Minaki--Winnepeg River

[jvb724]

Thinking of taking a June fishing trip to Minaki this summer. Just wondering if anyone else has any reports from past experiences, good or bad, which might influence my decision to make plans for this trip. Searches online suggest very good fishing for eyes, smallmouth, northern, and muskies. Sounds like a good multi specie trip. Any info appreciated. Thanks

[magnum mike]

Depending where you go, bring LOTS of jigs. Your best bet for info is contact the couple of palces up there and talk to htem.

[jvb724]

Thank you. I will do that, just thought i would ask other fishermen to get their point of view before calling the resorts and getting their sales pitch.

[muldoon211]

I've been fishing this area for 15yrs. It's nice because there are so many different fish to chase. Because the river branches off in so many directions, you don't have to fish the same water every day.

[mnviking28]

Had been going to Minaki for about 20 years. I love the area, awesome fishing. Got VERY tired of MNR and the Ontario Provincial government and all their rules. If you don't mind going on a trip like that where you don't keep or eat much for fish, it is an awesome trip. The slot has become fairly restrictive on virtually every species, you can keep 2 walleyes between 13 3/4" and 17 1/2". If you are a Canadien citizen, you can keep 4. Often times it proves difficult to catch fish in this slot. The last time I went, we had 4 boats fishing in an area, caught somewhere around 50 fish in about an hour and a half, yet only 3 were within that slot. Some bigger, some smaller, but not many within the slot. My dad still goes every year, I haven't taken the time to even get a passport. There are many areas in Minnesota, especially around Rainy Lake, with similar fishing, and not nearly the hoops to jump through.

[muldoon211]

mnviking28 is right. The size restrictions keep some folks from going back to the area. If you're looking to catch fish (not worried about bringing them home) it's still a fun place to go. I spend most of my time casting for muskies and northerns. There are a lot of big fish there. Hope it helps you make up your mind.

[hockeybc69]

I havent been back to Minaki for 10 years. I went there for several years prior to that and loved it.... but just got fed up with all the Canadian B-S.

As noted above, there are a lot of opps in MN that arent far off, so we just decided as a group to keep the money in MN, and enjoy what we have here...

My son is now 15 and I want to take him to Minaki for the Canadian experience.

We are going June 23-30.

I do look forward to going back. I can picture the lakes, bays, rivers so clearly in my mind. Its gonna be neat going back. Seems like I was just there yesterday.

Awesome memories from there. I have a 43.5 inch pike replica on the wall that I caught walleye fishing up near West Bay. We had a day with 8 walleyes over 27" off one spot(not telling where. LOL) A muskie that slammed a 33 inch pike next to the boat on the north end of Big Sand... What a rush! A muskie that came out of the water to try and swipe a 14" walleye I was boat flippin' into the boat. The muskie came out of the water as I hoisted the walleye out of the water. The dead moose laying in a bay off Lost Lake. The smell was horrible... We kept fishing.... and soon realized the rock that we thought was in the middle of the bay was a dead moose..... HAAAAA

Oh the memories!!!!

Go try it once. Its fun. I am stoked to get my son up there.

[mnviking28]

You know, it isn't just about bringing fish home. But, I (and all the guys I fish with too) enjoy a fresh fish fry/shore lunch as much as the next guy. I don't know a lot of adult men that can't put away 2-15" walleyes in a shore lunch. If you are following the letter of the law and catch and consume your 2 fish for a shore lunch, you are done fishing for the day. Again, love the lake, love the area, the resort we stayed at was top notch. The owner is actually from North Dakota and really tries to help you find fish. He really took a hit when the new slot took over. He told us that he lost half of his bookings the year the walleye slot went into effect. I don't want to discourage you from going as it is a great area, just very frustrated with how the whole system is run up there. It just seemed to me that the MNR and Provisional government's stance is "we want your tourism dollars, just don't expect to get any of our resources for it."

[DeBo101]

I go there every year musky fishing and have great time. Lots of water and many different varieties from big sand which is a decent size lake to a pretty rowdy, rocky, river where it flows out of roughrock. I know a group that has been going up there for walleyes for 25+ years and they really enjoy the system.

The slots are a tough deal for harvest oriented anglers but over harvest is why those slots are in place. It's a very accessible system and busy by NW ontario standards.

As far as June trips go I have done the week after musky opener and also did a short multi species trip the end of may/first part of june. Musky opener showed a lot of fish but not as many eaters as what I see in late july. Lot more big pike on smaller musky baits at that time. The early june thing is a blast on big sand. Cast grubs, stick batis, or whatever to the banks and catch smallies, eyes, and lots of pike. Never knew what was gonna bite and plenty of nice fish. Just make sure you bring leaders of some sort or the pike will destroy you.

[Central Bassman]

Where does everyone stay when fishing in Minaki? Any place have internet access?

[brmuskie]

I stay at Carol's Cabins in Minaki. I never checked but I doubt there is internet. I am sorry that the internet is something that you need to think about when considering a place to stay when you go on a fishing trip.

[Central Bassman]

I am sorry that the internet is something that you need to think about when considering a place to stay when you go on a fishing trip.

Don't be! When you go for two weeks at a time and run a business that manufactures products for retailers it just part of reality.

[DeBo101]

Paradise Cove has internet at paradise park. Which are the newer cabins on the point. I think their wireless originates at the baitshop/marina but probably reaches most of the cabins. I stay at Paradise 1 and they didn't have internet.