Incredible Drive-to Fishing on the Waterhen River - Harvest Lodge
Harvest Lodge on the Waterhen River is a three-season hunting and fishing lodge owned and operated by Jon and Karrissa Warkinten. Each year, this picturesque location near the town of Waterhen, Manitoba, attracts hunters and anglers from all across North America to experience the region's wilderness.
Check out the video below and keep reading to learn about Harvest Lodge's angling experience.
The Journey to Harvest Lodge
On our first journey, Marcel and I embarked on a short adventure to Harvest Lodge. Conveniently located just over three hours from Winnipeg, the lodge is the perfect getaway to the wilderness, ensuring you can escape without any hassle and with minimal time on the road. There are two main ways to get to Harvest Lodge, one travelling through St. Rose on the west side of Lake Manitoba and heading straight north to Waterhen; this way features pavement the entire way. The other way is travelling along the east side of Lake Manitoba on the #6 highway, followed by 62 kilometres of gravel, taking you into the town of Waterhen. For this journey, Marcel and I decided to come up to the lodge from the west side and leave to the east side to maximize the views we enjoyed on our travels.
Upon arriving at the Lodge, Jon, Karrissa, and their daughter, Kara, warmly welcomed us. We spent some quality time in the lodge, sharing stories and getting to know each other. We then had a detailed discussion with Jon about the recent fishing conditions, effective lures, and prime spots on the river. Equipped with all the necessary information, we were handed the keys to our cozy cabin for the next few days. After unpacking our gear, we were ready to hit the water.
We started off by hitting some hot spots pointed out by Jon on the primary river system and picked off the odd walleye in the process. The scenery alone along this stretch of river is absolutely stunning and worth the trip. The Waterhen River drains Lake Winnipegosis and Waterhen Lake and flows south to the north basin of Lake Manitoba. The stretch of the river where it meets Lake Manitoba is where Harvest Lodge is Located. In this delta area, the river begins to finger out into a near spiderweb formation, creating a labyrinth of channels to explore. Littered throughout the channels is every form of waterfowl and birds you could ever imagine. Loons echoing across the marshes, geese and ducks around every turn, pelicans and blue hearing soaring up above, arctic terns divebombing minnows on the water’s surface, and so much more. It’s safe to say that there is always something to watch and keep you entertained!
Waterhen River Walleyes
As we worked our way down the river, we shuffled down one of the fingers of the river to get out of the wind. As we approached a beaver house, we had to throw out a few casts in the area just to try it out. After just a couple of casts using a lipless crankbait, my lure got hit, and I immediately felt it had some weight. After a quick fight, Marcel got the net out, and we landed a beautiful 26” walleye.
After that fish, it was safe to say that our trip was already made! However, we continued fishing throughout the evening and had an amazing time on the river before returning to the lodge. We cooked up a tasty meal in our cabin before watching a little playoff hockey on the TV and heading to sleep. The next day was the same, with consistent walleye action mixed in with the odd freshwater drum. We had a total blast, but despite our enjoyment, Jon mentioned that this river could be much, much better. Upon packing up to head home, we left with great satisfaction from our experience fishing at Harvest Lodge and great anticipation for our return trip in October.
Heading Back to Harvest Lodge
On our return trip, Marcel, Josh, and I again explored the Waterhen River system. This time, we booked one of Harvest Lodge’s massive cabins. In this cabin, we all had our own rooms, a full kitchen and bathroom, a beautiful living room/ dining room, and a beautiful deck overlooking the Waterhen River.
Excited to get on the water, we quickly settled into the cabin and loaded our gear on the boat. As we taxied out through a shallow stretch of the river, we saw the fall migration in full tilt. The sheer number of waterfowl using this waterway was a sight to behold, and quickly passed the time until we got to our fishing location.
Once we got fishing, it did not take long to learn that the bite was on! It really didn’t matter what we put in the water; we were getting bites. From lipless cranks to jigs and minnows, jigs and plastic, and rippin raps, these aggressive fish didn't take much to elicit an aggressive bite!
We had a complete blast, catching fish after fish, all with exceptional average sizes. We even kept a few to make up a fresh walleye supper upon returning to the cabin that evening. This being Josh’s first time on the Waterhen River, like Marcel and my first time, he was in awe of the unique sights and sounds that this area possesses.
Incredible Fishing & Amazing Service
The rest of the trip was much the same; we lucked out with beautiful fall weather, exceptional fishing, top-notch accommodations, and incredible service. We enjoyed our evenings spent enjoying freshly caught walleye on our deck overlooking the very river they came out of. As we packed to leave on the final morning of our trip, we couldn't help but eagerly await returning one day again.
If you are looking to get off the beaten path, enjoy the peacefulness and serenity of nature, or maybe have a weekend getaway with friends or family without having to spend hours and hours on the road, I highly suggest visiting Harvest Lodge.
To book your trip to Harvest Lodge today, visit www.HuntHarvestLodge.com today!
Watch Uncut Angling Target Massive Freshwater Drum at Harvest Lodge
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26-392 PTH 276 Waterhen, MB R0L 2C0 (204) 628-3491 Website