An especially cold week in western Canada has made solid ice on most our smaller to medium sized lakes.
With continued heavy runoff from many of our tributaries in the province, rivers and river mouths are dangerous places to fish right now. Smaller lakes, and non-current areas should be targeted. For those keen on getting walleye fishing there are a few good options. The north end of Lake of the Prairies has been on fire for those walking out on the five to seven inches of ice. This starts at Cupar Creek and extends northward.From Pyott’s south, the ice is still iffy. Phil Paczkowski says there is about three inches of ice in that section. Phil will be starting to run out his ice shacks in another week or so and he says they should be ready for rental by the end of the month.
A shallow lake like Lake Dauphin, is a very popular early ice destination. Don Stokotelny, who owns Stickys Tackle in Dauphin, says low water levels are allowing anglers to venturing out on foot and with quads. Ice earlier in the week was already seven inches. He believes it will be a very busy weekend with a break in the weather forecast. He has stocked up on live minnows for that eventuality.
LAKE MANITOBA
Closer to home, anglers are venturing out on the south end of Lake Manitoba. Action so far has been hit and miss according to most reports.
Anglers have been walking out just a short distance, 100 yards on Lake Winnipeg. Extreme high water conditions on the Red River have made any travel close to it dangerous. Pine Falls and Traverse Bay have heavy current flows. These areas should be avoided by ice anglers!
Many anglers that Hooked talked to at the Ice Fishing Show in Winnipeg last weekend say this winter they plan on avoiding the far south basin of the big lake and move from Winnipeg Beach and Balsam Bay northward. Don’t forget once you get up to Hecla current comes back into play. There are many dangerous areas in the narrows and other flush areas. Extreme caution is advised.
SASKATCHEWAN
According to reports anglers are planning on walking out on Last Mountain Lake this week. Ice thickness is reported to be about five inches. Up at Tobin Lake heavy winds earlier in the week caused massive pileup of lake ice along the south shore. Anyone trying to access the lake will be in for battle as it stands now. Lake ice is extremely ragged.
Smaller lakes are frozen in most regions, with some good stocked trout success.
STOCKED TROUT
In our last report, we talked about stocked trout lake opportunities in Manitoba. Many anglers have been taking advantage with some trophy fish caught. These include brown trout on Beautiful Lake and Brook Trout in West Goose Lake in the Ducks; Webster Lake for nice rainbows up off Highway # 39, south of the Grass River Provincial Park and East Goose for big rainbows in Roblin. West Goose experienced a massive fish kill this past fall.
If you are interested in knowing were all the stocked trout waters are in Manitoba, get a copy of the booklet titled Trout Fishing Manitoba put out by the Manitoba Fly Fishers and the Province of Manitoba. It is available at all Manitoba Conservation and Provincial Park offices, in provincial campgrounds, at Travel Manitoba tourist centres and at special locations like the Whiteshell Fish Hatchery and other Manitoba park visitor centres.