Lake Winnipeg is known for its walleye ice fishing. In fact, it’s home to the famous “Green Back Walleye,” on Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada. It offers the best chance at landing a 10+ pound walleye through a hole in the ice. For years, prior to social media becoming such a giant influence, this lake has been producing the fish of a lifetime for many anglers. Walleyes were being plucked from the waters with giant lipless crankbaits and ice fishing spoons the size of soup ladles. Going after any fish with aggressive techniques is something I live for.
In conjunction with the new mesh size on the South Basin, ARD put forward the new angler regulation establishing that Walleye and Sauger less than 35cm in total length must be released on Lake Winnipeg, the Red River and The Winnipeg River and their tributaries up until the first impassable barrier for fish. Commercial fishing with gillnets accounts for 90 per cent of the walleye taken on the lake. In 2016, the commercial quota catch was 3.1 million kilograms, down from 4.2 million in 2010. Currently, there’s no regulation on maximum mesh size, so most commercial fishermen use nets that target the biggest fish, often females.
Prior to my first Lake Winnipeg ice fishing trip, I thought it would just be another day on the ice. I’ve never been more wrong in my life. If we would have been able to gain an air temp of 60 degrees, it would still have been below freezing. Between a snowmobile going down, the auger flighting freezing up between holes and the howling wind, I didn’t think I’d ever come back to this lake. Then it happened, a 32” walleye with the coolest colors I had ever seen. From that moment on, I planned on making the pilgrimage every year.
Shortly after our first Lake Winnipeg walleye fishing trip, I decided to become better prepared, even if it was only for one trip every year. What Lake Winnipeg gives out, it also takes back. We broke a lot of things that first time around and that’s because we were unprepared. Ice fishing is ice fishing…we thought.
My initial upgrades were going to be to my actual ice fishing gear. My love for lipless cranks was already in the courting stage but I really didn’t know what I needed at that point. What I did know, is that I wanted all of them. The following list is not numbered for a reason; they all seem to work.
The infamous Lake Winnipeg Greenback Walleye – should be on the bucket list of every walleye angler.
Lipless Cranks for Giant Walleyes
- Live Target Golden Shiner – Now, you can get all the colors with a glow base. Overall, I think the profile and sound make more of a difference than the glow, but it never hurts to have all your boxes checked.
- Jackall TN60/50 – Nice, subtle action/vibration with enough weight in a smaller package to drop you back into the right depth. The only issue I’ve had with a Jackall is the tailhook fouling on my line. Most times can be attributed to user error when working the bait too aggressively.
- Rapala Rippin’ Rap – #6 and #7’s are my go-to lures for many bodies of water. In the murky waters of Lake Winnipeg, I tend to rely on contrast rather than color. Firetiger, for example, is an incredibly productive color because of its’ high contrast.
- Northland Rippin’ Shad – Simple colors, not a lot of options and fantastic glow bases are the main reason you can line a tackle box with these lipless cranks.
- Custom Lipless Cranks – Sometimes certain colors set you apart from the rest. In fishing, a leg up on the competition is always warranted.
Lake Winnipeg Walleye Size Limit
Walleye Jigging Spoons
- Pelican Spoons – With some of the best colors out there, these lightweight flutter spoons continually produce.
- Slender Spoons – A personal favorite of mine for all different bodies of water. I typically carry two of every color with me.
- RJ Lures – Some lightweight spoons with a multitude of colors to cover your needs and wants.
- XStream Tackle – Rattle Styx and Sonar spoons have pleasantly surprised me on my last trip. It’s like a Buckshot and Slender spoon got together and had a kid. Tip it with a minnow or fish it naked, you will catch fish.
- PK Lures – Pretty much their entire lineup is a solid choice, regardless of the body of water. Just make sure to choose the appropriate size.
Ice Fishing Jigs
- If you happen to talk to any local, a deadstick will sometimes make all the difference. Calling a fish in with the lipless and getting it to attack a deadstick is commonplace on Lake Winnipeg ice fishing as well as our home lakes. What I’ve found to be the best option is a roadrunner jig with an attached blade (see below). If you choose to pick up some live minnows, this is a deadly combo for big fish.
Lake Winnipeg Bait
- Canadian salted shiners and live minnows carry a little sticker shock, but I wouldn’t be caught on the ice without some sort of meat hanging from my hooks. Whether you want to fork over the cash or make your own, you’ll need some bait.
- There are many ways to make your own salted minnows and they’re perfectly legal to take across the border. I’ve tried using the Coca-Cola method as well as the Borax method. In my opinion, the Borax minnows held together much better than Coca-Cola minnows.
Recommended Ice Fishing Rods
Ford vs. Chevy, Pepsi vs. Coke or Vikings vs. Packers. Hardcore people will stay to one side regardless of the reason. The same goes for ice fishing rods. It’s been a long time since I started with a simple Berkley Lightning Rod, but it’s been nice to upgrade along the way. Rod technology is constantly advancing to bring stronger, more sensitive rods to the masses. However, with the improved technology, cost continues to rise. What I recommend is to get the rod that fits your budget. After all, this is a once a year trip for many anglers. If you’re in the market, there are a couple of rods that should be on your radar.
- JT Custom Rods, specifically the 40” Black Reign. I run two of these while I’m on the Lake Winnipeg. One is dedicated to rattle baits while the other always has a spoon attached. Everything about these rods makes you feel warm inside. Perfect sensitivity ties into a stout backbone to handle the upsized tackle and massive walleyes.
- Tuned Up Custom Rods – 38” Commander is worth looking at. I started with the Power Precision, which handled Winnipeg walleyes with ease. The Commander is a beefier version with all the goodness still intact.
- St. Croix Custom Ice Rods – A little newer to the game, but with the quality that St. Croix typically produces, I’d have to imagine they handle fish well. Look for something 36” or longer with at least a medium action.
Lake Winnipeg Walleye Slot Size Chart
Ice Fishing Reels of Choice
I’m a simple man and focus on the functionality of my equipment. Many times, the expensive gear seems to win out in durability. With that said, every ice rod I own is paired with a Shimano Sienna FD500. For under $40, you get a reel with a fantastic drag, instant anti-reverse, and smooth action. Use what you have or what you want, but please don’t overlook this reel.
Fishing Line
Every year, I think I swap out what type of line will be used on Lake Winnipeg. Typically, 10lb Power Pro Super Slick is on all of my rods. Last year, I decided to switch out to a 10lb mono. The reasoning behind the switch went back to the idea of just keeping the fish attached. When fishing Lake Winnipeg, you’re usually standing on three feet of ice underneath you. Allowing the fish to have a little more wiggle room and not solely relying on the action of the rod oftentimes allows you to land what you hook.
Ice Augers for Lake Winnipeg
Whatever brand you run, having a 10” hole makes things a whole lot easier. The last few trips we’ve made, a Strikemaster 40V Lithium has made short work of drilling holes with the added benefit of spitting the slush back with the reverse feature. Whatever you own will work just fine, just be sure to have a backup.
Lake Winnipeg Lodging
- Canalta Inn – Selkirk, MB. Nothing like clean rooms, a hot breakfast, and a Jacuzzi to make your fishing trip that much more enjoyable.
- Selkirk Inn and Conference Center – Selkirk, MB. Affordable and right next door to Smitty’s Restaurant and Lounge. If you pass Chuck the Channel Cat, you’ve gone too far.
- South Beach Resort and Casino – Scanterbury, MB. Comfortable rooms, an in-house restaurant with the added bonus of a little gambling (if you have a rough day on the ice).
- Petersfield Motor Inn – Petersfield, MB. Minutes from Werner Road Launch with an attached lounge/restaurant.
Restaurants
A hot meal and a cold adult beverage is the best way to cap off a day of fishing regardless of where you are.
- Sadie’s Diner and Lounge – Petersfield, MB
- Petersfield Curling Club – Petersfield, MB
- Boston Pizza – Selkirk, MB
- Tim Hortons – Selkirk, MB
- Smitty’s Restaurant and Lounge – Selkirk, MB
- Mango’s South Beach Restaurant, South Beach Casino, Scanterbury, MB
Lake Winnipeg Bait and Tackle
- Smoke N’ Fish – Selkirk, MB. They have all the live bait and salted shiners you can handle along with the best Lake Winnipeg ice fishing tackle. If you haven’t bought your Manitoba Fishing License yet, this is the last place to get it done.
All in all, this trip needs to be on your bucket list. The chance at a 10-pound walleye is incredibly high with few opportunities offering the same probabilities. Big fish with fewer numbers tend to start the season. As the days get longer, numbers of fish tend to increase. It truly is a place to catch your “fish of a lifetime.”
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After requests from both commercial fishers and the angling community, the Province of Manitoba convened a workshop on May 9, 2019 for the government, fishers and anglers to share perspectives, information and data on the historic and current status of the Lake Winnipeg fishery. Unfortunately, the day before the science workshop, commercial fishers at a Lake Winnipeg Fishery Co-Management Board meeting voted to dissolve the co-management board (which was made up of commercial fishers and the provincial government). As a result, the opportunity to share at the science and adaptive management workshop the next day was limited to a much smaller suite of stakeholders, as the commercial fishers did not attend. This is very unfortunate, as new scientific data was presented which clearly indicates that changes need to be made to how the fishery is managed. The commercial fishers were not there to hear the message and see the data for themselves. Much work will need to be done to bring them back to the table.
Some of the most significant data presented at the science workshop pertained to the overall mortality rate of the most important commercial species, walleye. Currently, the objective of Manitoba Sustainable Development is to manage walleye for maximum sustainable yield, which translates into a mortality rate of about 38%. The extinction mortality rate for this population is estimated to be 48-50%: populations harvested at or above this rate will – over the long run – be driven to extinction. According to recent data, the mortality rate for Lake Winnipeg walleye is currently over 50%, and in excess of 55% for the 5 to 9-year old fish that form the bulk of the commercial catch. This is placing the fishery in jeopardy.
Much discussion also focused the age class structure of the walleye population in Lake Winnipeg, growth rate, the age at which walleye become sexually mature and the effects of mesh size. Compared to6 or 7 years ago, most of the large walleye in the lake are no longer there. These are also the size classes of fish which are the most prolific and important spawners in a population. At the other end of the age scale are the younger, immature fish. The recent (including 2018) index netting data collected by Manitoba Sustainable Development clearly show that 3-inch mesh (and even 3 ½ and 3 ¾ inch) catch a very high proportion of immature fish. For example, about 92% of femalewalleye in 3-inch mesh nets in 2018 were immature. This only slightly improves in 3 ½ inch mesh (where 69% wereimmature). The use of small mesh in Lake Winnipeg is resulting in the harvest of predominantly immature femalewalleye. Data from the commercial harvest and index netting program in 2018 indicates that roughly85% of the femalewalleye harvested by commercial fishers in 2018-19 were immature. These fish can be years away from being able to spawn, even for the first time. Recently, Minister of Sustainable Development, Rochelle Squires stated that the government’s goal for changing mesh size and quota levels is to allow the walleye to spawn at least once or twice before they end up being harvested in a net. This is a laudable goal and one that is completely consistent with sustainable fishery management objectives. However, the current index netting data indicates that a minimum mesh size of 3 ½ inch will not be enough to make this happen. A larger minimum mesh size, perhaps 4 inch or 4 ¼ inch will be required, and potentially other management actions as well. The benefit of moving to a larger mesh means that in a relatively short period of time, the size of walleye will increase, the spawning segment of the walleye population will begin to rebuild and that bigger walleye will be available for harvest.
Significant changes in the food web in Lake Winnipeg have also occuring and are not directly related to commercial fishing, but nevertheless, have significant implications for the walleye stock in the lake. Rainbow smelt, an invasive species, became so abundant that it became an key forage food for walleye. Rainbow smelt have now pretty much disappeared from the lake, leaving a “vacuum” in the food web. Recent data indicate that the condition factor (“plumpness”) of walleye has decreased significantly in recent years. Walleye are getting thinner as that once important food base disappeared. This can also have the effect of delaying sexual maturity in the walleye. In essence, walleye now appear to be reaching the age of maturity later. This has implications for achieving the goal of allowing walleye to spawn once or twice before being harvested.
The above underscores the complex nature of Lake Winnipeg and the complexities of managing a multispecies fishery. It also underscores the need for all stakeholders and partners to be around the same table to come up with solutions. Without a sustainable fishery, we all stand to lose.
- fisheries management, fishing, lake winnipeg, news, walleye
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