Author: Don Lamont

As we wait for the transition from frozen to open water, it’s time to go through the tackle and clean up the boat. I always like to spend time looking up new tackle on the market and planning some of my fishing adventures for the open water season. Over the years my use of live bait has diminished to almost zero. There are isolated situations when I will use a leech or nightcrawler, but those have become extremely rare. Recently I took a tour of our local tackle retailers in Winnipeg to see what new plastic lures were on the…

Anglers in southern Manitoba always look forward to the last two weeks in March. While ice conditions can be a bit tricky, usually the fishing is very good, not to mention the weather. Friends and I managed to get out last week before the season closed. We had originally planned to hit Lake Manitoba but when we arrived on the south shores of the lake, a couple of other anglers came over to talk to us. They warned us not to head out unless you wanted to get stuck. Seems there was a double layer of ice with slush in…

I had a chance to be out on Lake Winnipeg recently as part of the SnoBear Migration, which brings more than 200 American anglers up to fish our trophy greenback walleye. While the Lakeview Hotel in Gimli was full because of the event, it might be the last year. With the downturn in fishing trophy greenbacks through the ice, many said they would be looking elsewhere.Only a few had caught a Master Angler walleye during their three day stay and all participating were concerned about the state of Lake Winnipeg. With the downturn in fishing trophy greenbacks through the ice,…

https://youtu.be/hY6Ud3lcToc It was a glorious mid-March day as we headed out to the Lake of the Woods for a day fishing this past Saturday. Friend Josh McFaddin had expressed an interest in getting out for some lake whitefish and I was only too happy to oblige. For years the angling for these tasty sportfish had been really strong on this body of water until there was a downturn in the smelt population over the last four years. Since that time fishing for these deep water residents has been tough. Still I was hearing reports of some success for these fish…

Editor’s Note: This is the first of a two part history of the Whiteshell Fish Hatchery and the problems it faces in the years ahead. Written by biologist Ken Kansas, now retired from the provincial government, whose work has played a huge role in sustainable fisheries practices in Manitoba. We can take things for granted sometimes, like back in 1990 when I arrived in Manitoba’s Parkland district to start the regional management phase of my fisheries career. I was certainly aware of the Duck Mountain trout fisheries, but to be honest, I had really never paid much attention to them.…

Anglers on Lake Winnipeg enjoy an ice-fishery like no other. Target Walleye last fall named it North America’s top ice-fishing destination. The reason? The chance to catch trophy walleye, the hungry greenbacks, many 10 pounds and over, that roam the lake under the ice. But will this last? In recent years commercial fishers on Lake Winnipeg have been chasing rapidly declining walleye populations and have begun to target these jumbo fish. This is very bad news for anglers and walleye in Lake Winnipeg. It is killing the geese that lay the golden eggs. The trophy walleye in Lake Winnipeg are…

Kevin Dyck was carrying a box out of the back of his truck last week when he slipped on a piece of ice. His partner at the Whiteshell Fish Hatchery held is breath. “You can’t get hurt!” Trevor exclaimed. Currently there are only two staff members at the hatchery and if one is to get injured or sick, all the fish at the hatchery are at risk. As it stands right now, these two staff are severely limited in what they can accomplish in stocking this year. To function effectively there needs to be a staff of at least six.…

There’s a spoon out there for any fish through the ice Once winter’s grip has taken hold across the prairies, thousands of anglers head out in pursuit of one species or another through the ice to pass the time. Some will rarely stray from their comfort zone for the majority of the season while others prioritize the prime times for various species. Once all the logistics and safety measures are taken care of and any species and water body specific research complete, one of the most important things is the tackle and a good variety at that. Some days the…

Hooked Magazine recently had a chance to be part of the grand opening of the new SnoBear production facility in Isanti, Minnesota. Publisher Kevin Stobbe and Editor Don Lamont had a chance to interview owner Ron Balzer about the history of this company. HOOKED: Ron, when did you first become aware of SnoBear? Ron Balzer: I first saw an ad in a magazine in the fall of 2005. I test drove a SnoFox and a SnoBear in late November, and went on to purchase a SnoBear in 2008. In 2009 I became a Saskatchewan dealer and the distributor for Western…

It’s mid-November and I’m out in southwest Manitoba doing a little deer hunting and I should be thinking about shooting a big buck right? Well its half and half. I totally want to shoot a big buck and at any time I might need to drop my cell and take the shot, but I got ice fishing on the brain big time. So I’m going type a few words then rubber neck the area I’m hunting, then repeat till I’ve done my article. I have a true story I want to share with you all. It’s mid-February 2016 and I’m out…