Author: Don Lamont

Finding springtime walleye can be somewhat of a challenge depending on the kind of weather conditions we get in this part of the world when the season opens. Moving water is always a great equalizer as it attracts fish for a variety of reasons. The size of the creek or river you are fishing will also dictate how you might want to present your bait to be the most effective. On larger rivers, with strong current flow, a three way rig is a very effective way to go. This is a simple setup and one that can be extremely productive.…

A deadly looking crew!STREAM FLY FISHING THE ROCKY MOUNTAINSNOTE: I recently found out we would be going back to the mountains this year so I put together this chronological account of our ten day trip there two years ago in late July. It brings back some great memories.It was five thirty in the morning when the moving house that was to be our home for the next ten days pulled up to the driveway. Soon we were on the road for our ten day fly fishing adventure to southern Alberta. Six of us were heading out to explore the rivers…

Ever fished for crappies in Manitoba? More and more people are realizing that this species should be added to their list of fish to target in this province. Why? They are aggressive predators so when you find them, they will usually bite. They are also delicious table fare, with delicate white flesh that rivals walleye in both taste and texture. Many lakes in the Whiteshell region of this province are now home to strong populations of this popular gamefish. Ken Kansas, who is the fisheries biologist in this region, says the crappie fishery is under the radar when it came…

Looking for a little different angling experience to end off the ice fishing season?  Then maybe you should consider trying your luck for Lake Whitefish. In Manitoba, we have a number of lakes that hold large populations of this great sportfish. Not to be overlooked, whitefish are also great table fare. I love my whitefish baked in an oven with just butter, salt and pepper. Cook at 425F for about 11 minutes, then get some fresh parsley and lemon zest on the top. For shore lunch, dip in egg and flour and some corn flake crumbs. Cook quickly in some…

It seems every time I head out ice fishing in the last month, the snow starts to come down. First it was a trip to Lake Winnipeg to fish with Dustin Byfuglien for a day, then it was last week on a trip out to the Winnipeg River. Friend Kevin Stobbe and I were to meet up with Matt Cornell, who grew up along the shores of Barrier Bay on the Winnipeg River. Cornell is well known in angling circles across North America as a man who knows how to catch fish. I have met Matt at a number of…

Illustration by Sara Wilde We started with walks in the woods. When he was real young, my father gave him a hatchet (a family rite of passage from infant to toddler). His enthusiasm for wild swings and near misses soon rid our forest of the rotten, broken and weak. Always on our romps we studied signs of game, whitetail deer in particular, and fantasized about successful hunts, the potential for the upcoming season, and inherent dangers. Then, suddenly, he earns his tag and his twelve-year progression from thumb/index finger to dart gun to BB to .22 is about to get…

It has been a bit of a different year out on the ice. We didn’t get any decent ice until a recent cold snap, then snow, the warm weather again…yikes. While I have been out on Lake Winnipeg twice in the last week, it is pretty tough to get around in a vehicle out there right now. For true mobility it’s either snowmachine or SnoBear. Not many will be able to match the story that Susan Geres has been able to tell over the last month since she caught her fish of a lifetime. Geres, and husband Roger are avid…

There’s no doubt that Manitoba has some of the most hard-core ice fisherman in North America. From the end of November all the way to the end of March we here in Manitoba hit the ice every chance we get. While most people pray for warm weather, here we pray for ice! Lake Winnipeg has become the number one destination for us cold water cowboys. It is a great place to fish if you’re looking to hook up with a monster green back walleye. Even our brothers and sisters from the south know just how awesome ice fishing for big green backs can…

Manitobans were told recently by two ecocertification agencies, Seafood Watch based in California and Sea Choice in Canada, that fisheries on our great lakes were among the worst managed in the world. The sins included management practices that are badly designed and based on poor data. Why should anglers care what ecocertification agencies think of our commercial fisheries? They should care because it is a shared fishery resource. Bad management means fewer fish for all. What is ecocertification? It is a consumer-driven process that guarantees fish at the grocery store were taken sustainably. It grew out of recognition that the…

Out of necessity and after every fly fishing season, I engage in the tedious ritual of sorting through my stillwater fly box of used, abused and forgotten fly patterns. Although time consuming, it’s a rewarding chore that allows me to purge the spoils of a lengthy guiding tour and reminds me of successful choices and innovations that have earned a “commendable stature” on the end of my client’s leader. Like many ardent fly fishers I hit the bench throughout the winter months with the hope of creating the next Holy Grail of fly patterns. It’s here where my motivation to…