Constant spring rain hasn't done any favours for farmers, golfers or beach-goers, but it's been great for Manitoba anglers.

With waterways around the province at near record levels, Manitoba Conservation is hearing reports that the fish are biting in a big way. From the Whiteshell to the Saskatchewan border, there are reports of record catches in Manitoba's fishing hotspots.

Provincial angling manager Rob Cann said all the extra water means fish have drifted to places they normally aren't found.

"A lot of areas that normally aren't in water will be in water, especially on the shoreline, so fish are going into those areas," he said.

Marcel Devigne, who went out to hunt for big channel catfish in Lockport on Thursday with his daughter and her boyfriend, said the fishing's so good, he's able to share.

"A lot of times when I hook a fish, I'll just hand off my rod to someone else, let them bring it in, let them have the enjoyment of it. I've seen my share of them," he said.

The one drawback of all the water: fear of dangerous conditions on the rivers is keeping some sport fishers away. Some fishing outfitters say even though the fishing is great, they've seen a decline in their daily business because people are afraid to go out on the water.

At Cats on the Red in Lockport, owner Stuart McKay shook his head at his half-empty parking lot and shook his fist at the local media.

"It's very unfortunate. A lot of the local media outlets have been telling people lately to avoid the river, the river's high, it's dangerous," he said. "It's really sad, because they're deterring people from coming out and experiencing a fisher that's really at an all-time high right now. It's at its all-time best right now under these conditions.

Sport fishing is a $120-million a year business for Manitoba. The last national survey of anglers suggested Manitoba is the only province issuing more fishing licences than it did five years ago.

Source: CBC Manitoba