When people ask me about a great drive to place for big pike I mention Cross Bay and portions of Cedar Lake. This fishery is located above the dam at Grand Rapids. The Grand Rapids Generating Station was built between the years of 1960 and 1968, and this huge structure was the first major hydro-electric project in northern Manitoba. Grand Rapids was the logical spot to put the dam because of a series of natural waterfalls along this stretch of river that formed a total drop of thirty five point six metres. Alexander Mackenzie, first traveled this route in July…
Author: Don Lamont
Don Lamont
Don Lamont - The Complete Angler Don Lamont has been a full time professional angler for 41 years, hosting and producing the award winning “The Complete Angler” television series for fifteen of those. Don has received several awards for his commitment to public education and the future of recreational fishing in Canada. Don had a regular fishing column in the Winnipeg Free Press for 30 years and is currently editor of Hooked Magazine. He also recently took on the role of Executive Director of the Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters, if he wasn't busy enough already! He recently published a book that highlights many of his adventures over a lifetime of fishing. It can be purchased online at donlamont.com
I am not sure why it is called Footprint Lake. Maybe if I was to see this body of water from the air, it would become clear. One thing I do know, is that this small lake is absolutely full of big, hungry rainbow trout. It was a crisp cloudy late August day when two friends and I drove into the boat launch area, just ten kilometres north of Grand Rapids off of Highway Number Six. Once again we had the lake to ourselves, with just a loon family and one real hungry cormorant for company. Hopefully, this greedy…
When friend John Toone and I headed down to Grand Forks a couple of weeks ago for an opportunity to fish a half day on the Red River we had no idea what to expect. Let’s face it, we have become spoiled with the world class catfishing we have here. What surprises could the river in this rebuilt community hold for a couple of prairie boys? Our first stop was Cabela’s to check out the fishing gear, then over to Whitey’s Café for a reception sponsored by this historic Grand Forks eatery. Rebuilt after the great flood of 1997 we…
Day Five: Most anglers don’t come to Big Sand Lake for the walleye fishing but for the massive lake trout and pike that swim in its pristine water. On this day Edward and Mark believe the ice has moved out enough for us to access the north end of the Big Sand and the massive bays there that hold some real trophy pike, one called Buskers Bay. 8:05 A.M. As we leave the main dock in front of the lodge, the sun is shining and optimism high. We know if we can get past the ice to the north end…
Day Four: 8 A.M It’s our turn for Katimiwi Lake again but the weather is not the best. Rain and a cold north wind greet us as we head across the lake this time up a set of rapids that the jet drive has no problem with. Mark wants to try another set of rapids for walleye to get the shore lunch out of the way. While we catch two we can’t seem to find a good school of fish. The real reason we are here though, is to catch a master angler pike. Mark is confident that the two…
Day Three 8 A.M After talking with our guides we learn the ice has once again encircled the bay in front of the lodge. This means we are back down to airport bay and the cache of boats. The good news is that Edward thinks we should be able to make it down to the south end of the lake, about a forty minute boat ride. He plans to do that after our shore lunch of sandwiches. 9 A.M. We head to shallowest end of the bay and find a weed bed with some active pike. Peter lands the biggest…
8 A.M. After a hearty breakfast of Red River cereal followed by bacon and eggs it was time to head out on a different lake. As it turned out the lodge had five boats on a smaller lake next to Big Sand. Called Katimiwi, this shallow lake was considerably warmer than the main lake. This was also to supply the best fishing of the trip. 9:30 A.M. Mark had the 30 h.p. Yamaha jet drive at full throttle as we headed to the east end of the lake. This day we found a bunch of hungry pike in a back…
Mary Jane Reservoir, a hidden gem! It was slightly overcast with a brisk northeast wind blowing when we arrived to launch the boat at Mary Jane Reservoir. It had been a couple of years since my last visit to Mary Jane but reports indicated that both the largemouth bass and crappies were on the bite. As we headed towards the east end were a small creek entered the reservoir we noticed that the water was heavily stained from all the runoff. We dropped the front troll motor, working slowly up the creek, the water finally started to clear the further…
7A.M. It was seven in the morning when my wife dropped friend Peter H and I off at the Calm Air terminal in Winnipeg. Upon arrival I was met by Fred, the guy who makes this operation run smooth as silk. Since our bags were already tagged, straight to the scale they went, the last we were to see them until our cabin at the resort. 8 A.M It was time to hop on the ATR 42 – 300, one of a fleet of four brand new state of the art planes that Calm Air had purchased in the…
FLOATS FOR CATSAs I motored the boat into the channel, the Humminbird depthfinder showed an incredible series of dips and peaks. Off to the side I could see swirls on the surface. These were NO ordinary ripples, but large mini-whirlpools, a sure indicator that big catfish had the feedbag on. Anglers were lined up along shore, casting their baits into the current flow. Heading upstream to the middle of the channel, I dropped anchor on top of one of the peaks of jagged rock, my Humminbird 997 C indicating six feet. Just to the back of the boat the depth…