CRAPPIE FUN IN EASTERN MANITOBA
Ice fishing for crappie in eastern Manitoba is always on our winter ice fishing bucket list. Whether we are getting the family together on the ice for a short day in the sunshine or grabbing a few close friends and heading back into a remote lake, we cannot wait for the water in the Whiteshell Provincial Park to freeze so we can get out there for some crappie fun.
LOTS TO LIKE
Manitoba’s Whiteshell is the ultimate winter destination for so many reasons. You can be an avid angler looking for snow machine access adventure, or a first-time angler looking to explore a new area of the province. There is a lake accessible for you no matter your set up! Not to mention lots of great places to stay and all kinds of winter adventures to pack into your trip.
THE HOTSPOTS
The most popular spots to fish for crappie include Caddy Lake, Brereton Lake, Sailing Lake, South Cross Lake, and North Cross Lake. Caddy and Brereton Lake both have walk on access, where Sailing, North and South Cross Lake are more suitable for snow machine access.
Crappie travel in pods in the wintertime, moving around the lake based on oxygen levels and location of food, so the biggest challenge is finding the fish. Once you find them you are sure to be in for a consistent day of fishing.
During the winter months, crappie tend to hang out in deep weed beds, or on the flats of structured areas, generally in depths of 10 to 40 feet. This can often translate to having to drill A LOT of holes at the beginning of the day or when moving to a new spot to try and find where the fish are.
TRAVEL LIGHT!
Moving around the lake is the key to finding crappie. Packing a 4-inch ultralight auger flight can really conserve your energy! Crappie will also move as the day goes on, shallower at dawn and dusk, and deeper mid day. If you find the fish, and the bite suddenly dies off, drill holes from your starting point out to deeper water and follow the fish as they travel throughout the day.
Electronics are key for crappie fishing, nothing fancy required! A small flasher will do the trick to help you locate the fish, see where the fish are in the water column, and to see how they are responding to your lure. If you are not set up with electronics you can still make it work, you just need to be a little bit more creative and patient. Stay mobile, move around the lake, fish different depths as fish can move within the water column, and change up your presentation.
PRESENTATION
You can’t go wrong with a small tungsten jig. We like to use red, black, or white, tipped with a soft plastic meal worm of the same colour. This simple and small presentation seems to be appetizing to the crappie even when the fish are being finicky! Tie your lure onto a 2-4 lbs fluorocarbon leader to optimize success. Using a light action rod can also enhance the crappie catching experience, especially when the fish have a light bite. If you are marking fish on your flasher, pay attention to how the fish are responding. Are they interested? If not, try a few different techniques. Try dead sticking, switch up your lure, or reel up to see if the fish are game for the chase.
Pro-tip – Ever notice where a crappies eyes are located? Keep your lure above the fish; they can’t look down! Pay attention to your line slacking and rod tip moving as crappie attack from below.
Where there is crappie there are predators lurking! While your jigging crappie you can put out a tip up for pike. Pulling up a big gator can really put the cherry on top of an already epic day.
ACCOMODATION
What’s the absolute best feelings after a long day of fishing? Getting out of your gear, having a hot shower, a warm meal, and crashing on a comfortable bed. Even better, not having to drive home first to make this all happen. Thankfully there are lots of wonderful accommodations available in the area to suit any travelers needs.
Places to stay close to crappie fishing; try Falcon Lake Resort, Falcon Beach Ranch, Falcon Trails Resort, Keystone Resort, Crescent Beach Cottages, or West Hawk Lake Resort.
WAY MORE THAN FISHING
The Whiteshell is a winter wonderland with so many other activities to participate in. Picture a fresh layer of sparkling white snow just waiting for you to carve a fresh trail on one of the many groomed snowmachine trails. Pack a thermos of hot chocolate because you will be ripping it up all day!
For the fitness enthusiasts, click into your cross-country skis and get gliding on the endless kilometers of ski trails. More of a relaxed traveler or photo enthusiast? Strap on some snowshoes or a good pair of winter boots and hit the hiking trails with your camera. Have you finger ready on the shutter button as Manitoba’s boreal forest if full of wildlife viewing opportunities. This place has it all and we can’t wait for you to go play outside in eastern Manitoba this winter!
For more information on travelling to the Whiteshell visit travelmanitoba.com.