MANITOBA
The western part of Manitoba was blasted this week by heavy snow and winds. Combine that with periods of rain and it is a mess. It is a good time to get all your ice fishing gear cleaned up, organized and ready to go.
Only a few hardcore still have their boats in the water. Most have been winterized waiting for spring.
The Red River goldeye run is starting to slow down but check out this beauty.
The shore anglers are still working hard and there have been some good catches. Check out this old girl from Bower Lake. Congrats Bogdan!
Up in the Ducks Twin Lakes was still producing some magnificent tiger trout.
Finally how about a carp fest below the dam at Lake of the Prairies and the Assiniboine River!
Just a word of caution Kase and all other shore anglers. Combining large slippery rocks and fast water is a recipe for disaster. In those type of situations err on the side of caution. Fish with a partner and wear floater clothing. Move slowly and carefully and pick a safe spot to fish from!
NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO
There is still some hardcore musky and bass anglers out there braving the elements. I can remember a trip I wrote about five years ago on Lake of the Woods. It was some of the best smallmouth fishing I have ever had. On our first trip in late October Hooked Publisher Kevin Stobbe and I jumped in the boat with Gussy and had a great day on the water.
That motivated me to go back two weeks later with friend Jim Price. That day was even better as we cruised around picking off bass on main lake points. You can read all about it here.
Gussy is on his way back from Australia on what is an annual trip to fish for Barramundi. They won the BARRA Trophy!
SASKATCHEWAN
Ralph Smart and his son Nate are part of that group of hardcore anglers that have a tough time putting there boats away. Last weekend was a slam fest on Rafferty, with a 44.5 inch pike. That was overshadowed by Nate’s monster walleye that weighed just over 13 pounds.
ALBERTA – WES DAVID
There is not a lot to report on for this fishing report. A combination of the first heavy snowfall, hunting season, and no ice to speak of makes November a tough time for Alberta anglers. Even the riverboats are coming off the water. However, there are a variety of projects and events that are in various stages of planning for the New Year.
Across the western provinces, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s are hosting an in-store Ice Fishing event starting in January. On Saturday, January 18th Rocky View, Alberta Bass Pro Shops, and Sunday, January 19th at the Calgary, Alberta Cabela’s store. Dates may vary, so please check for the dates of the in-store Ice Fishing events at the Bass Pro Shops or Cabela’s in your area. These events are fun, informative, and free to access.
Speaking of ice fishing events. Fish and Hunt Saskatchewan recently attended the Dakota Ice Angler Institute on November 8-10 in Sioux Falls South Dakota. Tourism Saskatchewan and Fish and Hunt Saskatchewan travelled to the event in 2023 and again in 2024 as each year they are encouraged by the number of North and South Dakota anglers that head north into the province of Saskatchewan to fish throughout the province.
The Alberta trout hatcheries and the walleye hatchery in Cold Lake, Alberta, are in the early stages of raising walleye, rainbow trout, tiger trout, and a few other trout species that will be scheduled for release in the spring in a wide variety of stocked waterbodies across Alberta. Alberta’s fish hatcheries are extremely important to Alberta’s conservation programs and Alberta’s fisheries management plan and there is always work going on behind the scenes well before we ever plan on casting a line.
November can be a tough time of the year for anglers but please don’t venture onto the ice too soon. Colder temperatures which will create quality ice are forecasted for the near future.
Wes David Host & Producer of Fishing the Wild West TV