The Whiteshell: A Winter of Opportunities
The beauty of the Whiteshell is that there are so many secrets out there, waiting to be uncovered.
Some of my earliest memories of ice fishing started in the Whiteshell Provincial Park. Many years ago, my family purchased a cottage in the park. I was new to ice fishing at the time and was eager to try it out. With only a hand auger and a basic jig and minnow setup, I would fish right in front of my cabin. Those were some cold hours with nothing to show except for the occasional pike. By today’s standards, it would be a failure but as a kid, I was happy to catch those fish.
The next year I got myself a flasher and tried the same lake again. I saw all kinds of marks high up in the water column. Having not caught a fish in a while, a nearby angler came up to me and showed me to downsize to a tiny jig. He even offered me a couple plastics to keep. The rest of the day was action packed with all sorts of fish. At the end of the day, I started my long walk when the same angler offered me a ride on his snowmobile to shore. It was a day I would never forget.
Lots of things have changed since then. One thing that hasn’t changed though is the fact that the Whiteshell is still one of my favorite regions to go ice fishing.
SCENERY ALONG WITH SOLITUDE
The Whiteshell, located two hours away from Winnipeg, features a multitude of Canadian shield lakes. These lakes have great fishing as well as incredible scenery. The granite cliffs and snow-covered evergreens never cease to amaze me. While it’s generally quieter in the winter, there are accommodations and services.
What I enjoy most about the Whiteshell is that in the winter it’s easier to find solitude. While it’s a popular destination for Manitobans and there are some community spots, I can generally find places that have fewer people. One complaint that many ice anglers have are crowds. Usually that’s not as big of a problem in the Whiteshell. There are tons of places to fish.
A CHALLENGE FOR THE ANGLER
Now I will admit, fishing in the Whiteshell can be a challenge. There are quality fish to be caught but it might take more effort. While the internet has tons of information, sometimes there isn’t much regarding lakes in this region.
It’s not uncommon to only have a few search results on a lake, especially the less popular ones. So, there’s a lot of trial and error to figure things out.
At the same time though, that’s what makes the Whiteshell so enjoyable. When I’m bored, I often stare at a map to see what kind of adventures I can go on. Even if the fishing doesn’t go well, at least it was quiet and I got to see some nice scenery.
THE BACKCOUNTRY
The Whiteshell has many backcountry lakes to explore. Looking at a map, only a fraction of the lakes are road accessible. In the summer it will involve a lot of effort to portage a canoe to a remote lake. Winter is a different story as you can haul your gear directly to those lakes, whether it’s by foot or winter transport. This really opens the number of possibilities.
It’s still difficult to access these lakes though so fewer people fish them. The biggest drawback about fishing these lakes in the winter is that it is difficult to understand contour and structure. Unless you have live sonar, most electronics tell little about the contours unless many holes are drilled. While the shoreline may offer some clues, it can also be deceiving.
I only recently got a snowmobile, and I tried a few backcountry lakes. Riding a lake with zero tracks on it is quite the experience.
It was daunting to decide where to even fish. Fishing a lake with almost no information really tests your skills as an angler. While I haven’t had great success yet, it will only be a matter of time before I strike gold. The beauty of the Whiteshell is that there are so many secrets out there, waiting to be uncovered.
THE DIVERSITY OF FISHING OPPORTUNTIES
Due to the number of lakes, there are a variety of fish to be caught. Writing about all the different fisheries could fill a book.
Crappies are the most sought-after fish in the region. Using a grid of holes and electronics will help find these fish in the big open basins. There are some quality crappies in the Whiteshell and catching a 16 incher is not unheard of. They have really spread out in the region, appearing in lakes where they were previously unheard of.
In most lakes, you can expect the standard combination of pike, perch, and walleye. Small jigs and spoons can catch perch, walleyes, and pike. I find walleyes a bit harder to find compared to open water in these shield lakes, but they can be caught. Sometimes a good walleye strikes when fishing for panfish. Points or humps are generally good places to start.
I always recommend using a tip up with a big baitfish as your second line. By setting up a tip up near the shore, a few pike will be caught. Nobody can deny the excitement of seeing a flag, especially when the fishing is slow. Occasionally a big pike can be caught which could be the fish that saves the day. One time I even caught a large walleye on a large herring.
Other popular ice species include lake trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, tullibee, burbot and smallmouth bass, depending on the lake. Generally, a bit of research can determine what kinds of fish live in your target lake.
GET OUT AND ENJOY
The Whiteshell, while a relatively short distance from Winnipeg, has a lot to explore. It’s great if you’re a trailblazer that wants to find success off the beaten path. I’ve made it a personal goal to fish at least one new lake a season, as well as trying new spots on lakes that I’ve fished.
Whether you succeed or not, being in the quiet wilderness with scenic views is never a bad thing.