish deep—sometimes with a 15+ foot leader under your indicator. But if you’re around for the evening bite, tie on a big sedge dry fly and skate it across the surface. Watching a giant cutty explode on a dry fly as the sun sets? That’s the stuff you’ll remember forever.
Fall (September to Ice-On)
If you’re after big trout in shallow water, fall is your season. As the temperatures start cooling down, the trout get more aggressive, knowing they need to bulk up before winter. This is when you’ll find some of the biggest cutthroats cruising in just a few feet of water, and it’s a perfect time for sight fishing.
Best flies for fall:
Leeches in black, olive, or maroon (sizes 6-10)
Scuds fished along weed beds
Small baitfish streamers (for when trout are chasing minnows)
Chironomid pupae on warm afternoons
In the fall, the trout are a little less picky—they’re feeding aggressively and will take a well-presented leech or streamer without too much hesitation. If the water is calm, don’t be afraid to fish close to shore (like within 10 yards of the dock). Cast toward banks. You might be surprised at how big the fish are in just a foot or two of water.
Dealing with dense algae blooms in fall
One thing we’ve encountered is a dense algae bloom from late summer to early fall, that was especially bad in September on Minnie Lake.
The tiny rice-shaped algae quickly collects on your fly during retrieve, and even faster when trolling. This gums up the fly, often to the point of total concealment, requiring tailored strategies to maintain effective presentations (and at times, any presentation at all).
Here are some techniques we’ve tried as workarounds…
1. Adjust fishing depth and location. Target deeper waters. Since algae concentrations are often higher near the surface and along shorelines, focusing on deeper areas can help reduce algae interference.
2. Modify your retrieval techniques. Employ steady retrieves. Using consistent retrieval speeds can minimize algae accumulation on your fly, ensuring it remains visible and attractive to trout.
3. Select appropriate fly patterns. Opt for streamlined flies with fewer appendages. This reduces the surface area for algae to cling to, maintaining the fly's effectiveness.
4. Enhance fly visibility. Use vibrant colors. Brightly colored flies, such as those in chartreuse or orange, can stand out better in algae-rich waters, increasing their visibility to fish.
5. Regular fly maintenance. It’s a pain, but in these conditions it’s critical to inspect and clean frequently. Regularly checking and cleaning your fly ensures it remains free from algae buildup, providing a more natural presentation.
By using one or more of these strategies, you’ll hopefully cut through the algae blooms and continue to have productive fishing sessions throughout the fall season.
A Chironomid Fishery: Depth is Key
Chironomids are like a Quarter Pounder with Cheese – they’re always on the menu here. This makes them especially well-suited for targeting Pennask trout at Minnie Lake and Stoney Lake. The setup can be rigged using a floating line and a long leader to reach your desired depth.
Indicator and Leader: Use a strike indicator to help detect bites. Start with a 10-foot leader (6 to 8 pound test) and tie on your fly about 6 feet below the indicator. A weighted chironomid pupa pattern is almost always a winner with preferable colors that vary based on the time of day and hatch.
Depth and Presentation: Adjust the depth of the flies by moving the indicator up or down the leader. Begin by fishing near the bottom and gradually work your way up through the water column until you find the feeding zone.
Gauge Water Depth with Your Forceps
No electronic depth finder? A manual technique to determine the water depth and effectively place your flies is to attach forceps to the end of your fly line and drop it into the lake until it hits the bottom.
This method helps you accurately gauge the depth without sophisticated electronics. Once the forceps reach the bottom, mark the line at the water's surface to know how deep it is.
Knowing the depth of water you’re in is crucial for setting the depth of your flies. It ensures the flies are presented in the trout's feeding zone, typically 1 to 2 feet from the bottom of the lake.
Remember: trout look up. They don’t look down. So, if you pull in your line and it’s covered in grass, you’re dragging the bottom. Chances are good the trout never even knew you were there.
Pro Tip: How to achieve the same depth on every cast
Looking for an easy way to mark your line and ensure reliable depth on each cast without leaving a permanent tick on your line? Two words: bobber stops.
In his latest book, The Orvis Guide to Stillwater Trout Fishing, Phil Rowley touts bobber stops as an essential tool for maintaining precise fly depth when using indicators. By placing a rubberized bobber stop on your leader, you can lock your indicator in place at the desired depth, ensuring your fly stays in the strike zone. This technique helps eliminate the need for constant depth adjustments.
Quick Setup Guide:
Thread 2 to 3 inches of leader through the bobber stop’s wire loop.
Slide the bobber stop onto the leader and fold the tag end over.
Moisten the leader and pull the stop into position.
Once transferred, the bobber stop can be easily moved up or down without damaging the leader, allowing for quick depth changes. Just be sure to avoid excessive friction to prevent weakening your line.
How to Catch Selective Trout
Minnie and Stoney Lakes have plenty of food, which means the trout can afford to be picky. If you’ve ever seen a 10-pound lunker casually inspect your fly and then refuse it, you know how frustrating this can be. Here are a few ways we’ve found to outsmart them…
Match the Hatch (and the Behavior)
You don’t just need the right fly—you need to present it properly. If trout are feeding on midges just below the surface, don’t bother stripping a big leech. Instead, fish a tiny chironomid pupa under an indicator and let it sit motionless. If trout are crashing caddisflies at dusk, tie on a big skater caddis and make sure it’s moving on the surface.
Use the Right Retrieve
Some days, trout want a fly that barely moves—especially when they’re feeding on chironomids or scuds. Other times, they’ll chase down a quickly stripped leech or dragonfly nymph. Pay attention to how they’re reacting and adjust accordingly.
Fish During Peak Windows
One of the fun things about Minnie and Stoney is how quickly conditions can change.
One minute you’re drifting across a glassy surface, dipping your hat in the lake to cool off.
Then in the distance, you notice the water has turned kind of grayish black and looks like there may be some spray drifting up and off the surface.
Less than 10 minutes later, you’re fighting to avoid being blown off the lake and the clouds you didn’t even know were behind the hills are sitting squarely overhead.
But while the wind sucks for you, the fish don’t care. In fact, the reduced visibility often makes them feel more at ease and more willing to take chances. This is doubly true when you manage to hit them during one of their seasonal feeding times.
Even the smartest trout get reckless when they’re actively feeding. We’ve had some of the best luck in the following windows:
Spring: Late morning to early afternoon is best
Summer: Focus on early morning and evening
Fall: Trout can feed all day, but mid-morning to afternoon is often best
Essential Gear for Minnie & Stoney Lakes
If you’re bringing a setup for these lakes, here’s what you'll need:
Rod
9-ft 5 to 7 weight rod (6-wt is ideal)
Reel
Large arbor reel with smooth drag and 150+ yards of backing
Lines (bring at least three):
Floating line for dry flies and indicator setups
Intermediate sinking line for slow presentations
Full sinking line (Type V or VII) for deepwater tactics
Leader & Tippet
3X to 0X tippet (6-lb to 12-lb)
12- to 20-foot leaders for indicator fishing
5- to 9-foot leaders for sinking line setups
Having the right gear will make all the difference. These fish aren’t small. They’re also aggressive, and they’ll definitely test your setup.
Beware the Local Loon
In stark contrast to the serenity of Minnie Lake is a red-eyed, dagger beaked, fish stealing menace. Keep your eyes peeled for the local loon.
This bird is notorious for following boats and waiting for fish to be released so it can pursue tired fish, or even snatch them straight off your line.
With its distinctive black-and-white checkered back and eerie, mournful calls, it’s an expert diver and capable of swimming at speeds up to 20 miles per hour underwater.
The loon that stalks this lake is a significant predator and large enough to be capable of consuming up to two pounds of fish per day.
It nests on the edges of the lake and is hard to shake when you’re floating near the shoreline. It’s rare to find it tailing you in deeper water, however.
Understanding and respecting its presence adds another layer of appreciation and excitement to your fishing experience.
Find yourself with a loon on your line?
Your best bet is to let it run. The fish will eventually shake (or get shaken from) the hook. Holding onto the line and trying to fight both the fish and the loon is a quick ticket to snapping your rod in two.
Where We Stay: Lodging at Douglas Lake Ranch
Out time at Douglas Lake Ranch has been largely focused on two main accommodations, Minnie Lake Ranch House and Stoney Lake Lodge. Each brings a different vibe to the experience. The one we choose is usually based on the size of our group.
There are also several lakeside yurts available. But our folks have mostly stayed in one of the two main bunkhouses so we can gather for meals (and share the cooking responsibilities).
Minnie Lake Ranch House
If you’re after that classic log cabin feel, Minnie Lake Ranch House is perfect. It’s a big, open space with beautifully exposed log walls, a wood stove, and a fully stocked kitchen with everything you need for meal prep.
The Ranch House sleeps four to eight people comfortably, with two master bedrooms and three twin beds in two separate lofts tucked up on either side of the cabin. The loft staircases are a bit narrow and steep. So if you have mobility issues, the two main bedrooms on the first floor are your best option.
The main bedrooms feature full size beds and are also more conveniently located to the two full bathrooms on the main floor, one of which is in the bedroom on the south side of the cabin.
We’ve never actually turned on the television here, but there is one mounted to the west wall near the back sliding doors. The view from the deck beats anything you’ll find on the tube.
If you absolutely can’t go without screen time, there is Wi-Fi available for a fee and, depending on your provider, the cell service is excellent.
In theory, it’s a four-minute drive to Minnie Lake from the front door of the Ranch House. However, conditions along the dirt road have deteriorated over the years. Large potholes extend the drive to nearly 10 minutes (including unlocking and relocking a padlocked gate).
Regardless, you can roll out of bed, grab a coffee, and be on the water in less than 30 minutes.
Our evenings are usually spent on the back deck. This is where we enjoy custom whiskey cocktails (expertly mixed by my son, Joe), beers, and cigars.
Horses whinny and gallop through the fields below us as the sun sets behind the hills and stars begin to dot the night sky.
Stoney Lake Lodge
For bigger groups, Stoney Lake Lodge is the way to go. This place sleeps a max of 15 people in eight bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. So if you like a little more personal space, it’s a solid choice. The lodge sits right on the shore of Stoney Lake, meaning you can walk out the door and be on the water in minutes.
Inside, there’s a big commercial kitchen that makes meal prep easy, a spacious dining room, and a lounge area with a massive fireplace that becomes the evening gathering spot.
There’s even a private dock and a boat launch just around the corner, so getting on the lake is a breeze. If you’re bringing a boat, there’s plenty of room to store and charge it overnight.
The one thing about the lodge is that, unlike the Minnie Lake Ranch House, it does not include boat rental. With the currency exchange, rental is typically just over $20 (USD) per day. With two to a boat, that’s less than the cost of a latté per fisher.
Which one to choose?
Both spots have their perks...
Minnie Lake Ranch House is perfect for smaller groups who want a laid-back, cabin-style stay with all-included access that provides, boats, electric motors, batteries, and nets.
Stoney Lake Lodge is better for larger groups or those who like having a few more amenities (like a bar, panoramic lakeside view, and big-screen TV).
Either way, you can’t go wrong—it’s just a matter of what kind of fishing trip you’re after.
The Other Half of the Tradition: Cooking at Douglas Lake Ranch
At the end of the day, nothing beats coming back to a fully stocked kitchen, unloading the day's gear, and getting to work on dinner.
The accommodations at Douglas Lake Ranch, whether you're staying at Minnie or Stoney, come with large, well-equipped kitchens—full stoves, refrigerators, cookware, BBQ, and everything needed to put together a solid meal.
Over the years, we’ve settled into a rhythm—splitting into teams of two or four, with each team taking responsibility for dinner one night of the trip.
That means planning the meal, doing the prep, handling the cleanup, and making sure everything needed for that night’s dinner gets packed, since the nearest town, Merritt, is nearly an hour away.
It might sound like work, but it’s one of the best parts of the trip.
After a long day on the water, sitting around the table, swapping stories, and breaking down what worked (or didn’t) is a tradition that makes these trips what they are.
Whether it's a big steak dinner, something simple and hearty, or an experimental bottle of local wine purchased in town that turns into a new favorite, the shared meals are as much a part of the experience as the fishing itself.
And if nothing else, they give you a chance to brag a little more about that one fish – the largest hooked that day of course – that somehow broke off before reaching the boat.
Must-Stop Fly Shop in Chilliwack
Whether we’re heading up or homeward bound, we never miss a chance to stop in the laid-back, European-esque town of Chilliwack, BC. The big draw for us there is Pacific Rivers Outfitting Company. Roughly 40 minutes over the border from the Sumas crossing, it’s the perfect halfway point from Edmonds.
Tucked away at the south end of town overlooking the Chilliwack River, Pacific Rivers is one of the best-stocked fly shops on the road and a great place to grab last-minute gear or get the latest reports before heading further north.
The shop is run by a gregarious Scotsman who knows his fly fishing, and it’s got everything from single and double-hand rods, reels, and fly-tying materials to wading gear, outerwear, and boats. They also offer guide services and host events throughout the year.
Beyond the gear, it’s just a solid place to stop in, swap stories, and get some good advice from friendly, knowledgeable folks who know the local waters inside and out. When you need a break from the drive, you won’t find better.
After you’ve stocked up, head a few doors down to Sidekick Brewing for some excellent local hops and Detroit-style pizza.
Fishing is Only One Part of this Experience
These trips were about more than just fishing. They were a time of camaraderie, with stories shared, laughter echoing across the waters, and bonds strengthened. Evenings were spent recounting the day's adventures and planning the next. Sharing meals and enjoying each other's company added a special touch to the experience.
Douglas Lake Ranch offers not just a fishing trip but an opportunity to connect with nature and friends. It reminded us of life's simple joys and the value of taking time to enjoy them. Each trip was a perfect blend of adventure and relaxation, making these some of the best fishing experiences of my life.
If you're looking for a place that offers exceptional fishing, stunning natural beauty, and a chance to create lasting memories with friends, Minnie Lake and Stoney Lake in British Columbia should be at the top of your list.
Our time there has always been extraordinary. We left with full hearts and fresh reservations, looking forward to another round of fishing and fellowship.
Steve Ruppert, second from left, is a passionate fly fisher and beginning fly tyer. His fly fishing journey began after joining friends on a trip to California. Nicknamed "the meat chucker," Steve embraced fly fishing and quickly discovered a new passion. He enjoys the challenge of catching Pennask trout at Douglas Lake Ranch in British Columbia, as well as the huge Lahontan cutthroat at Nevada's Pyramid Lake and Washington’s Omak Lake.
He cherishes the comforts of his custom Project M camper over cheap motels, providing a cozy retreat after a long day on the water. Steve is also an avid outdoorsman who enjoys camping with his wife Caren and their two dogs, Buddy and Chuck. However, his granddaughter Virginia brings him the most sunshine in the often dreary Pacific Northwest.
Recently, Steve faced some health challenges but is grateful to be back on the water, doing what he loves most. His determination and passion for fly fishing have been instrumental in his recovery, and he looks forward to many more adventures ahead.
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