MANITOBA
With Code Red being reduced somewhat in the south, there is confusion among anglers as to what the rules are when travelling to the north. Here is what the Manitoba Government website says.
Manitoba residents are not restricted from travelling to a cottage, cabin, provincial park, campground or hunting or fishing lodge in northern Manitoba if they are not displaying any symptoms of COVID-19, travel directly as possible to their intended destination, and limit their use of local services to the minimum required given the circumstances.
Northern Solo Covid Trip by Kris Gaune -GauneFishin
I usually head up North 2 to 3 times a year to chase large Lake Trout. Most years it’s a struggle with deep snow and temperatures of -30 to -40 degrees. This year the weather was very mild and very little snow. I headed out onto Clearwater Lake, which is near The Pas Manitoba.
LOCATION MOVES
I was undecided on which spot to set up on so I picked a previous location that I had done well on. It was a slow, gradual slope to deeper water and boulders. I start with chumming small chunks of cut up sucker to get the fish coming in. After a day and a half with dozens of mid-twenties being caught, I decided to do a move as I wasn’t seeing any large Lake trout on the camera or Garmin Livescope. The destination was a spot on the lake with a straight drop from 60 feet of water to 110 big ledges! I have got some very nice fish there before, the biggest being 43″ and weighing 38lbs. After another 2 days and only landing a 34″ I just wasn’t seeing the giants I was after.
FINDING THE SWEET SPOT
My last move was to a massive reef which got me my first Master of the trip 37.5″ and then another 38.5″. It was as if the flood gates opened up and it was clear this was the spot. After 4 days on the reef 6 Masters were landed. One morning I woke up to a 40.5″ at 5:30am. Best alarm clock ever! All in all, whenever given the opportunity to get on a body of water that holds Lake Trout it’s worth the chase to try and catch one of these amazing massive predators.
Kris is a guide for musky, walleye and bass on the Winnipeg River out of Minaki, Ontario. You can find him on Instagram at instagram.com/gaunefishin
MATT GELLEY REPORT
Manitoba has been spoiled this winter with above average temperatures. What does this mean for crappies? Traditionally, we see the highest activity level of these fish at first ice. The warm stable weather this ice season has extended the bite well into January. Normally by now, we are in the “winter doldrums” of deep cold arctic air. Lakes out east in and around the Whiteshell including: Caddy lake, North Cross, and Sailing have been producing nice slabs. Other notable mentions in the province include Mary Jane Reservoir.
LAKE MAPS NOW AVAILABLE
A lot of these lakes have been surveyed locally by the Humminbird survey crew. Lakemaster mapping has changed the game by taking out the guesswork. Simply find the basin and strategically drill holes with your GPS. Simple.
We were out last weekend after a stretch of mild stable weather and got on great bite. Top bait was an Acme 5mm tungsten jig tipped with a “bug” intimidating plastic. It’s looking like Mother Nature is going to bring some colder air to the province in the upcoming weeks. On the next warming trend, get out there, because I bet the slabs will be more active than you think!
Check out Matts videos at MGOUTDOORS on YouTube
Speaking of YouTube, no one has seen or heard from Aaron Wiebe after he almost lost his life while trying to film a show at first ice two months ago. He lost all his equipment and had to rethink a lot of things. Well, he is back!
COLD WATER SPECIES REMAIN ACTIVE!
With a turn to the colder weather the recent stars through the ice have been many of our species that stay active during the winter. These include lake whitefish. Hooked Contributor Robert Karpiak has been making some trips up the park and landed this bruiser.
Meantime, Big Whiteshell continues to be hot for nice cisco. One species that doesn’t usually get caught through the ice in the goldeye. Eric Wiens seems to have unlocked the puzzle on the Red River!
In the southwestern part of the province, Pelican Lake is slow but every once in a while it gives up a jumbo perch. Check out this 14.25 inch beauty caught by Owen Lockhart!
NORTHWEST ONTARIO
GLENN MCDONALD-VERMILLION BAY AND AREA
The first few weeks of 2021 have seen mild temperatures across Northwestern Ontario. Great weather has brought an increase in families and anglers enjoying favourable fishing conditions. One thing to note, Ontario is currently under a ‘Stay at home’ order to combat the spread of covid. When going fishing please follow all current restrictions and rules concerning Covid.
LAKER FISHING ON FIRE!
It will come as no surprise to anyone that Lake Trout fishing has been great. Many anglers target this hard fighting species through the ice. Myself, along with brother in law, Richard Madussi spent a weekend exploring backcountry, seldom fished lakes. While in the search of trophy lakers, we were surprised to find a lake full of beautiful pan fry eaters. Hard to be disappointed with that! Something surreal exploring lakes that hardly see a snowmobile all winter, let alone fishermen.
Some reports of large Lakers have been coming in. Friend, and co-owner of Wabigoon Chain of Lakes apparel, Dustin StAubin caught a new personal best! With measurements of 38×20 that puts it in the 22-24 pound range. What a great Laker! Again, no surprise in our area, it was caught on the season’s hottest lure. The Hunger Strike tube by Drop Tine Tackle! Congrats Dustin!
Another large Laker was recently caught by friend Colin Barton. It measured out at close to 38×22 putting it in the 24-25 pound range. Trophy fish that many anglers would love to catch! Colin caught his on an Underspin Cool baits jig with a 5” Berkley Powerbait fluke.
Heading into this weekend weather looks to be cooler, dress warm and get out and enjoy the outdoors. Please be safe, respect any Covid restrictions, and have fun out there.
SASKATCHEWAN
TOBIN LAKE
Friend Boyd Holmen says conditions on Tobin Lake have been good for travel so far this winter. He was out this week for the first time after double knee surgery before Christmas. He spent the day in an Ice Castle fishing with his granddaughter close to the Tobin Lake Resort near the middle of the reservoir. He said they managed to catch a few walleye jigging in 18 feet of water. Looks like an awesome way to spend a day with family!
BRAD GRAHAM
The fishing has slowed up at most local lakes. I travelled up to Kenosee lake with my son Chase to do some perch fishing. It was awesome and the Hummingbird screen was loaded with fish all day. Lots of smaller ones ended up with 6 12”inchers that tasted great!
With the nice winter weather we have been seeing lots of people out enjoying the great sport of fishing
ALBERTA
DAVE SHYMR-CENTRAL ALBERTA
The past few weeks we have been chasing yellow perch hard. Been a solid bite with the stable mild weather making it easy for us to cover lots of ground effortlessly. The key has been to spread out a series of holes 8-12 ft of water . Setting up a few jaw jackers with jigs and small minnows as well as pike tip ups as we spend an hour or so then moving along tell we find a solid bite . I know it’s much easier to go with one line and keep pounding holes but I love my big pike ! This is the result of that little bit of extra work setting and packing up that tip up!
WES DAVID-FISHING THE WILD WEST T.V. SHOW
Scattered across Alberta are what I call Pothole Lakes. These are small shallow lakes usually in the middle of agricultural fields or in the middle of nowhere but are very accessible and in most cases, forgot about. Most of these overlooked lakes support a healthy population of northern pike.
NON-STOP ACTION!
I have never caught a monster northern pike out of these pothole lakes but I have also never been skunked. A simple Big Sky Jig tipped with a frozen minnow in eight to 12 feet of water with your rod and reel or sitting motionless under a tip-up is all that’s needed.
Although, much more than a pothole lake, Clear Lake, east of Stavely Alberta is a perfect example of a shallow water lake that consistently produces tons of northern pike action, and during the last two-weeks, Clear Lake has been producing scrappy two to 10-pound northern pike from its shallow depths.