ICE ANGLERS HAVE BEEN UNLEASHED ON MANITOBA’S SMALL LAKES

A cold start to November has been making ice! A few hardcore anglers have been already. Phil Paczkowski, who owns Patch’s Bait Shop in Roblin and is an outfitter in the region, says most of the trout lakes have three inches of ice more. It pays to be extremely careful at this time of the year, with ice picks around the neck of your floater suit, a partner, along with a rope. Check ice constantly as you go out.

Phil has been a hardcore fisherman all his life and while he has slowed down his work schedule a bit because of bad back, his fishing hasn’t suffered too much. He also rents out ice shacks on Lake of the Prairies, which believe it or not, already has four inches of ice. He won’t have those out for a while though. Pulling a sled with your gear and walking out at this time of year, is the way to go.

RECOMMENDED LAKES

PATTERSON LAKE-Browns and Rainbows

EAST GOOSE LAKE-Rainbows

TWIN LAKES- Tiger Trout

CORSTORPHINE LAKE-Rainbows

FOOTPRINT LAKE-Rainbows, Browns, Brook Trout, Tiger Trout

BARBE LAKE-Rainbows, Brook trout

Check out the FLIPPR website. It has driving directions and lake maps that will get you to the right location. The website is www.flippr.ca

WHAT TO USE

Check out regulations since almost all of these lakes are artificial only. Popular among the stocked trout crowd are the following.

Small jig rigged with various plastics, including small finesse minnows and one inch tube are great options

Small, flashy jigging spoons, preferably silver or gold

Lipless crankbaits, in the smaller sizes

Trout power bait products from Berkley, especially effective deadsticking.