Lake Winnipeg Fishing Reports

[LeeMB]

The lake is smoking hot right now. Looks like the end of the season is going to be good. Still some big fish around too. A buddy of mine caught a 29" and a 30" today.

[Windy]

Hello LeeMB!

I have a few questions for you so when you have time.

Thanks!!

Jason

[LeeMB]

There are some big pike going and the trophy walleyes are stacking up at the mouth of the river. A few 20lb plus channel cats are being picked up as well.

[SHANTY]

are there a lot of boats fishing for walleyes? Would like to make a trip up for the greenbacks. How long do they stay at the mouth before they head out

[LeeMB]

Haven't seen a update on here for a while so I thought I would post whats happening up here.

Ice conditions are good with no slush to speak of. There is not a lot of snow on the ice, and trucks are still getting around fine. I would say fishng is ok not great. Morning bite is best with the evening bite spotty. A decent number of 30"s being caught with some people getting good numbers of eaters.

Water is clearning up nicely. Guys doing the best are fishing new areas and once marking fish are fine tuning where the schools are. Lipless rattlin cranks baits like a Live Target are calling and taking most of the fish. Dead sticks near the rattle baits are producing a few too.

Expect fishing to pick up as the weather warms a little and more anglers venture out. I am sure by the middle of Feb. I will be seeing lots of you up here. March will be nuts.

[chiroben1]

am planning our first trip to lake winnepeg at the end of feb. will be staying at casino on the south side of the lake. any help you can provide would be much appreaciated.

Ben

[Greg Clusiau]

We're heading up there during the first part of March. Let's get this forum going so we have some good updates!

[chiroben1]

Have you been up to lake winnepeg before? do we need to hire a guide? we have all of our own equiptment. Just curious

[Ray1]

No need to hire a guide. You just have to be willing to move around till you find the fish. The latter in march the better. I will be going up in the middle of March. It should be good. We had 10 people up a couple weeks ago and it was slow but we still caught plenty of fish over 25 inches with 5 over 28 inches.

[Greg Clusiau]

This March will be our 3rd "annual" trip. Decided to go for the big walleyes as opposed to an annual lake trout trip, which we've been doing for years. Thought if we were to drive any distance and use snwomobiles, it might as well be for Lake Winnipeg walleyes, as we will catch more of them than lake trout, they are equal in size to many lakers we get, the limit is better for taking home, and they are better eating.

We stayed at the casino last year and it worked out pretty good, as we were very close to the lake and took our snowmobiles right from the parking lot.

[LeeMB]

Travel is getting more difficult now with some of the frazzle ice being drifted over and hard to see. Truck travel is still possible. I would recommend 2 trucks go together though. As always shovels and tow straps are mandatory.

Fishing has been so-so, but should improve very soon with moderating tempuratures. If your looking at coming up over a weekend in march you should be booking your rooms NOW. We have limited availability in the area, and some places are full for some dates already.

[chiroben1]

Thans for the advice. We R booked in at the casino. We R planning to use trucks to get around. Any advice on starting locations, lures or any other info on what to bring and not to bring would be appreaciated.

[topcat3820]

HSO

[chiroben1]

heading up the last weekend in feb. wondering if you still able to travel by pick up or if we should plan on bring sleds? also hows the bite? thanks

Ben

[topcat3820]

Don't know yet (bring both)... now, or when you're here ???.

[chiroben1]

anything to report from lake winnepeg? coming up a week from thursday

ben

[LeeMB]

Fishing on lake winnipeg has been kind of spotty. Some guys doing really well and others struggling. The fish are biting well if you can find them. Travel is difficult to areas that are holding fish. Travel changes daily and you should check closer to the time your comming up. Took snowmobiles out on the weekend and had a hard time keeping them cool. The snow was so hard nothing was getting picked up to cool them. There are some nasty ice patches that can be hard to drive a truck around as well as some cracks starting to open up.

.

[chiroben1]

heading up to lake winnepeg on thursday.. wondering how the fishing has been? r U able to get around by trucks or do we need atv's.

Ben

[LeeMB]

For those of you coming up soon,you can access the lake by truck. To catch more and get to a lot of areas sleds are the preffered method of travel for now. Quads are ok. You might hang up a few times if you get into deeper drifts and break through.

[Berditsmen]

I am heading up with a big group for our annual trip to Winnipeg March 10th. Last year there was very little snow to speak of and a good 2ft of ice. What is the ice thickness this year? It sounds like an extension is necessary with the snow that is still on the lake. Any info so nothing important gets left at home would be great. Sounds like I should pick up some Live targets. Are you guys using salties along with chubby darters or live targets?

[chiroben1]

I am heading up 2morrow. I will post when i get back. we r staying at the casino.

ben

[Dock Boy]

When does the season end up there? April 1st?

[LeeMB]

We are done fishing here on April 1st. There is 36"of ice on the lake some spots a little more.

Live Targets have been deadly. It really helps for a throwdown rod to have bait.

Sleds are the way to go for right now. Hard to get to the places you want to with a truck right now. A couple of warm days will change this. Temps here now are right around 0*F for a high for the next week or so.

I know everyone wants to plan for a trip in 2 weeks, but we can't tell the future. It all depends on the weather . We need a few warm days to knock down the snow to make truck access easy. The best we can tell you is to bring sleds for now. If it warms up fast the rivers will not be good to travel on.

[brmuskie]

I am heading up on Friday. Any new reports out there?

For those guys using Live Targets with bait - do you use a whole minnow or just the head? Also which hook do you usually put it on - the front or the back?

Thanks - I can't wait to get up there.

[LeeMB]

Fishing is very good if your fishing the right part of the lake. If your tipping a live target put the minnow on the front hook.