MANITOBA
Okay that is enough already! As we get hit by another Colorado low it is time to think of the ramifications of an extremely late spring for anglers in this part of the world.
The first part is the most important, increased water levels are almost certain in our many lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. While the high water will flood shoreline areas and increase shallow structure the fish have access, it will also increase current flow. This means narrow spots will have good flow through them, concentrating fish.
I call these flush areas and fish will set up behind rocks, drop-offs and other structure available. Meantime the flooded shoreline vegetation will provide cover for the young of the year fry. In many of our lakes though, this will scatter fish shallow and they can be hard to find. Deeper vegetation will also be slow to develop.
One great benefit of increased water levels is access to water. Last year was a terrible one for those with boats. With probably the worst boat launches in North America many anglers in the province suffered damage to their trailers and rigs just trying to launch. We have come a long way in many areas in this province but providing safe access has been last on the list. That needs to change.
There is still plenty of ice and many anglers have been fishing stocked trout waters. Susan and Roger Geres have been enjoying some great action for tiger trout on Twin Lakes in the Ducks. Roger says they have been using small gypsy jigs with tinsel, white tube jigs and even bucktails are working. For set lines, some Berkley trout paste.
They are fishing the three to 10 foot range, drilling lots of holes, then waiting for things to settle down.
Meantime up north on Reed Lake it is trophy lake trout and pike time. Here is great pike recently landed by Matthew Douglas
NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO – JAMIE BRUCE
I really wish I was writing an open water fishing report right now, but as everyone knows, spring is taking it’s time this year. Last year, LOTW was open in the Kenora area April 22 and was totally ice free by April 24. This year, predictions, data and trends are putting it somewhere in the region of May 20, which is a pretty tough pill to swallow!
ICE AND MORE ICE!
JEFF GUSTAFSON – NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO
SASKATCHEWAN
LAST MOUNTAIN LAKE
G&S Marina Outfitters (owned and operated by Robert and Donna Schulz) are now in the 31st year of operation. When I had my television show The Complete Angler I always tried to get owner Rob Schulz as a guest. He is one of the most knowledgeable anglers I have ever fished with. Rob grew up on the family farm, just two miles from Last Mountain Lake. Any chance he could, he would ride his bike down to the lake to fish from shore. Last Mountain Lake has some of the best walleye, pike, and carp fishing on the planet. By the way, Rob is the only outfitter / guide with the designation of Master Outfitter Certified on Last Mountain Lake.
Rob & Donna run a first-class operation at Rowan’s Ravine. I filmed several Complete Angler Episodes with Rob and it never disappointed. My all-time favourite show was catching huge carp from shore and Rob is one of the most knowledgeable anglers I have ever spent time with!
If you want to get the same experience I had, G&S offer a European style carp fishing experience. This includes an expert guide, plus land or water transportation to pre-baited carp fishing locations from Rowan’s Ravine Marina. You will learn firsthand carp fishing techniques and all rods, reels, tackle, and bait for chumming and fishing is included, just an awesome package.
ALBERTA FISHING REPORT – WES DAVID
At the time of this writing, Alberta trout ponds are well underway for the 2022 stocking program. There are a wide variety of stocked trout ponds scattered across Alberta and the western provinces and many of these ponds are stocked more than once throughout the year.
A variety of ponds are stocked with multiple trout species throughout the year however, the majority of Alberta’s trout ponds are stocked between mid-April and mid-June. Many trout ponds near populated areas with high fishing pressure will receive a second stocking in August and September.
While stocked trout ponds provide hours of fishing excitement, they are also an important part of Alberta’s conservation programs. Alberta is the fourth-largest populated province with only 800 lakes/reservoirs within the province. During 2021 there were 325,977 Alberta resident fishing licenses sold and 54,456 of those licenses were sold to new anglers. Many of these new licenses were sold to youth anglers that turned of age to purchase their first Alberta fishing license.
Stocked trout ponds take a great deal of fishing pressure off our natural fisheries, and they are an important tool in attracting new anglers to the sport of fishing. Our youth are the future of hunting, fishing, and everything outdoors and it is believed that 90-percent of Alberta youth anglers catch their first fish at a stocked trout pond which makes stocked trout ponds a major key in getting youth hooked on fishing. Pardon the pun.
Stocked trout ponds are free to access, and many are open year-round, however, anglers between the ages of 16 and 65 still need to purchase an Alberta sportfishing license to fish the trout ponds and all Alberta sportfishing regulations must be followed including catch and keep limits.
If you get a chance, take a youngster fishing this season at an Alberta stocked trout pond. It will do a world of good for everyone involved.