Not having the right bait of the day has been the downfall of much too many trophy catfish seekers in the past. One of either shrimp, cut sucker, cut goldeye, chicken hearts, squid, and such, more often than not proves to be more popular seemingly day-to-day. Another is using enough weight to keep your bait on the bottom as strong current conditions can require as much as 8oz to do the job.Įxperienced Red River catfish enthusiasts will attest that having a variety of different bait on hand goes a long way to ultimately having success. Heavy gear and tackle for example are a must to ensure that battles with Master Angler calibre fish don’t endure for too long endangering the fish’s health. As much as the pure number of catches by anglers everyday will point out, there is still very much some know-how and use of proper equipment involved. Whether from anchored boat or still fishing from shore, successfully hooking and landing a huge catfish is a thrill that needs to be experienced. As the only barrier that spans the width of the Red in Manitoba, it created the focal point for the river’s forage and in turn a trophy-class catfish population, and in turn one of the premiere places for anglers to target these fish in the world. Even during a later spring, such as the case this year, the locks at Lockport can be counted on to be productive water for hungry channel cats. Most years the mighty Red River will have subsided from its swollen spring run-off version by the time opening day rolls around in May. As bankable a big fish bite that exists in Manitoba, targeting these monster cats for your first drive-to fishing trip of the year is one way to ensure you start the season with a bang. There is no other fishery in the province that compares to the trophy channel catfish angling thriving on the Red River North. ![]() Master Angler class fish abound although they will be noticeably thinner being primarily post-spawn fish. The south shore of Black Island across the way is another feeding ground to target, as is dropping bigger jigs in the deep heavy current in the middle of the straight between Hecla and Black. Hungry schools of walleyes cruise by one after another tight to the deeper shorelines in this area. The boat launch and pier at Hecla Village is a popular early season drive-to fishing spot for anglers fishing out of watercraft and off-shore alike. To get to the north basin there are only a couple relatively narrow paths for the fish to go and that includes the section of water that flows by Hecla Island Provincial Park. The later the spring, the greater the number that will still be making their way north, some from as far as the furthest reaches of the lake’s many tributaries. Regardless of the progression of the southern basin and surrounding watershed’s melt, massive schools of greenbacks will be in transit at this time of year. It can be argued that the weeks following opening day in May are indeed the best time of the entire calendar year to catch staggering numbers in all sizes of these migrating walleyes. One of the most sought-after ice fishing target species are still very much catchable after the season closure period. ![]() Lake Winnipeg at Hecla Island – Greenback Walleye The North Central and Northwest Divisions’ general season begins on May 17, while the remote Northeast Division is generally open to angling all year. ![]() It might be tight time-wise for some lakes as to whether or not they will be totally ice free this spring, but all recent reports point to there being open water on even the most notorious late-melters such as Falcon and West Hawk Lakes. General angling in the Southern Division of the province gets the go ahead first on Saturday, May 11. In anticipation of the start of a new year, we’ve compiled a list of drive-to fishing destinations that are tried and true early season go-to fisheries that the whole family can enjoy. The long-awaited chance to fish open water in Manitoba is excruciatingly close at hand.
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