Author: Don Lamont

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…

Hooked writer Eric Labaupa having fun with his girls on famed Lake Winnipeg going after greenbacks through the ice. Visit his website kickerfish.ca to stay on top of the upcoming fishing tournament news for 2017! In this episode of Go Fish, Kayla ices a new personal best walleye! https://youtu.be/mOR1mJH2m3k

Standing atop a frozen lake in Northwestern Ontario, in the dark: that is a long way from sunny California, but that’s where my friend Chris Shaffer found himself this past winter.  Shaffer is the Director of Operations for Pautzke Bait, and he flew to Thunder Bay for a few days of ice fishing, Northern Ontario adventure, and to film for Pautzke Outdoors.  We had big plans for his trip, and we had an amazing few days on the ice: we spent a day chasing big lakers and had an epic day fishing for stocked brook trout, but the real adventure…

Laker Time! Snow and slush everywhere. Tough to get around is the way professional angler Jeff Gustafson describes conditions in Northwestern Ontario. Gussy loves to fish lake trout and early January is one of the best times to catch some big fish, as long as you can get to them. If you plan on heading out, its snowmobile only and travel in a group in case you get bogged down out there in heavy slush. I can remember a similar winter a few years back when you we had to leave a snowmobile on the lake. We just couldn’t get…

SASKATCHEWAN HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2016 (and other years) BY HOOKED EDITOR DON LAMONT Over the years I have spent countless days travelling the back roads of Saskatchewan, fishing the myriad of lakes and reservoirs that exist in that province. For the most part, Saskatchewan has done a great job of protecting its fishing resources. There were very few of those trips that ended in disappointment. These were usually caused by weather and water conditions, not a lack of fish. Big reservoirs like Lake Diefenbaker and Codette as well as Tobin can all experience drop off in fishing success, due to…