Editors Notes
It is an abbreviated fishing report this week because I am down in Knoxville covering the Bassmaster Classic for Hooked Media. As I file this report, Gussy is in first place. Check out the interviews with the 4 Canadians we did at Media Day yesterday here. Follow all the action over the next three days at http://bassmasterclassic.com
Visit Hooked every evening for UpToDate reports on the Classic. Check out us on Instagram at @hookedmagazine @dlamont46 and Darrin Bohonis @ darrinbohonis who is down here with me doing all our media. Great job Darrin.
Here are some images Darrin took this morning! Over 20,000 fans were at the site as the Classic kicked off. There is no other fishing event like it in the world!
MANITOBA
Well the big day has almost arrived. The new Manitoba Recreational Angling changes are taking affect April 1st. To understand more you can download the new Manitoba Anglers Guide at https://www.gov.mb.ca/nrnd/fish-wildlife/pubs/fish_wildlife/fish/angling-guide.pdf
This means license and limit changes as well as seasons. There is a lot to take in so make sure you go through the new guide to understand more.
NORTHERN MANITOBA
Sarah Henuset
Just wanted to share my catch from March 11th in hopes of making it in your magazine. Hauled this chunky Master Lake Trout through the ice on Lake Athapapuskow in Northern Manitoba, Canada. It measured at 38” and ate dead bait. What made this lake trout unique was that it was tagged, which is extra rare on such a big lake. I am currently waiting on hearing back from fisheries with more information about the tag. Here is the response below.
Hi Sarah: Thank you for your report this morning. Here is a quick summary of your fish from the initial capture data. Attached is location of initial capture and recapture and can be opened in google earth.
Captured October 6th 2020; 12:51 pm
- Initial weight – 10.23kg (22.5 lbs)
- Fork Length- 870mm (34.25”)
- Total Length- 954mm (37.56”)
- Identified as a male
- Recaptured at 38”
You caught this fish roughly 14 km from its initial capture site. Interestingly, this fish has shed its radio tag. This is the first reported recapture from this program! Thanks for the information! If you are willing to share your mailing information we have a tagged fish collector patch we can send you!
Colton Phillips Regional Fisheries Biologist
Honestly, this was the fish of a lifetime. I may not have hit the 40+ club, but this tagged fatty made everything worthwhile. The guides and everyone at the outfitter had never seen a tagged lake trout, so this was a first for them.
SOUTHERN MANITOBA
Whether it’s big walleye on Lake Winnipeg or jumbo perch on West Shoal Lake, the fishing has been spectacular. Out west Lake of the Prairies has been good for pike, walleye and perch. And yes the stocked trout lakes are firing up once again. Don’t forget about the burbot. Cedar Lake and Cross Bay have been producing some monsters. Check out this beast caught by Nathan Olson.
SASKATCHEWAN
THE SOUTH
Last ice activity has been hot all across the south. From the Qu’appelle chain of Lakes to Lake Diefenbaker. It has been a great season for big perch and whitefish.
Tobin Lake is finally starting to produce big walleye and pike on a consistent basis. The flats on the south east end of the reservoir have been hot.
ALBERTA – WES DAVID FISHING THE WILD WEST TV SHOW
We are heading into the tail end of March madness and the end of another ice fishing season and truthfully, I’m looking forward to the fair-weather fishing season. I have an incredible 2023 season lined up with some incredible fishing locations to visit across Western Canada. I truly can’t wait until May!
The Edmonton Boat & Sportsmen’s Show (EBSS) was held March 16-19, at the Edmonton Expo Center. It was another excellent show produced by Master Promotions. The Edmonton Expo Center was filled with hunting and fishing lodges, guides, new outdoor products, boats, and ATVs. If it had to do with the outdoors, it was at the EBSS. One of my favourite things to do at all the sports shows is to visit with other outdoor enthusiasts and share in their hunting and fishing stories from the past season and watch the excitement on their faces as they share with me their plans for the coming hunting and fishing season. I also find the outdoor shows very educational. There is always something new to learn and experience.
For example, the Alberta Hunter Educational Instructors Association (AHEIA) known for their educational hunting and outdoor programs, has also added an Alberta Fishing Educational Program. This course can be taken online https://aheia.com/online-training The course outline is fun and educational with eight modules, designed to help new anglers identify fish species, catch and release techniques, ethics, and many more. Best of all, the online course is free of charge.
I love anything to do with getting youth involved with the outdoors and outdoor sports. Our youth are the future of our outdoors.
The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP®) is a joint venture between the state and provincial departments of Education and Wildlife and several archery equipment manufacturers and organizations are also partners. The program promotes student education, physical education, and participation in the lifelong sport of Archery. In Alberta, the Alberta Hunter Education Instructors Association (AHEIA) is the coordinator of this amazing program and during the Edmonton Boat & Sportsmen’s Show, the NASP Alberta provincials were held in a joining hall to the sports show. The students could participate in their archery shoots then the students and their parents could take in the EBSS and meet and mingle with other outdoor companies, conservation events, and outdoor enthusiasts throughout the show.
I had the chance to watch a couple of the archery competitions and witnessed the comradery amongst the students from their teammates and from students from other schools and I truly hope more schools get involved with the Alberta Hunter Education Instructors Association and the National Archery in the Schools Program. https://aheia.com/nasp