Kick-Off to Open Water Fishing Season in Manitoba

Your guide to early season angling opportunities in the Southern Regions of Manitoba

Biding your time browsing endless articles and binge watching fishing videos is barely doing just enough to keep you from bursting in anticipation. If this sounds all too familiar, then you are in the same boat as countless other angling die-hards eagerly counting down to opening day of the sport fishing season. The only decision left to make before May 13 rolls around is the all important, ‘Where to go?’ Here are some ideas to get you started on planning your 2017 opening week angling adventures in Manitoba.

Parkland Region

Lake of the Prairies - Walleye

Early season walleye fishing doesn’t get much better than at this huge reservoir in the Parkland Region. The ‘eyes on this lake school up big time and can be located throughout the entire 56km stretch of water. A wide range of size classes can be readily caught from juvenile ‘eaters’ to Master Angler sized hawgs and everything else in between. Leeches are the bait of choice, but a variety of artificials and lures will also get the job done here.

Patterson Lake - Brown Trout/Rainbow Trout

Master Angler hunters for browns or rainbows need go no further than this stocked trout lake in the spring. These fish are accessible on open water quite literally as soon as most of the ice cover has melted away. No natural bait can be used here but cast out an in-line spinner or go with a fly rod and indicator and get ready for a fight.

Eastern Region

Falcon Lake - Smallmouth Bass

Opening week can be phenomenal for early season tank smallmouth fishing on Falcon. The bass will generally be in their pre-spawn stage, so anglers should target specific depths and areas where they will most likely be at this time of year. Master Angler smallies over 20” (4lbs) are weighed in every year at the annual opening day bass tournament held on this lake.

Lac Du Bonnet (Winnipeg River) - Northern Pike

Whether you are looking for tons of hookups or hunting for that one monster, Lac Du Bonnet or anywhere along the Winnipeg River system has plenty of prime areas to hit for awesome spring pike action. Back bays, creek mouths, and shallow flats abound here where tossing a spoon or bucktail will entice a violent strike from these toothy predators. Or wait one out with a big game float/frozen bait combo for a shot at a northern of a lifetime.

Interlake Region

Red River - Channel Catfish

Opening day water levels can vary from year to year, but our world renowned Manitoba cats are always raring to go regardless by the time most anglers are able to wet a line. On boat or from shore, soaking some cut bait can result in hooking up with a trophy channel catfish at any given moment.

Riverton (Icelandic River) - White Bass

All tributaries, big or small, that directly feed into the south basin of Lake Winnipeg such as the Icelandic River at Riverton, will have a population of white bass migrating into it to spawn at this time of year. These feisty slabs school up by the thousands during this short window in the spring and can be caught using almost any freshwater presentation you can think of.

Pembina Valley Central Plains Region

Whitemud River - Freshwater Drum

One of the best times to hammer a Master Angler sized drum on the Whitemud, is during opening week. Famed for huge numbers and enormous sizes of these underappreciated bruisers, this river that feeds directly into Lake Manitoba can be phenomenal for arm breaking action on rod and reel.

Portage Spillway - Goldeye/Rock Bass

The Assiniboine River below the Portage Spillway is fantastic fishing for multiple species throughout the open water season. Opening week can be easy pickings for schools of goldeye in the fast water using a float and worm combo. This is also a place where you can specifically target rock bass and actually catch some. Focus on shoreline pockets and back eddies with panfish tackle and plastic grubs.

Western Region

Oak Lake - Walleye/Perch

The largest fishable body of water in this region, Oak Lake boasts phenomenal numbers of eater-sized walleye that can be readily caught throughout the lake. Perch are also plentiful with Master Angler sized footballs not uncommon. A full service marina makes it an easy go for the first trip of the season with the boat.

Pelican Lake - Walleye/Northern Pike

A great lake to hit opening week is this gem in the Western Region of the province. Great numbers of average sized walleye and plenty of pike will keep you active and is sure to satisfy an angler’s need to get something on the line after a long winter of waiting. Focus on shallower water at this time of year and you are a good bet to strike gold.

For information on latest catches and top producing fisheries, visit our Master Angler Records page.

Visit our What You’ll Catch page for specific information about each popular game fish species in Manitoba.