MANITOBA
It has been a solid couple of weeks since we had our last fishing report. More and more anglers are diversifying for species angled for. There were a number of massive carp caught all across the prairies including right here in Manitoba. Lake Manitoba continues to be the all species superstar.
Massive quillback, pike, perch, carp, freshwater drum have all been rolling into the Master Angler list.Check out this huge drum caught by Travis Buhler that measured out at 28.50 inches.
Of course it was caught in the Whitemud River on the southwest corner of Lake Manitoba. As mentioned there have been plenty of carp landed as well as a few walleye. Water levels are dropping rapidly and the river went down five feet in one day. This means a lot of the big walleye are moving out into the main lake though much of it is still frozen.
The Lake Winnipeg tributaries have been also producing some big pike! Check out this gorgeous fish caught by Kali Klatt.
The walleye season opened on Lake Winnipeg this past Friday. The closure was implemented to allow the spawning of walleye given the late ice out on the big lake.
Walleye is the species of the choice for the majority of anglers in this part of the world. There are few better at catching them than friend and guide Dave Shmyr. Follow his tips in the article link provided and you will catch more this spring. https://www.hookedmagazine.ca/keying-in-on-early-season-walleye/
“FLY BITES”
Mike Corrigan and reports from members of the Manitoba Fly Fishers Association (MFFA)
The MFFA will add to the weekly fish reports available through Hooked as members are out and about this summer. Please note this part the fishing report will only refer to fly-caught fish only! We typically target the smaller lakes early season and follow temperature trends as most of us transition from Trout and Char to post spawn Pike/Bass/Musky. When the Hexigenia hatch (aka Fish Flies) happens in June, it is our time to shine as most species shut down on eating bait.
You will also find members targeting the world class Channel Cat fishery at Lockport.
PARKLAND LAKES
A group of MFFA members spent time fishing Twin Lakes this week. The fishing was the best I have experienced, personally, with lots of Master Angler fish. Water temperatures are in the mid to high teens. Some of the Tigers are surfacing for backswimmers and have moved into the shallows. Small leech patterns have also been effective on a type 3 long sink tip line. Weed growth is slow to get going giving the angler the edge as the fish generally bury themselves and self release or snap off the fly. I have been using a 2 fly rig with 20 pound fluoro on top and 12 pound on the bottom to combat the weeds; Tigers are not leader shy!
I will be spending a few days on enigmatic Persse, some days it fishes well while others can be challenging. This is one of a few Manitoba lakes that gives the angler a shot at Browns, Rainbows, and a Brookies. Again backswimmers (floating and sinking) are the ticket as well as small leeches.
The lakes in the northern part of the province are just starting to open up and it should be a great early season bite for all species. Remember to check out the new regulations regarding limits and size restrictions at https://www.gov.mb.ca/nrnd/fish-wildlife/pubs/fish_wildlife/fish/angling-guide.pdf
NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO
Almost all the ice is off the lakes in this part of the world. The walleye season opens this long weekend but there are plenty of other species to angle for including the ever popular lake trout.
MIKE CORRIGAN UPDATE:
With ice out in early May this year, the Lake Trout have started to move into the shallows which gives fly fishers a rare opportunity to pursue them. I spent 3 calm days using a sink tip line on smaller lakes and hooked Lakers in the 16” to 18” range on brown & white Clousers.
The fish were holding in 30’ of water with some targeting minnows at the surface. Watch for boils or “rises” and cast in the middle of the disturbance. Water temperatures are 6-7C in the morning and warming to 11-12C during the day.
Battle weary, and scarred, Pike and pre-spawn Bass are also taking flies in the shallows. Small minnow patterns are working well.
Here are some early season tips from guide Glenn MacDonald who lives in Vermillion Bay.
https://www.hookedmagazine.ca/a-late-spring-means-hot-bass-and-big-pike/
SASKATCHEWAN
RAFFERTY RESERVOIR-RALPH SMART
What a difference a year makes! Our lakes up close to 5 ft and on this big of body of water that’s a lot of run off! Bays and shallows really warmed the last 10 days with our best catch’s of 18 to 25 inch eyes coming in 2 to 6 ft of water casting jigs and plastics or shallow subtle action crank baits like the rapala bx minnows worked slowly Note if the pike are there the walleyes are too! We use a very fine diameter steel leader or else your supply of cranks will be dwindled in short order. One thing to watch is weather systems. One came through last weekend and everything moved from the shallows to the first break.
This could be good news for the first ever Rafferty Walleye event coming up May 27th and 28th.
More and more anglers in Saskatchewan are targeting channel catfish. Michael Sweatman has a great article on how to catch these hard fighting fish from shore right here.
MICHAEL SWEATMAN, SOUTH CENTRAL REPORT
The late ice melt and turnover has set the spawn for most species back a few weeks. This gives anglers in the southern region the opportunity to find big post-spawn pike and walleye hungry and aggressive. After the May 5th season opening, anglers are having a banner year in shallow waters. The fishing season in Central Saskatchewan opened May 15, and anglers in the Northern Region anxiously await the May 25 opener.
BUFFALO HUNT?
Pike and walleye aren’t the only species showing up at this time. A huge yet somewhat elusive native sucker species, the big mouth buffalo, has shown itself this spring.
According to a Wildlife Branch Fisheries report, the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation annual walleye Spawn Camp successfully harvested the 14 million eggs it needs for the walleye management efforts in the province.
A healthy number of big mouth buffalo also entered their nets. Saskatchewan fisheries biologists were able to capitalize on this opportunity to glean data on the big mouth buffalo, as it is a Species of Special Concern by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (CSEWC). Anglers can still target buffalo fish (catch and release only, in the same spirit as lake sturgeon and smallmouth bass). Multi-species fishers tend to see the big mouth buffalo as the coveted species needed to complete the Saskatchewan Fish Slam.
Recently, Jordan Lutz of Saskatoon became the third angler to complete the Fish Slam in the Facebook Group, Saskatchewan Fish Slam—28 Species to finish this challenge with his recent tangle with a big mouth buffalo. Congratulations, Jordan!
BIG FISH, SKINNY WATER!
A key technique during early May is to fish the shallow draws and back bays in reservoirs or river sections of chain lakes. As the water will warm quicker than the adjacent lakes, the first concentrations of baitfish and other forage emerge there. Post-spawn pike, channel catfish, common carp, rainbow trout, and walleye can be found this way. I learnt this years ago while targeting carp. I decided to take the corn off one hook of my bottom rig and replace it with a minnow. Ostensibly, I was hoping to see if I could hook a channel catfish. To my surprise, we landed two back-to-back 39-inch pike!
Keep track of the Saskatchewan Fish Slammers by joining Saskatchewan Fish Slam – 28 Species on Facebook.https://www.facebook.com/groups/406237523145201/
Learn the techniques, locations, and gear to successfully target all species in Saskatchewan by subscribing to the 28fish YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@28fish/featured
ALBERTA
WES DAVID-FISHNG THE WILD WEST T.V.
Spring has sprung and so has the start of the 2023 fair-weather fishing season. Many central and southern Alberta anglers are still trying to balance spring yardwork and spring walleye fishing, I know I am! Southern Alberta reservoirs were the first to open and are fishing very well for both walleye and northern pike.
SHALLOW WATER WALLEYE
Walleye are being caught in as little as five feet of water with the most consistent hookups coming when making long casts with a 5/8oz Big Sky Jig baited with a Big Bite Bait paddle tail swimbait into six and eight feet of water adjacent to rocky shorelines. Once the jig and swimbait hit bottom, slowly twitch the bait crawling it along the bottom back to the boat or shoreline.
Stained water and wind-swept water also play a key factor especially where windswept water meets still water. For example, I was fishing at a rock point on Lake Newell where the wind was pushing the water into and around the point and the blowing water was meeting up with calm water. Long cast into the seam of the water triggered bites from aggressive walleye on almost every cast.
Although we didn’t spend much time fishing for northern pike, they are were where they are supposed to be at this time of year. Shallow water inside corners, shallow points, and back bays were holding northern pike of all sizes. However, the larger northern pike came from areas that had new aquatic weed growth and good sun penetrating the water column. Apart from adding a 12” steel leader, casting the same baits as mentioned above for walleye were also triggering bites from the pike. The lightweight and streamlined profile of a Northern King lure from Len Thompson Lures also worked well in these areas.
A BUSY LONG WEEKEND AHEAD
I’m sure it’s going to be busy on the southern Alberta reservoirs over the May long weekend. Be safe out there and be patient at the boat launches and help others when you can. Remember, not everyone is as good at backing up the boat as you are. And for you that may be new to boating, Do Not back into the boat launch stopping just short of the water’s edge and then begin to load your boat with coolers, water toys, and everything you will need for a day on the water. This is frustrating for other boaters, and you tie up the boat launch much longer than you need to.
Get your boat ready for the water and put everything in your boat that you will need for a day on the water while you’re in the parking lot, Not in the boat loop or at the boat launch. Have fun and be safe on the road and the water this May Long weekend!
Wes David host & Producer of Fishing the Wild West TV