SOUTH BASIN GREAT EARLY SEASON WALLEYE DESTINATION
It’s my favourite place to catch a few fish before Big Windy heats up with trophy Greenbacks in January. The average size class of walleyes are in between 18 and 21 inches. It’s not uncommon to pull out a chunky four pound eye. The lake is also home to trophy leopard burbot, perch and northern pike. It’s a fantastic place to walk out and catch fish. Most of the fishable areas are within 1.5 km from shore and accessible.
For some reason, Lake Manitoba seems to produce ice fast. It’s still important to test the ice with a spud bar, drill some test holes and take precaution. Remember, NO ICE is 100% SAFE! Conditions can change year to year. The NASA worldview web app is a great resource to check how the ice is forming.
Since we are often on the ice with no snow, I do recommend picking up a good set of ice cleats. Ice conditions on Lake Manitoba are usually uneven and treacherous at the beginning of the season.
LOCATION
Walleyes on prairie lakes with featureless flats tend to roam shallow. Bottom composition is usually mud, gravel, or sand. The general rule of thumb is: Find the food and the eyes won’t be far behind. We often mark schools of emerald shiners and tullibee higher up in the water column. Baitfish come through looking like a band of weak signals on your sonar. Walleyes tend to push schools of bait up real shallow during low light periods into the morning. Concept is to trap food in between the ice and the shore. The pure amount of forage in the lake is why these fish are so healthy and thick. Yellow Perch is also a favourite snack.
FIND THE KEY DEPTH
Normally we punch holes at first light in that 6-8ft range and slowly move out to 10-11 feet mid morning. One good suggestion is to stay mobile. Once the bite slows down, making 50 yard moves parallel down the shore in the same depth range can make a difference. Move around a bit.
Morning can produce a few fish, but Lake Manitoba is best known for the last light bite into dark. Evening seems to be the best time to intercept hungry feeding eyes. Remember, these fish are on the prowl and willing to hit a variety of baits. Good idea to setup shallow again an hour before dark.
PRESENTATION
A lot of baits we use on Lake Winnipeg are great options to try on Lake Manitoba. Rattle baits are a great way to call in fish that are roaming on the flats. We always have a Jackall TN60 Rattle bait tied up on a rod with a dead stick jig and minnow in the adjacent hole. One fantastic option when the eyes are in a neutral to positive mood, is to throw down a Hyper-glide tipped with a minnow head on the bottom treble. We experienced this last year on marks that needed coaxing. Be patient and don’t set the hook too soon. Let the rod tip load up for second or two before setting the hook.
COLOUR SELECTION
Action of the presentation is probably more important than colour selection. We all have our favourites, but chartreuse and pink have been staple colours over the years. Having a couple rods rigged up with different baits is a good idea. The ability to throw down a different presentation on the fly is crucial. The cadence of your presentation is very important to trigger strikes. Figure out the jigging pattern and your golden! No pun intended.
ACCESS POINTS
There are multiple access points around the south basin to get on the lake. Google Earth is a useful tool to find places to park and walk out. St. Ambroise, St. Laurent, and Twin Beaches off Highway # 6 are popular areas to fish on the east side. Not all access points provide truck access. There is a boat launch at the end of Twin Beach Road to drive on once the ice is thick enough.
Delta beach, North of Portage La Prairie off Provincial Road # 240, is another great option. There is a large parking lot on the west end of Hackberry Ave right on the beach. Obviously, with lots of snow, a tracked vehicle is king for being mobile along the shorelines if you head out later in the season.