Underrated Ice Fishing Species in Manitoba
Manitoba winters are famous for big, mainstream ice targets like walleye, northern pike, lake trout and stocked trout. They are consistent across the province, and they deserve the spotlight.
This blog is for the anglers who want something different. If you are looking to learn new tactics, target new water and add variety to your winter, these under-the-radar species belong on your list: lake whitefish, black crappie, burbot and yellow perch.
1. Lake Whitefish
Why target them
Whitefish are a perfect change-of-pace fish; they fight hard, school up and reward anglers who fish light and stay mobile. They are also a great species for multi-day trips because you can mix them into a walleye or lake trout plan.
Last winter, 100 qualifying lake whitefish were entered into the Manitoba Master Angler Program, with several true 24-inch-plus giants hitting the ice. This winter, through the first week of January, there have already been more than 100 lake whitefish entered, which has already surpassed last year’s total, with the majority so far coming out of Clear Lake.
With a few months still left in the ice fishing season, this is a great year to put whitefish on your hit list. The numbers are already proving the opportunity is real and if the trend holds, it is shaping up to be one for the books for lake whitefish anglers.
Where to go
Clear Lake in Riding Mountain National Park is a classic winter destination where the fishing is only part of the trip. These clear waters are famed for incredible lake whitefish fishing, giving anglers a legit shot at quality fish in a setting that feels more like a getaway than a grind. Off the ice, the area is built for a full winter weekend. You have the Wasagaming community close by for amenities, warm meals and a comfortable home base, plus plenty of ways to round out the trip with skating, winter walks, snowshoeing and exploring the park between fishing days.
Lake Winnipeg is a massive lake that is home to massive lake whitefish. At times, they can be a little harder to track down compared to a more predictable walleye program, but that challenge is part of the appeal and the payoff can be a true trophy-class fish. This is where a guided trip can really help. Lake Winnipeg outfitters are best known for walleye, but most experienced guides have bonus species areas in mind and they can help you dial in the right zones and timing. If you communicate your goal ahead of time, it is often possible to add a whitefish focus for part of the day while still keeping the comfort and safety advantages of a guided trip. Lake Winnipeg outfitter options include Bruin Outfitting, Kannuk Outfitters, Gaune Fishin’, City Cats, Blackwater Cats and Kingsland Outfitting
Cedar Lake is an underrated fish factory and a strong choice if you want a multi-species trip. It is also known for producing massive lake whitefish, commonly in excess of 25 inches, which makes it a great place to plan around if a true trophy whitefish is on your winter list. Accommodation options include Moak Lodge, Cooks Campground and Cabins, and Hobbs Resort and the same area also sets up the burbot section later in this blog.
How to catch them
Most whitefish success comes from simple finesse, a light-to-medium-light rod, compact spoons or jigs and staying mobile until you find schools. Keep your lure above the fish to trigger a chase. If fish follow but will not commit, downsize and slow your cadence. For master angler photos, have your release tools and camera ready, wipe off the slush on the bump board, keep the fish straight and take a clean, top-down shot that clearly shows the full measurement.
2. Black Crappie
Why target them
Crappie are one of the most addictive winter bites in Manitoba. They are light-tackle fun, often show up in flurries and are a great option for families or groups because the action can be steady once you dial them in.
Last winter, well over 600 crappie were entered into the Manitoba Master Angler Program and this season is already trending the same way. With some of the best crappie fishing often happening early in the winter, now is as good a time as any to put them on your target list and chase a true slab through the ice.
Where to go
Whiteshell Provincial Park is a go-to winter destination for anglers looking to mix comfort, scenery and great fishing and it is also one of Manitoba’s best places to chase trophy crappie through the ice. Last winter, some of the biggest crappie from this region came from White Lake, Big Whiteshell Lake, Betula Lake, Brereton Lake, Caddy Lake, Jessica Lake, Sailing Lake and Malloy Lake.
Accommodation options include Nutimik Lodge and Barrier Bay Resort. Nutimik Lodge is a classic Whiteshell base with comfortable cabins and a laid-back, full-service lodge feel, a great fit for anglers who want an easy home base and a warm place to reset between days on the ice. Barrier Bay Resort is best known as a couples-focused getaway, which makes it an awesome option if you want your ice fishing trip to feel more like a winter vacation. It is a strong pick for a romantic weekend where you can sneak out for a morning or afternoon crappie mission, then come back to a cozy, quiet place to unwind. If you are bringing a partner who is not as obsessed with fishing as you are, Barrier Bay is the kind of stay that still feels special even when the rods are not in your hands.
For anglers who live a little farther from the black crappie epicentre in the Whiteshell, Mary Jane Reservoir in southwestern Manitoba is an awesome option for targeting these fish closer to home. It is a standout waterbody for anglers willing to put in the time to locate schools, with a real shot at quality crappie. Accommodations and services are available in nearby towns like Manitou, Morden, Winkler and Pilot Mound.
How to catch them
Crappie often suspend, so avoid getting locked into bottom fishing. Start where you mark them, then adjust up or down based on how they react. Small tungsten jigs with plastics and tiny spoons are reliable and a controlled cadence matters more than anything.
3. Burbot
Why target them
Burbot are the ultimate winter curveball. They are unique, they can get very large and they are often most active during windows when other bites slow down. They are a perfect target for late-day and after-dark missions and March is one of the best times to plan a trip.
Burbot fishing has become a popular winter pastime for anglers south of the border and only more recently has it started gaining real momentum with Manitobans. Once you commit to targeting them on purpose, it is easy to see why, they are weird in the best way, they hit with attitude and they fight harder than most people expect.
In many waters, March lines up with the burbot spawn. That is when fish move into predictable areas and gather in tight groups that anglers often call burbot balls. When you find one, there can be a lot of fish concentrated in a small zone, which can turn a quiet evening into steady action in a hurry. It is exciting fishing, the bite can be aggressive and burbot pull hard, especially when you are hooked up close to bottom.
Last winter, nearly 100 burbot were entered into the Manitoba Master Angler Program and that number has more to do with how few anglers target them on purpose than it does with how many burbot are actually out there. In the right lakes and during the right windows, burbot can be pursued with surprisingly consistent success and Master Angler-sized fish are a realistic goal. If you have been looking for a new winter mission, this is the time to do it. Burbot are gaining popularity fast and the lakes below are some of Manitoba’s best places to get in on the action and chase a true trophy.
Where to go
Cedar Lake is famous for burbot fishing during the March spawn window and it has quickly become one of the most popular burbot destinations in Manitoba. More and more anglers are turning the Cedar Lake spawn into an annual trip because the timing is reliable, the fish concentrate in predictable areas and the odds of connecting with quality burbot are hard to ignore. If you are planning a stay, key accommodation options in the area include Moak Lodge, Cooks Campground and Cabins and Hobbs Resort.
Kississing Lake is the land of the giants. It is often regarded as one of Manitoba’s top waters for trophy burbot, where 35-inch-plus fish are a real possibility for anglers who put in the time and fish the right windows. If your goal is to chase a true heavyweight, this is the kind of lake worth planning around. For anglers who want a warm, easy home base on the lake, Sharron’s Outfitting and Kenanow Lodge offer comfortable accommodations right on the shores of Kississing, making it simple to settle in, get on the ice and stay close to the action.
Lake Manitoba is less known for burbot, but there are some true monsters swimming there and the average size can be exceptional. Many anglers run into burbot in the high 20-inch range, with 30-inch-plus fish always a real possibility, especially when you are fishing the right windows close to the bottom. It is also a great option for anglers who want to target burbot closer to home, without committing to a long-haul trip north. Walk-out friendly access is a big draw in the right areas and it is one of the more practical places to add a dedicated burbot mission to your winter plans. Nearby bases include Portage la Prairie, MTT in St Laurent and The Narrows Sunset Lodge at the Lake Manitoba Narrows.
How to catch them
Low light, night and late season are key windows. A deadstick paired with an active jigging rod can be very effective and larger, scent-driven baits often outperform finesse presentations. One common approach is to fish a heavy glow jigging spoon tipped with a couple of minnows, then pound it on the bottom to kick up a silt cloud and call fish in before lifting it slightly and working it in place. If you mark fish that will not commit, slow down and keep your bait in their zone longer.
4. Yellow Perch
Why target them
Yellow perch are a winter staple for a reason, lots of action, steady bites and a perfect species for kids, families and anyone who just wants to keep rods bending. But once you start running into perch over 13 inches, they truly look like a different breed. That is when anglers start calling them footballs, thick, heavy fish that feel like a whole new class of perch. In the right Manitoba lakes, there is even a shot at once in a lifetime perch in excess of 15 inches, the kind of fish that makes you pause before you even unhook it.
Over the last few winters, yellow perch have made a huge resurgence in the Manitoba Master Angler Program, climbing from just a few hundred entries each winter to more than 1,300 last year. A big reason is the production coming out of the Interlake Shoal Lakes, especially West Shoal Lake. With entries already rolling in this season, Manitoba’s prairie pothole perch lakes are gearing up to outdo themselves again as more anglers chase those thick football perch. If perch are not already on your winter list, now is the time. Pick a day with good weather, bring the kids or a couple buddies and go hunt schools until you find the right class of fish. It only takes one 13-inch plus perch to turn a fun bite into a day for the record books.
Where to go
The Shoal Lakes in the Interlake are standout winter perch producers and West Shoal Lake is the main event. Last winter, West Shoal was home to roughly 85-percent of all Master Angler qualifying yellow perch entries and a handful of 15-inch plus mega giants even hit the ice. If you want a simple, comfortable base for the area, MTT in St Laurent offers comfortable accommodations that keep you close to the action.
Oak Lake is a scenic prairie pothole style lake in southwestern Manitoba, just a short drive from Brandon. It is known for strong yellow perch fishing with some genuinely big perch in the system and the walleye fishing can be an excellent bonus when you want to mix species into the day. For anglers planning a multi-day excursion, Brandon makes a great base with plenty of comfortable accommodation options nearby.
Pelican Lake is a scenic reservoir that feels made for a winter getaway, wide open views, rolling shoreline and easy access that makes it simple to get out and explore. It is known for seriously chunky perch and it also offers great northern pike and walleye fishing as a bonus when you want to mix species into the day. Accommodations and services can be found in nearby communities like Ninette and Killarney.
How to catch them
Perch are a search game. Drill, hop and locate active schools, then keep moving within that zone to stay on the best fish. When the bite is aggressive, a micro rattle bait can be extremely effective for calling perch in from a distance and triggering reaction bites.
Once fish are under you, small spoons and tungsten jigs are consistent producers. Deadsticks can also be deadly, especially with a live or frozen minnow. A simple finesse setup like a split shot above a small treble hook is a great way to turn lookers into biters and get those deadstick bells ringing.
Pick Your Next Winter Target
If you already chase Manitoba’s headline winter species, this is your sign to go a step further. Lake whitefish, black crappie, burbot and yellow perch bring a different kind of winter excitement, new tactics to learn, new water to explore and a real shot at fish that catch most people by surprise, from 25-inch-plus whitefish to thick football perch, to burbot that pull like a freight train.
Pick one species in this guide and commit to it for a day. Book a trip, plan a weekend or just choose a nearby lake and give it an honest run, then take the extra minute to snap the right photo and turn that catch into a Manitoba Master Angler entry. You might end the winter with a new personal best and you might find a new favourite bite along the way.
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