MANITOBA
LAKE WINNIPEG
With the arrival of spring finally, the fishing success in this province is picking up. Lake Winnipeg, the prime destination for those who are after a walleye of a lifetime, has really come on in the last week. While access is still limited to tracked travel, there has been some great action.
Both sides of the lake have been producing both numbers and large walleye. One problem that persists is the amount of snow and slush that is still around, especially close to shorelines. This has really made access difficult in many areas and if you want to get out, you should go in a group.
SOUTHWESTERN MANITOBA
Pelican Lake is still producing some jumbo perch and eater sized walleye. Some of the trout lakes are showing some signs of life as spring run-off bumps up the oxygen levels. Try and find these areas (carefully!) and you might find the jackpot.
Lake Manitoba access is still a huge issue with slush near the shore making life miserable. It is still pretty much tracked travel only but there are some nice walleye, perch and burbot being caught if you can make it out.
NORTHERN REGION
Just a reminder that the general closure for angling in Manitoba starts April 4th and lasts until May 13th. The open water season opens May 14th this year. Meantime in the Northwest and Northeast regions the season does not close until May 1st then opens on May 22nd. If there is any doubt on regulations you can download a pdf of the Manitoba Anglers Guide.
Many anglers head north in April for the lake trout action. Clearwater Lake is a prime destination. Friend Kyle Klassen recently landed a number of Master Angler lakers including this 39 inch beauty!
In past years I have headed north in April and depending on snow conditions it is on the list to do this year. We hope to head up to Wekusko Lake and enjoy some of the fine walleye fishing.
EASTERN REGION – MATT GELLEY
We headed east last weekend in search of Manitoba Black Crappies. It was finally nice to hit the ice with stable weather. Late March can sometimes be hit or miss for these fish. Usually towards the end of the ice season, Crappies start to scatter and roam the flats. Those classic winter basin areas we all fish become less and less effective over time. Fortunately, pods of slabs were still stacked up in the basin. The late spring we are experiencing has something to do with it. March Madness is on and I’m not talking College Basketball.
NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO
KENORA AND AREA – JAMIE BRUCE
Ice fishing is fun again! A break in the weather and some fortunate ice conditions have set us up for some great spring fishing here in Northwestern Ontario.
VERMILLION BAY AND AREA – GLENN MCDONALD
Finally nicer weather has hit northwestern Ontario and perfect timing with March break for schools!
Many families were able to enjoy some time on the ice, fishing for their favourite species! In Dryden, Kevin Desilva had his family out at his ice shack for some fishing. And did his kids enjoy it!
Kevin’s son, Reece was holding steady over his lucky hole, pulling fish after fish to the surface. Not to be outdone, his sister, Aspyn put on a clinic of her own! These kids love the outdoors and are turning into great young anglers!
Over March break I was able to spend time with family as well. My daughter Kenzie was getting dialed in with the helix ice machine and made quick work of a limit! Between jigs and minnows or Droptine hunger strike tubes, Kenzie was able to master a few techniques. My nephew, Lynden, was a big helper on the ice and he really enjoys seeing large pike!
Ice conditions are starting to improve in the areas as snow melts, in turn leading to a reduction in the slush. With warmer temperatures comes some spring thaw, so please be careful around areas with current. Conditions can charge rapidly this time of year, so plan ahead. With less than a month left in the walleye season, most places expect to have ice right until the final day. I expect a busy end to hard water fishing in northwestern Ontario. Good luck out there fellow anglers.
SASKATCHEWAN
SOUTHERN SASKATCHEWAN – WES DAVID, FISHING THE WILD WEST TV
In early March I had the good fortune of being a part of the University of Regina, Saskatchewan northern pike tagging program. Professor and lead biologist, Chris Somers of the University of Regina and his students have been working on tagging northern pike in Buffalo Pound Lake near Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The study is trying to understand northern pike seasonal, weekly, and monthly movements, and even hook mortality. A variety of hooks were used including single and double predator rigs, single hooks, and in-line circle hooks which to date are proving to be the most beneficial to the fish when catch and release fishing.
HOTDOG FISHING WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF REGINA
We were fishing in very cold weather conditions as a severe winter storm was still lingering in the area and even delayed one full day of fishing. However, the northern pike that call Buffalo Pound Lake home were very aggressive and did not disappoint. Standard tip-ups were being used with four tip-ups baited with large baitfish and four tip-ups baited with hotdogs.
All eight tip-ups were placed in different water depths and the bait was positioned at different depths within the water column. To my surprise, hotdogs were the number one hit bait throughout our stay with a ratio of 3 bites to 1 and the most productive depths were seven feet of water.
It was amazing to watch the professor and his students at work gathering information to further protect our fisheries. There was a lot of scientific work being done. Northern pike were caught and taken to the trailer where they were placed in a live well to keep the fish in water and out of the cold ambient air while Chris and his students gathered the needed information. Each northern pike was measured, tagged near the dorsal fin, weighed, and the whole process including hook removal was timed. When all the information was gathered and documented, each northern pike was released back into the lake.
It was an incredible experience to be a part of the northern pike tagging program with the University of Regina, however, the knowledge that I immediately took away from the tagging program, was for next year’s ice fishing season. I will be fishing with $2.00 hotdogs instead of $6.00 frozen bait.
Just a friendly reminder that the 2022 Parkland Outdoor Show & Expo will be in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, on April 2 & 3. I was fortunate enough to be asked to do a fishing seminar each day of the show. Tips and Tricks for Walleye on Lakes, Rivers, and Reservoirs. Hooked Magazine will also have a booth there so you can renew your subscription or subscribe to Hooked Magazine for the first time. Hooked Editor Don Lamont will be there to personally sign copies of his new book.
As I said, the buzz was amazing at the Edmonton Boat & Sportsmen’s Show and I expect the same in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, and the money raised goes to conservation and outdoor youth organizations.
I hope to see you there!
ALBERTA
WES DAVID, FISHING THE WILD WEST TV
There was the slightest hesitation to come off the ice to attend the 2022 Edmonton Boat & Sportsmen’s Show (EBSS) March 17-20, as we only get so many days to fish “March Madness”. However, after two years with no sports shows there was no way I was going to miss Alberta’s largest outdoor sports show. The attendance at the show was amazing and it was so exciting to be back to face-to-face business and talking with other avid outdoorsmen and women surrounded by everything outdoors.
Now that the (EBSS) is over I will be heading back to southern Alberta to fish a variety of southern Alberta reservoirs. Before leaving for the (EBSS), the northern pike bite was turning from great to amazing and ice anglers didn’t have to do anything fancy to catch northern pike. A simple tip-up with a Predator Rig baited with a large herring in the reservoir’s back bays in five to 10 feet of water was all that was required to set the hook on the large aggressive females. Female northern pike are feeding very aggressively in preparation for the spawn at this time of the year. At times, there is often a mid-day loll in the action, but pike are more than willing to commit to your presentation throughout the day. However, mornings, late afternoon, and well into the evenings have been producing the best bites.
THE RIGHT PRESENTATION
If there was one noticeable difference in the bite, it was how the herring was hooked to hang in the water column. If the herring was hooked through the back so it hung in the water column up-right in a natural swimming position, we received fewer bites than if the herring was hooked through the belly and hung in the water column upside-down indicating a dying baitfish floating to the top of the water column or bottom of the ice. The difference was often 4 fish to 1 when hooking the herring to hang upside-down.
Watching the pike interact with the bait on the Aqua-Vu cameras, they hammered the herring that was hanging upside down and often bumped and dropped the upright bait triggering the flag on the tip-up but not fully committing to the bait.
Check your local fishing regulations before you head out since some southern Alberta waterbodies close at different times throughout the month of March.
There is only a week left to fish “March Madness” on the southern Alberta reservoirs. Don’t be caught indoors during this magical time of the ice fishing season.