Author: Don Lamont

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…

Where I come from ice is something that goes nicely in a cocktail. Winter is a time when most people put their fishing gear away and the few that do are seen as more than a little crazy. I mean seriously who goes fishing when it’s colder than 10 degrees Celsius? Well I did and my friends and family thought I was loony then. Then I moved to Saskatchewan and now they think I am completely certifiable. In South Africa, where I grew up, our winter was a bit like Saskatchewan’s fall, but not quite as cold, and, after a…

I first arrived in Roblin Manitoba during the spring of 1990. I had just finished a five year tour conducting fish research on the Lower Nelson River. Previous to that, I spent another five years doing the similar work all across the Province. This ‘new’ Fisheries job was more involved in the day to day management of fish and where they live. I hadn’t seriously angled for 10 years, due to my dedication to work, music and a passion for wilderness adventures. I’d heard of Lake of the Prairies (LOTP) and how ‘you could catch pickerel all day for years…

When your “go to” lures just aren’t cutting it. So many water bodies and so many species to target, ice season is back and with it come endless opportunities for fun on the ice. I love a good fight with a stocked rainbow now and again and definitely don’t mind steamed trout occasionally. I could go down to the grocery store and buy a farmed trout at an affordable price, but they always seem to taste better fresh caught, and I will spare you the many other reasons I justify fishing as much as I do. With many provinces stocking…

Planning a winter getaway this season? Follow my lead and pick a destination that has beautiful weather, gorgeous scenery, and great fishing! My mission as a rookie saltwater angler was to land as many prized species as I could in a relatively short period of time, while my wife and I enjoyed our honeymoon. For this I hooked up with Mike Hushek at St. Croix Inshore Fishing Charters. We met up with Mike early on a Tuesday morning. One thing that I have learnt very early on in life is that it is extremely difficult to fake genuine enthusiasm and…

Nothing is more inviting than a Manitoba winter. Pack the lawn chairs and SPF 30 because the sun will be shining. What better time to introduce your non-outdoorsy friends to fishing, like the land-lovers and non-swimmers, those of a klutzy/spastic order, goofy-footed or born under a bad sign. (Full disclosure: I am a well-recognized member of all these elite forces). Rejoice and be freed from water wieners, muscles, or noodles. Ice fishing is at your level, rock bottom almost impossible to reach, and winter is the friendliest time of year to explore Manitoba’s lakes and rivers. When it is safe…

Lake Winnipeg in the winter can be just as nasty as Lake Winnipeg in the summer. Whiteouts, drifts, cold temperatures and pressure ridges make for some of the most difficult conditions for ice fishers on the planet. The only problem, is anglers want to get to possibly the best walleye ice fishing in the world and most will not take no for answer. That’s where the ultimate ice fishing machine comes in. [huge_it_gallery id=”10″] FLASHBACK: It was last March when Hooked Publisher Kevin Stobbe and I got our first taste of what these machines could do. We were standing on…