MANITOBA
It is probably the most anticipated day of the year for anglers in this province. The walleye season opens on Saturday in the southern half of the province and the anticipation is high. With a relatively early spring and dry conditions for the most part, there was not a whole lot of runoff in most areas. By all accounts the walleye spawn was done earlier than most years and the fish should be in post spawn behaviour.
Having said that what does it mean for you to find those early season fish? There are few better walleye anglers than long time Hooked Contributor Dave Shmyr. While Dave now resides on Vancouver Island he has written numerous early season walleye articles over the years and few are better than the one that I have linked below.
Dave writes about springtime movement of post spawn fish using diagrams and illustrations of his go-to baits.
Read the whole article by clicking on this link: https://www.hookedmagazine.ca/keys-to-finding-early-season-walleye/
EASTERN MANITOBA
As anticipated with a year round open season, with the ice off the lakes many tried their luck for black crappies. With the low water levels anglers are able to get through the tunnels on the Caddy Lake chain. All lakes in the system have good populations of black crappie.
Closer to home many people who live in Winnipeg take advantage of the great fisheries in both the Red and Assiniboine rivers. Of course when you go to the Forks you have the best of both worlds! Check out this beautiful early season catfish caught by Cayden Quenelle
Former provincial fisheries Manager Brian Parker has always had a love for catching pretty much everything that swims. How about this beautiful big mouth buffalo he caught while fishing Delta Marsh!
STOCKED TROUT WATERS:
In talking with Regional Fisheries Manager Eric Mullen, he says the province has been extremely busy stocking a number of lakes across the province. He says they have expanded the range of tiger trout and some of the lakes are already producing close to trophy size fish.
For years Patterson Lake has been a brown trout factory and it looks like this year is no different. Located in western Manitoba it is an electric motor only lake that kicks out some special fish. Check out this beauty caught by Stu Kingdon.
NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO
With most lakes open and the water warming rapidly, the smallmouth bass are starting to move shallow along with some good sized pike. Look for dark bottom bays or sheltered bays were the water will warm a bit faster. It is still a bit of a transition time so be flexible in where you look.
At this time of the year it pays to be efficient when looking for some springtime hotspots. There is none better at finding fish fast than the 2023 Bassmaster Classic Champion Jeff Gustafson. I have spent a couple early spring days fishing with Gussy and it was a great experience. One of the keys for Jeff is fishing fast with soft plastic. This allows him to cover a ton of water looking for active fish.
To learn more check out this article Jeff wrote a while back.
https://www.hookedmagazine.ca/soft-plastic-spring-walleye-tips/
SASKATCHEWAN
Last Mountain Lake-Rob Schulz, G& S Marina Outfitters
Last Mountain Lake is in her spring post spawn bite. The water temperatures are in the low 50s but with the warm temperatures the bite should come on soon. The walleye are in the shallows ranging from 4’ to 15’ in depth. The actively feeding walleye are at the shallows ends of the lake now as the water temperatures are much warmer than the main lake basin. Slow is the word right now to catch these golden beauties. Pitching jigs on a slip bobber into the shallows and bait rigging the sand points are starting to produce some fish.NORTHERN PIKE
RAFFERTY RESERVOIR-RALPH SMART-PRAIRIE PRO OUTFITTERS
Rafferty ice has been off for a good month now and water temps around 48 to 50 in the back of bays. The bite has been really good with the early ice melt warming the water earlier than normal. A very good bite super shallow but woth no run off this year the water is very clear so make long casts and don’t run your boat over the fish. Light jigs and plastics or frozen minnows worked dry slowly is the ticket. Fish are really on the move so keep moving also to get on active biters.
ALBERTA
WES DAVID – FISHING THE WILD WEST
The Alberta Trout Stocking Program(s) are well underway across Alberta. Along with hundreds of thousands of rainbow and brown trout being stocked there will also be additional tiger trout stocking across Alberta.
Tiger trout are the result of fertilizing brown trout eggs with brook trout milt. The result of cocktailing one species’s eggs with another species’s milt in a controlled environment is the intergeneric hybrid known as tiger trout.
The stocking of tiger trout in Alberta began in 2015 and were originally stocked in three water bodies as a pilot project. However, during the 2024, spring trout stocking program, there will be 53 water bodies stocked across Alberta with 60,000 tiger trout. Alberta’s stocked trout ponds are free to access and provide anglers with additional fishing opportunities across Alberta. Check the Alberta Guide to Sportfishing Regulations before you make a cast.
A friendly reminder that the 2024 Alberta Guide to Sportfishing Regulations has been delayed. Alberta anglers are to follow the 2023 Alberta Guide to Sportfishing Regulations until the new regulation booklet arrives.
In between, the close of the 2023 ice fishing season and the opening of the 2024 open water season, I have been involved in a few of the trout stockings at different water bodies in central Alberta. However, like most anglers, I have been focused on getting my boat, spooling rods/reels, and getting the rest of my fishing gear ready to hit the road/water. Most of the anglers I have spoken with are heading to the southern Alberta reservoirs for walleye this spring. However, a few anglers were already fishing Pine Coulee for walleye and rainbow trout with the results being good fishing but slow for both species.
Good luck on the water and play safe.