Manitoba: Land of leisure

Long known for grain fields, polar bears and cold winters, Manitoba is an ace in the hole when it comes to fishing

by Jim Prentice — July 17, 2012

Name your pleasure: Trolling from a boat, sitting on a riverbank or rolling a fly line across a stream, Manitoba has it all. For the hardier souls, come out in the winter and drill a hole through four feet of ice to try your luck.

Whatever your favourite might be, chances are we have it. From the wonderful walleye to the Northern Pike, lake trout, crappie, channel cat and a dozen or so more, you have many choices. When it comes to world-class fishing, Manitoba is well-known among sportsmen. Not so well-known in Canada, however, is Manitoba’s world renowned trout fishery.

This is a modern mecca for fly fishermen. In lakes, rivers and streams lurk the rainbows, the speckles, the brookies and the browns—or perhaps you prefer the more exotic Arctic Char, or grayling. The Manitoba Master Angler Award program lists fish of 30 species that are eligible for certificates.

Just north of the capital city of Winnipeg, the Red River runs through Lockport—so named because it is the location of the locks through which boats are raised or lowered to access Lake Winnipeg. Lockport is world-famous for walleye, known locally as pickerel, and the giant channel catfish often caught there. Manitoba has thousands of lakes, many of which are accessible by road. In the Western Central region are lakes such as Tokaryk, Patterson, Corstophine, Lake 400, Anton’s and Pybus. These are accessible north of the Trans-Canada Highway 16 between Minnedosa and Shoal Lake, and south of Riding Mountain National Park.

If this sounds interesting, here is a list of websites with tons of information, and don’t forget to Google Manitoba as well for more great resources.

These sites provide photos, maps and just about anything you want to know about the keystone province.

I have saved the best for last! My own favourite spot is a small stream running through rolling farmland about 40 minutes from my home. It is stocked with trout and sees little pressure from anglers. On our last trip to Stoney Creek I caught seven brook trout in about two hours with a fly rod and black fly. My wife caught her first ever trout on her first day with a fly rod.

Stoney Creek is very close to the Trans-Canada Highway 16, north of a village named Franklin, which is between the cities of Neepawa and Minnedosa.

Did you know?

A hybrid cross between a speckle and a lake trout is called a splake.
That Kokanee is not only a beer, but also a form of landlocked salmon.
The tiger trout is a cross between a brook trout and a brown trout.
Bait fishing causes deeper swallowing and increased mortality rates in catch-and-release fishing, and that is why only artificial lures are allowed in many Manitoba waters.
Jim Prentice, originally from Ontario, moved to Manitoba when he joined the army in 1958. In the military for 16 years then as a technician with Manitoba Telephone system for 22 years and finally as a trucker, Jim is now over 70 years young and enjoys fishing with his wife of 51 years, Joy.
Having hunted and fished from the U.S. border to Churchill as far north as Gjoa Haven on King William Island, north of the Arctic Circle he is no stranger to rod, gun or bow. He and Joy have travelled Canada from coast to coast, 47 of the lower 48 states, and every state in Mexico, in addition to RVing in 16 countries.
First published in 1974, Jim has written hundreds of articles and published eight books since 1982.

Manitoba: Land of leisure

Long known for grain fields, polar bears and cold winters, Manitoba is an ace in the hole when it comes to fishing

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