Parkland Trout - Coming Soon!

Our third trip to the Manitoba Parkland is in the horizon - next month, well actually six weeks but who is counting.  This is what we are after.  And hopefully some of his rainbow and brown trout cousins.This will be our third trip to the Parkland.  Our first was a September trip and last year we decided to head back in spring.  That venture only wet the appetite for more so back we go at the end of May.  Flights to Winnipeg were secured with Aeroplan points long time ago as was the time we will spend with Phil Rowley. with points were booked long ago as was our time with Phil Rowley but accommodations for the second half of the trip still need to be booked and we need vehicles to move us around.  Last year the plan was to rent two hatchbacks for the four of us but since the rental companies would guarantee specific vehicles the plan only partially worked.  When we got there there was only one hatchback available so we ended up upgrading to a compact SUV for the second.  Although a hatchback is more than adequate for all our gear and access to the lakes is easy, the extra room of the SUV was nice so I will probably lobby for paying a bit extra and reserving one outright. I figure the extra cost is worth it.The big task is finishing up my fly tying.  I am in good shape for most things but need to tie some more chironomids which were absolutely essential last spring.  And I need to tie some dragon fly imitations.  Jeff Lauze just posted a version on his blog that looks like just the ticket.  Never mind that I suck at spinning and trimming deer hair.Amazingly, I don't think I have any major purchases to make (shocking as that may be) although I am on the lookout for a new pair of float tube flippers.  My Outcast flippers work fine when wearing wading boots but I have a tough time keeping them securely fastened with only neoprene booties over my waders.  I am considering the Force Fin flippers but may compromise with something a bit cheaper.  I am open to suggestions.So that's it as far as preparations go.  To manage the anticipation, the plan is to get in as much local fishing if spring ever gets here.