Author: Don Lamont

MANITOBA With a high forecast today of plus 16 Celsius, it might be time to do some yard work. Almost all lakes in the south are walk or ATV on access only. A friend of mine tried to get on Lake Manitoba yesterday and spent half the day trying to get his truck out of the mud at the access point. Ice conditions are dangerous, especially around pressure ridges and trucks and snowmobiles have gone through on different lakes. Last week we had a chance to get back out to the Shoal Lakes before the access points shutdown. Many anglers…

Highlights of the Winter 2018/2019 Lake Winnipeg South Basin Creel Survey Dr. Brian R. Parker, Head Scientist, Wildlife and Fisheries Branch The management of the Lake Winnipeg fishery requires fishery managers have a good understanding of the number of walleye and other fish species being caught and harvested by anglers. Three creel censuses involving the Lake Winnipeg fishery have been conducted in the past decade that support such an understanding. These include a joint federal/provincial recall survey in 2010, part of a large national survey. Then a Manitoba-led on-lake creel census in winter 2017/2018 and an angler-funded recall survey of…

MARCH MADNESS! MANITOBA With beautiful March weather, more and more anglers are heading out to their favourite fishing hole.  I love to target many species of fish at this time of the year but my favourite would have to be perch. There are a number of lakes and reservoirs in the province that hold good populations of this tasty sportfish but not all have extremely large perch. THE SHOAL LAKES In recent years, East and West Shoal lakes in the Manitoba Interlake region have become a popular perch destination. The interesting thing about these two bodies of water is that…

When he fished his first tournament with his dad at ten years of age, no one would have expected what was to follow. At age 14 he started to guide out of Ash Rapids Camp on Lake of the Woods. This experience was to the lay the foundation for what was going to follow. After finishing high school he got a degree from the University of Manitoba. Gussy says with that out of the way it was time to get back in the saddle with the guiding. He loved to fish and he loved to fish tournaments. As time went…

MANITOBA Are temperatures finally going to come to come back to normal?  Everyone, including those of us who love to get outside, are sure hoping so. The massive Polar Vortex that has been holding us hostage for two weeks, seems to be finally loosening its grip. Matt Hobson, who owns and operates Icebound Excursions has been busy out on Lake Winnipeg in his SnoBears. He has this report. The fish seem to be holding in the same areas we’ve been finding them the last month in the south end of the lake. I’m getting reports the the west side bite…

MANITOBA LAKE WINNIPEG STARTING TO PRODUCE MEGA GIANT GREENBACKS! MATT HOBSON-ICEBOUND EXCURSIONS Lake Winnipeg South Basin Report: We are still not seeing the numbers we did last year, but the big fish are moving in anywhere from five feet of water out to 20 feet. The big change from the last report is we are seeing them school up and move throughout the day. Whether you prefer to set-up camp and wait for them to come through or chase them down, with the movement we’re seeing on our Humminbird Mega 360, either option could lead to your best day on…

TRY LANDING TROPHY PIKE THIS WINTER! In this part of the world, we are blessed with monster northern pike. While popular with fly in anglers, these fish usually get ignored by most anglers who are after a meal of walleye or crappie. In this article we cover the topic with some of the best pike ice anglers in the world. Dave Shymr from Alberta has spent years fine tuning is approach to catching big pike through the ice.  He is a student of the game, making notes after every day on the water. He is obsessed with these impressive animals. When…

MANITOBA With Code Red being reduced somewhat in the south, there is confusion among anglers as to what the rules are when travelling to the north. Here is what the Manitoba Government website says. Manitoba residents are not restricted from travelling to a cottage, cabin, provincial park, campground or hunting or fishing lodge in northern Manitoba if they are not displaying any symptoms of COVID-19, travel directly as possible to their intended destination, and limit their use of local services to the minimum required given the circumstances. Northern Solo Covid Trip by Kris Gaune -GauneFishin  I usually head up North…

STEP UP YOUR GAME! As we got on the lake, I stopped my skidoo, uncovered the sleigh, rummaging around in the mess of gear, turned upside down inside after a long journey.  I managed to find my Sonar unit, unloading the Humminbird Helix from the sleigh.  Hopping back on the machine, I cradled the portable sonar unit on my lap and powered it on. Going to the GPS map section, I scrolled to where I wanted to go and started across the lake, watching the screen as I went. The blip on the map covered several miles of deep water,…

MANITOBA The weather to start the year has been kind to those of us who love to spend time outside though It hasn’t helped make safe ice on our big lakes. Lake Winnipeg on the west side, is still a risky proposition with ice ridges opening at a moment’s notice. A few anglers have been lucky just to escape the open water. One group, in a pop-up tent, had the ice open-up under their feet. Here is where the new crack is on the west side. Traced on the south edge using the Humminbird fish smart app. Matt Hobson, who…