Trophy Pike & Walleye Adventure At Viking Lodge
Trips across the Canadian Border are always more fun with a friend or family member. My adventures to Manitoba have become a bit of a tradition with my friend, Jake Wallace. It seems when we plan trips together, whether it be hunting or fishing, the truck steers us to Manitoba and with good reason; the fish are big and plentiful and so are the animals that roam there.
This year, our destination was Viking Lodge in west central Manitoba. Viking Lodge is a place I have been too prior, chasing giant lake trout and walleye and I knew it would be a destination Jake would appreciate as well. We both like fish that are big, and the Cranberry chain boasts of trophy multi-species fishing.
This trip was all about the giant pike that swim in the system and the lights out walleye fishing. Viking Lodge, as usual, lived up to its reputation. Jake and I spend a couple days fishing the hungry walleye that kept our arms good and sore. A 7’6” medium power, fast action spinning rod paired with a 2500 reel, with a #7 jiggin’ rap was the hot setup for multiple doubles and hundreds of walleyes on the clicker. This fall time frame goes hand in hand with jiggin’ raps and walleyes. As that water cools, those fish are drawn to the reaction bite this bait delivers.
The pike fishing on this trip was some of the best I have experienced in years. The Cranberry Chain is loaded with large expansive weed beds and numerous bays where these trophy pike like to roam. During one of our mornings, we boated eight trophy class pike in just a two-hour span on one weedy back bay flat. It didn’t seem to matter the baits we used, the pike were straight up hungry, but we did focus on two particular baits that are well known for catching pike in the Fall. The 3/4-oz tandem spinnerbait and 1-oz ji with big swimbaits were lights out over these weed beds and rocky back bays.
Viking Lodge is owned and operated by Paul & Anita Wiens and Matthew & Sharnell Wiens. The lodge is the largest fishing and hunting operation in Northwestern Manitoba. They offer sixteen cabins designed for your comfort. The cabins are all modern and equipped with all the amenities of home including full kitchen with stove, coffee maker, toaster, microwave and utensils, a full bathroom, linens except towels and BBQ with propane. If cooking isn’t your thing, they operate a take-out restaurant in the main lodge. All you need is your fishing and/or hunting gear and towels.
Most of the cabins are only a stones throw away from the lake, with the best views for your morning and evening relaxation, bookending the action-packed fishing! In addition to their cabins, Viking Lodge offer eighteen full RV sites with full hookups.
If you want to bring your boat, they have docking available, and the boat launch is on site. They do have boat and motor rentals available for your convenience. In addition to the restaurant in the main lodge, they have a convenience store, tackle shop, ice, gas and canoe rentals.
Nestled on the shores of the Cranberry Chain, there are 52 miles of lake and river systems filled with trophy walleye, giant lake trout and Pike, as well as whitefish and tullibee opportunities. If you are interested in a little different adventure, there are trophy rainbow and brook trout in lakes just 30 minutes away in several lakes or just a 20-minute float plane ride into an outpost camp. Viking Lodge is a family run operation and is setup for family vacations or the hardcore fisherman and hunter. In addition to the excellent multi-species fishing, Viking Lodge offers Fall bear hunts for trophy black bear. The fishing on the Cranberry Chain is fantastic all season but if your passion is fishing and hunting, I highly recommend booking a Fall trip at Viking Lodge for a world class cast and blast adventure you will never forget.
This was my third trip to Viking Lodge and believe me when I tell you, it won’t be my last! Give the Wien’s family a call to book a trip that you will soon make a yearly tradition with your family or friends.
For more information on Viking Lodge, please visit https://vikinglodge.ca/