MANITOBA
Some colder weather has arrived across the prairies and with a lack of snow cover in many areas the ice is thickening at a rapid rate. Friend Jim Price reports great ice conditions on Lake Manitoba with 16 inches in most places on the lake. He has been driving on for a while now and reports good fishing action just before dark in shallow water. Jim says he has been finding walleye tight to shore all over the lake.
LAKE WINNIPEG
Big Windy is starting to heat up. Anglers are now driving out from various access points. There are some ridges and ice heaves so caution, as always, is advised. For the latest go to the Lake Winnipeg Report on Facebook.
Matt Hobson of Icebound Excursions runs a fleet of SnoBears during the winter months. He is just gearing up for another season and brings us this report.
Conditions have improved slowly over the past week. With calm winds the lake has developed some strength, especially along the shorelines. With most anglers staying on the oldest shore ice, except for as few brave souls that have ventured further. The fish are plentiful in numbers, with some big ones mixed in. Average size has been 22” so far this year. Most anglers are targeting the 8-10’ (UI) depth due in no small part to easier travel In those depths. Use caution if venturing out, but it’s time to get icebound.
Matt gives some valuable insight on when you are on fish but still might want to move. He furthered by saying when you get on a spot and the fishing is fast-paced and the action is high, make the most of it. But if that action begins to slow down, even if you are still catching a few, that can be a sign that it is time to make a small move. Begin drilling holes in all directions of the spot you are on and try to get back on that hot action. If you end up staying on a spot too long, and the fishing completely slows down you might not get on active fish.
LAKE OF THE PRAIRIES – ROGER & SUE GERES
Lake of the Prairies is still kicking out beautiful fish from master jumbo perch to big walleye! We been trying different things, sometimes it pays off other time’s it doesn’t. With the live minnows slowly being phased out we just been using frozen bait and we are doing well, jigging and working marks when they come in pays off. Fish depths seem to be in the 16 to 22 foot range. For us different action hooks on different days is the key. Sometimes it spooks them next day they charge it.
Travel on lake is good just be careful of pressure ridges and you need cleats it is so slippery.
Some evenings they bite well into dark! Be careful and still check ice for yourself.
STOCKED TROUT STILL HOT!
With the continued mild winter, the stocked trout fishing has not slowed down a whole lot. Hooked Contributors Robyn Grant and Robert Karpiak were up at Gull Lake recently in the Duck Mountains and caught several Master Angler fish including this beautiful 21 inch brook trout by Robyn.
EASTERN MANITOBA
As always at this time of the year, crappies seem to be the most popular target for ice anglers. There have been some nice fish caught so far this winter in many of the lakes and rivers that hold this great sportfish.
Hooked Contributor Matt Gelley brings us UpToDate!
What a crazy start to the ice fishing season here in Manitoba. At least we have ice! We’re about a month behind on what we normally see for ice conditions on the Whiteshell Lakes. You still want to be cautious right now. There’s apparently an ice ridge on Lee River and Big Whiteshell.
The crappie bite has been pretty decent lately. Based on what I’ve seen online and experienced on the ice, you have a legit shot at a 16 inch slab right now. The other day, Jordy and I followed a school of crappies around with Mega Live. You can tell that the angling pressure has started to affect the fish around the community holes. The pods are more broken up now. This is quite normal for this time of year.
LOCATION
We usually like to start looking for crappies roaming mud flat basins adjacent to drop offs in that 18-20 foot plus range. The Lakemaster VX maps from Humminbird make it really easy to find good fish holding spots. The One Network Boat App has excellent Whiteshell coverage; available for android and Apple devices.
As for tackle, you can’t beat a bug imitating 5mm tungsten jig or a 2-3 inch plastic bodied minnow presentation on a 1/16oz jig. The 1 3/4” crappie scrub has been a staple of mine all year long from spring to winter. This is a great time to take advantage of the nice weather and hunt down some crappies. Stay mobile and light. Happy New Year!
NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO
LAKE OF THE WOODS WITH JAMIE BRUCE
Back Ice Fishing on Lake of the Woods. I’ll show you on the map how I search around and what techniques I use to catch them in some new walleye-infested water with no fishing pressure.
SASKATCHEWAN
RAFFERTY RESERVOIR – RALPH SMART, PRAIRIE PRO OUTFITTERS
Lucky 13 – Inches of ice that is! A fantastic bite is happening for walleye and jumbo perch especially the jumbo perch with light vehicles now accessing the lake An early ice bite is happening with an all day bite and with very good after dark action for those camping overnight which is getting very popular and a lot of fun Small tungsten jigs with frozen minnows or jigging Rapala type baits have been top producers.
Prairie Pro Outfitters has a brand new Grey Wolf 24 ft wheelhouse that’s fully equipped that we quide out of or rent for daily and overnight excursions. Call for details on packages and availability. 13064618353
Join Daryl Gilbert as he targets walleye on Lake Diefenbaker first ice. Follow along as he finds new structure and shows how to read the structure and where to find walleye. Daryl demonstrates different jigging techniques. Visit Daryl’s website here.
TOBIN LAKE
Anglers are starting to venture out on Tobin Lake with good ice in most areas. A lack of snow cover and wind has allowed for some good solid ice in most places. Some big walleye are being caught along with huge pike on the main reservoir
ALBERTA – WES DAVID
Mild-Weather Trout
Southern Alberta is still experiencing exceptionally mild temperatures for this time of year. Small water bodies still have a great deal of open water and within the southern portions of Alberta, there are more waterfowl still in the area than I have ever seen before. With the mild temperatures and exposed stubble fields providing an easy food source, waterfowl are comfortable and do not need to fly south at this time.
Ice anglers are checking the weather forecast daily and many avid southern Alberta ice anglers are choosing not to venture onto the ice. Avid ice anglers have had to drive north to get their ice fishing fix. However, many anglers have also reached for their fair-weather fishing gear and are fishing the shorelines of many Alberta River systems and even the open-water trout ponds.
The Bow River is fishing very well for rainbow and brown trout. Anglers are catching both species on a fly rod with a sinking line and a strike indicator in front of a fly. Both trout species are caught in the current breaks, behind submerged rocks, and inside and outside corners where the current circulates bait and small edible aquatic life. Quality rainbow and brown trout are also being caught casting Bingo Bugs or F-Bomb crankbaits from Lucky Bug Lures into the current breaks and slowly retrieving their presentation along the shoreline.
Many if not all of the southern Alberta trout ponds have a great deal of open water and produce both quantity and quality rainbow trout. Shoreline anglers are casting the time-tested and proven J-hook tipped with a maggot, corn, or Power-Bait beneath a slip-bobber to the open water and waiting for the bobber to be pulled under. Many of the Alberta stocked trout ponds are stocked with multiple trout species and anglers can set the hook on rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, and even tiger trout on some ponds.
The weather is changing and dropping well below freezing during the night and I’m sure we will see more southern Alberta ice anglers venturing onto the ice in between Christmas and the New Year.
Sylvan Lake Whitefish
Sylvan Lake In central Alberta is a well-known lake for whitefish and northern pike and ice anglers are starting to pull whitefish through the ice. I haven’t had a chance to venture onto Sylvan Lake, but I’m told the west side of the lake has good ice and ice anglers are catching whitefish on a red wire worm in 12 feet of water. I hope to get out before the New Year and get a few whitefish for the smoker!
I wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year.
Wes David, host and producer of Fishing the Wild West TV