Author: Don Lamont

Rob Olson is the Managing Director of the Manitoba Wildlife Federation. Since being hired one and half years ago he has provided the organization with a new focus and energy that has the group moving once again to place of prominence in this provinces conservation circles. Hooked had a chance recently to sit down with Rob and discuss his background and his vision of the future. “When I came here the Federation was grappling with the issue of what is the right mix of volunteers and staff. You will always need the great volunteer support but you need a strong…

Some anglers get intimidated by hot weather and their ability to catch fish during the dog days of summer. As it turns out, some of the best angling for walleye occurs during the heat of the summer. Action might be better early or later in the day, but if the wind blows, action can be brisk all day long. Last month I got a call from friend Boyd Holmen about fishing a small walleye tournament on Tobin Lake. Seems he needed a last minute replacement in his boat. I don’t really fish tournaments anymore, haven’t for years but since all…

Jake’s first fish Jake with the greedy pikeKnown for its wildlife, great golf course and scenery, Riding Mountain National Park is also an angler’s paradise. The gem of all the lakes within the park though, is Clear Lake. Over the course of my life, I have always found time to visit this beautiful park. One of the most popular tourist destinations in Canada, the majority of people that launch their boats use it for watersports such as tubing and water skiing. The Lamont family has a long history with this region, having made the Wasagaming town site a summer destination from…

The year was 1983, my second year guiding for Eagle Nest Lodge on the Winnipeg River. I spent three seasons working at this remote lodge and during that time I made two portages into Big Echo Lake. Eagle Nest had two boats cached in Big Echo when I arrived and I can remember carrying in the third. In my second year I had also taken over as the manager so it was on me to portage a sixteen foot Lund in there down a rocky, windy trail that was just plain nasty. With me were two young students who were…

Action and excitement using topwater baits It was a beautiful mid-August day last summer, with the afternoon sun beating down on us as we launched the boat. We were heading out on a small, relatively secluded inland lake, less than an hour from Thunder Bay; one of my favourite off the beaten path bass destinations. With minimal angling pressure, it’s without a doubt, the source of the biggest smallmouth I’ve ever caught. My wife and I, along with our two labs, loaded into the boat and set out, hoping for a day full of smallmouth action. We’ve ventured to this…

I first met Les Johnson a few years ago at a Cabela’s grand opening in Regina, Saskatchewan. As it turned out we had a lot in common, and soon became good friends. After a little trash talk I invited Les to Manitoba for a little challenge. For those of you who do not know who Les Johnson is, he is one of North America’s top predator hunters. He also has a hit television show called Predator Quest on the Wild TV network. Day 1 — On the first day of our challenge I arrive to get Les at his hotel…

“The ability to change to fit different circumstances.” An insignificant definition to most, but for those who methodically target challenging species it’s an attribute that can influence the fine line between a substantial achievement and continuous disappointment. The Brown Trout, is undoubtedly one of the most actively pursed trout species on the planet. Equal to its sought after status, the Brown is widely recognized as a complicated and wary adversary that requires versatile techniques to successfully hook and land on the best of occasions. When searching for big Browns within a stillwater environment, fly fishing techniques have traditionally been focused…

With the fourth annual Bug Chucker Cup ready to get underway Joel Wiebe and I had drawn Twin Lake as our morning venue. Having pre-fished Twin the day before and having a subpar day, Joel and I were less than enthusiastic about drawing it right off the hop. Friday May 29th, 2015 6:30 am: Alarm clock goes off 6:44 am: Send text to Joel “Don’t want to jinx it but after this morning Giant Tiger is going to want to sponsor us” 7:00 am: Breakfast… translation… coffee and a Gatorade to rehydrate from a few Stanley Cup Playoff beers the…

Alternatives to a jig and a worm for panfish If you got your start fishing at a young age there is a good chance that your first fish was a panfish. Many people classify panfish as a fish sizeable for the pan. Be it a Bluegill, Crappie or a Rock Bass, all are fairly eager to bite a variety of presentations. Most anglers move on to “bigger and better fish” leaving the days of smaller species on the end of a line behind them, often forgetting the exhilarating fight and exuberant colours offered by the smaller members of the Centrarchidae…

Depending on the individual, fishing can mean a number of different things. For some it’s a relaxing pastime to unwind and surround yourself with nature. For others it can be a family outing, or a time honored tradition like an annual fishing trip to a remote lake. Oftentimes it is more about the company and comradery, the experience and the memories, and maybe harvesting a few fish for the dinner table. On the polar opposite end of the spectrum is the tournament pro or trophy angler, driven by competition, and the desire to catch the most and biggest fish in…