Author: Don Lamont

Hooked contributor Tom Armstrong tries to get out on the ice any time he can. Things have slowed down just a bit with a new addition to the family. Still, he does live on the north shore of Lake Superior though, so access is not too far away. One of his favourite species through the ice are lake trout. For those in the know, right now is a pretty darn good time to target them. Tom recalls a trip a few years ago when he was out with a group of friends on a lake noted from lots of eater…

Over more than thirty years if ice fishing, I have been caught in some wild storms, with some of my biggest fish caught with snowflakes swirling around me. During summer, we always take into consideration cold and warm fronts and changes in temperature. In the winter, not so much, which can be a huge mistake, because fish are still effected tremendously by changes in weather patterns no matter time of year. Changing conditions Snowstorms in our part of the world also usually mean warmer temperatures to accompany the front. Once the storm is over in 24 hours we mostly have…

If you were to believe the number of searches we get on our Hooked website for crappie fishing in Manitoba, you might figure it to be the most popular game species we have. A long history in this province Over the years I have had some decent luck catching crappies in Manitoba. Back in the day when I had The Complete Angler television show one of my most popular shows was in Lake Minnewasta. Friend Dino Branfield and I had a great day in late fall, catching both numbers and size of fish. That fishery is still in good shape…

On our way! The weather forecast didn’t look promising as we boarded our flight north to Burntwood Lake Lodge in early June this past year. Heading up the west side of Lake Winnipeg rain clouds met us most of the way. When we approached the Snow Lake airport, a thunderstorm could be seen just to the east. We landed after the storm had passed and were quickly whisked to the Gogal float plane and helicopter base. Helicopter service to the front door Here we boarded one of the three helicopters that service the lodge for a short twenty minute flight.…

It’s been really good ice fishing opening for many hardcore anglers in Manitoba and Northwest Ontario. I have been out a few times already with a couple more trips planned before Christmas. The recent stretch of warm weather has made for some comfortable days on the ice. This past week I visited Lake Manitoba a couple of times, once on the east side and the other out of Delta, north of Portage La Prairie. Both were with long-time friend Jim Price, who has already ice fished about a dozen times since the ice got thick enough the middle of November.…

The sun was blazing over a fresh carpet of sparkling snow as Hooked Publisher Kevin Stobbe and I arrived in the parking lot of Spruces.  It was one of the three access spots on Clear Lake for those wanting to snowmobile. Already waiting for us was Dan Kiazyk, who has been been a registered Manitoba Outfitter for more than 22 years. While I had heard of Dan and his guide service, Cat Eye Outfitters, it was the first time I got a chance to meet him.  He was out to join us for a day of fishing for the abundant…

It is no secret that some of the largest walleyes in North America call Lake Winnipeg home. As such, ice fishing for trophy greenbacks on this Manitoba inland ocean is a pursuit that thousands of anglers will attempt this hardwater season. From the earliest days of safe ice to the very last hours of the walleye angling season in the spring, the possibility of hooking into a monster exists. More often than not on this amazing body of water, putting in your time on the ice can result in big fish rewards. The famed south basin sees the highest concentration…

Destination Cedar Lake So many water bodies, so little time. That’s the quandary many of us find ourselves in when it comes to our ice fishing goals and aspirations. With handfuls of species to target and a limited window of time and safe conditions, it’s easy to miss out on many of winter’s hot bites. One of those is just North of the 53rd parallel and is one of Manitoba’s best drive-to fishing destinations. Cedar Lake is home to large northern pike, walleye, burbot, whitefish and tullibee and this reservoir is one of my favorite places to drill through the…

Hunting in my deer woods is a team effort. Each season brings out the rivalries between rookies and veterans hoping to prove something to no one in particular. Fitness programs ready the body to endure those sits where trees crack in harmony with your neck and spine. Others rely on deposits of buttock fat linked in time to the invention of Fizz Wizz. Strong backs are for lugging tree stands through clouds of mosquitoes. Strong minds are for thinking you know everything. To bring such a diverse and accomplished team together and to accept no responsibility for their actions, this…

Hooked contributor Ken Kansas put together an article outlining the state of the trout fishery in the Parkland region of Manitoba. He collected data from a number of different sources. While it might be a bit late for the open water season, it allows anglers to choose future ice fishing destinations in the region SPRING 2017 SURVEY/ASSESSMENTS In 2016 FLIPPR, SVSFE, IMSFE and Manitoba Fisheries Branch combined together to form a single assessment entity in order to perform various surveys on numerous trout lakes throughout the Parkland. This type of attack plan is not new, however this past couple years…