MANITOBA
Rain, rain and more rain. Water levels are rising and many of our rivers are clouded with suspended mud. This includes Lake Winnipeg. I headed up to Hecla this week with my wife and some friends and was extremely disappointed to see just how muddy the water was.
I know from past experience that when the strike window is severely restricted to less than a foot of visibility the bite slows down considerably.
This was certainly the case our first evening out after setting up in the campground. We fished for two hours and did not get a bite. The good news was the commercial season was over and we didn’t have to contend with any nets. The next morning was a wash as it rained steadily. By noon the rain had stopped and the wind was light. Feeling reinvigorated we headed out with a new game plan. I was going to stay aggressive to try and find some active fish in a bit cleaner water. After checking a number of different areas we found a rocky, limestone shoreline that had a bunch of big boulders scattered from the shore all the way out to 16 feet of water. Not wanting to get snagged it was time to put on the bottom bouncers and spinners. As it turned out this triggered some big fish to bite. We landed a couple of beautiful greenback walleye along with sauger and perch.
Seven hours later we headed off the water to enjoy some fresh fish and a night around the campfire.
LAKE OF THE PRAIRiES – ROGER AND SUE GERES
We spent the long weekend camping and fishing at Assesippi, with friends and fishing is still fantastic, The water temp only 60-61, but we found fish in all depths. We found shallower fish were eaters and smaller the odd bigger ones mixed in. Out deeper say 18-22’ seemed to hold larger fish for us as that kicked out a few 26’s And 27’s. Jigging all weekend with plastics and minnows , leeches all seemed to work
Highlight of the weekend was our friends Blayne and Donna’s son Max catching a 26 inch walleye
Water is still very clear for July , I’m sure with the warm trend coming that will all change and water temps will climb.
NORTHWEST ONTARIO – MIKE CORRIGAN
We experienced a start to summer, like our current one, in 2022. Those who keep a fishing diary will do well to review it so as to understand where the fish are hanging out right now. Some lakes are 2-3 weeks behind in development and some of the fish are still shallow, including Walleye.
The Hexagenia (Hex) hatch is in full force in the Kenora, albeit not as prolific as in past years. The cooler temperatures and wind have tempered the insect’s emergence.
Bass and Pike have keyed in on the large mayfly and twitching an imitation will elicit a strike.
I have fished several of the smaller Musky lakes with success with either orange popper or an orange Diablo. Watch for the Musky to take the Hex as well. The weed growth and surface temperatures are a little slower than normal as we await summer to appear. The fish have moved in to their “summer homes”, although knowing where to expect the weeds is key as they are yet to emerge at the surface.
SASKATCHEWAN
RAFFERTY RESERVOIR – RALPH SMART, PRAIRIE PRO OUTFITTERS
It’s been great and everyone living easy. New weed line now forming and will give a great line in 15 ft for people to fish along. Everything working from jigs and minnows leeechs and crawlers to pulling spinners. Don’t be afraid to check in the 25 ft range during mid day Real big pike are constant and daily we have them chasing our 18 to 21 inch walleye to the boat. Here’s a couple of my clients fish from Kansas city this week a humped back and a first for me in thousands of fish a yellow belly and mouth walleye that had zero white on it. Even down its throat. It’s still swimming !
ALBERTA – WES DAVID FISHING THE WILD WEST TV
During the last two weeks, reports have indicated Alberta’s trout waters are on fire. Regardless, if you are shoreline fishing stocked trout ponds, fly fishing rivers and stream systems, or fishing larger water bodies from a boat, rainbow trout are hitting an angler’s presentation with all the aggression of a great white shark.
Shoreline anglers fishing stocked trout ponds are having great success fishing a size #6 Gamakatsu hook tipped with a piece of worm, leech, or Power Bait. Six inches above the hook is a split shot heavy enough to get the baited hook down. The majority of the bites are coming about a foot off the bottom. The depth of the hook is controlled on the surface by a slip-bobber and a bobber-stop. Shoreline anglers are consistently getting bit 20 or 30 feet from the shoreline. Due to the wind that has been blowing across Alberta for the last two weeks, I believe the wind and water has stirred up the bottom and with it a variety of aquatic life that the trout are gorging themselves on. Not to mention a variety of insect hatches. Fly fishermen are also having great success near and along the shorelines of Alberta’s stocked trout ponds.
On larger waterbodies, anglers are fishing out of their float tubs, kayaks, or boats. Many anglers, including myself, are trolling Bing Bugs, from Lucky Bug Lures, in a variety of colours. Trout are hitting the Bingo Bugs on the surface and near the bottom. Trout midway within the water column seems to be inactive. Most of my strikes have come near the bottom. To get my Bingo Bug down I simply add one or two split shots, or I have even gone as far as a Lindy Rig setup with the Bingo Bug. It has worked so well that the next time I’m faced with a Lindy Rig bite for walleye, I’m going to try Lindy Rigging a Bingo Bug.
If the rainbow trout are this aggressive, I can’t see why the other stocked trout species would be any different.