Talk about a tough start to the fishing season here in southern Manitoba. A number of lakes in southern Manitoba were still frozen when the season opened. Some of the big lakes still are! I was scheduled to go on my first adventure the last two days of the long weekend. Heavy rain and strong winds forced that adventure to be cancelled but luckily I was able to get out with some friends this past week on Lake of the Woods. While water temperatures in the main lake averaged about five Celsius the back bays were a few degrees warmer. Since water temperature and current flow is a key at this time of year, we looked for areas that had those two criteria. We were rewarded with some post spawn walleye, some big smallmouth bass and a lot of hungry pike with an accidental lake trout thrown in for good measure. We patterned mud bottom bays in two to four metres of 
water for the walleye during the day but in the evening hit a current area. This proved to be a bonanza as we landed a number of big walleye which we caught on five inch swim baits, white the preferred colour. For the pike we found them staging at the mouth of big bays in about 2.5 metres of water. We had good luck throwing lipless crankbaits for the active fish. Once the action slowed we went over to swim baits for some bonus fish.
We found the jumbo smallmouth in two to three metres off of rock shorelines adjacent to shallow flats and deeper water. I couldn’t believe these jumbo smallies were taking a 5 inch Berkeley Hollow Belly swim bait with a paddle tail.
Despite a tough start to the open water angling season various groups, schools and clubs in the province have been learning about the sport of fishing at various workshops and outings. The Miles Macdonnell Angling Club will be holding their windup outing on May 30th.