MANITOBA
Lake Winnipeg is once again the big story as anglers venture out on good solid ice. Jeff Gustafson even ventured over from Lake of the Woods to fish with his good friend Cory Johnston in a deluxe ice shack.
Of course Gussy caught a good one!
Anglers have also been storming the tackle stores, buying up all the latest gear. I was in The Fishing Hole recently and their stock was just coming back in after a crazy Christmas season.
Out in the western part of the province there was a big ice fishing event held on Lake of the Prairies by Fish Donkey. Our man in the field Roger Geres decided to head out with some special friends.
“This past weekend we had the pleasure of taking our friends fishing, Patty-Jo and her daughter Emily, who have never Ice fished but always wanted to try it. Being the last weekend of the LOTP ICE CUP, we were in the tournament and Emily’s catch could be entered under my name in the youth category. She put in a couple big days Saturday and Sunday and it paid off! We didn’t catch a lot of walleye but her 25” was big enough to put her in first and win the youth category. Jigs and minnows and a slow presentation seemed to be the ticket for us. We fished a couple different areas and 18 feet seemed to be what worked for us. We caught lots of small pike also which kept us entertained also. Taking a kid fishing is great and seeing the smiles is worth it all.”
Clayton Schick participated during the ten day event and posted this video
Up north, guide Daryl Gilbert shows us a unique way to enjoy a day ice fishing for lake trout.
SASKATCHEWAN
Last Mountain continues to produce some big fish on the flats in 20 feet and off the points in 15 to 20 feet. Further north, Tobin Lake pike action on the main lake flats is starting to produce some big fish.
ALBERTA – WES DAVID, FISHING THE WILD WEST TV
The catch beneath the ice is heating up across the western provinces. In Alberta, walleye and northern pike are being caught at a variety of depths and locations, and many anglers say the mild weather is making the fish a bit unpredictable. The northern pike and walleye rapidly turn on and then turn off just as quickly. Anglers are also saying both species are often found in shallower water this January than they were finding them in January 2024. The mild weather is making for comfortable days on top of the hard water, but beneath the ice, the fish seem to be scattered throughout the water body.
The Great Rockies Sportshow will be held at the Metra Park Expo Center, in Billings, Montana, January 17-19. There are several Saskatchewan fishing lodges attending the show in Billings MT. I have been invited to the show to give seminars on the Outdoor Theater Stage about fishing in the western provinces and to support the Canadian lodges and outfitters who are attending the show. G&S Marina Outfitters, Stockman’s Lodge, Adventure Destinations, and many other Canadian lodges will be at the Great Rockies Sportshow. I spoke with Rob, the owner of G&S Marina Outfitters, out of Rowan’s Ravine, SK, (Last Mountain Lake) while he was attending the Denver Colorado Sports Show, and he said he always looks forward to the Billings show and has guests from Montana that have been coming to his drive-to lodge in southern Saskatchewan for over 15 years.
Rob said many U.S. anglers come up for the amazing walleye and northern pike fishing, however, many of his guests also plan a full day of carp fishing. So much so, that G&S Marina Outfitters has added a Pro Guided European style carp fishing package to the list of many things to do during your stay at G&S Marina Outfitters. https://gsmarina.com/guides-and-packages/carp www.greatrockiesshow.com
Good luck to everyone who is heading out onto the hard water this weekend!