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by Patrick Campeau, Brad Fenson,
Gord Pyzer and T.J. Schwanky
photo by Gord Pyzer |
Drill Here (part 3)
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| COOL
TIP |
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PANFISH
While panfish can be a challenge to find under the ice, once
you locate them, the action tends to be fast and furious. And
the eating mighty fine.
Beaver Lake, Alberta
This parkland lake produces good numbers of panfish, especially
late in the season, anywhere from the deep-water basin to structure
around the islands. Small Len Thompson or Williams spoons, Deadly
Dicks or jigs tipped with maggots or mealworms work great fished
tight to the bottom. Minnows are effective on the really big
fish. —B.F.
Lesser
Slave Lake, Alberta
Lesser Slave consistently produces some of the largest
perch in Alberta to be pulled through the ice. In March,
concentrate your efforts on the large flats and keep moving
until you find the fish. Large minnows on swimming jigs,
Balanced Jigging Rapalas or Swedish Pimples with mealworms
fished right on bottom produce best. And don’t be
afraid to stir up the sand. —B.F.
Duncairn Reservoir, Sask.
Also known as Reid Lake, Duncairn Reservoir, just south
of Swift Current, has a reputation for producing catches
exceeding 100 perch a day, with some fish routinely topping
the two-pound mark. Anglers experience success through-out
the season along fast-breaking slopes adjacent to reed
beds, using teardrop-style jigs tipped with maggots or
waxworms. —T.J.S.
Last Mountain Lake, Sask.
This lake is hot throughout the winter, with lots of big
perch. The north end attracts serious anglers, who concentrate
on the abundant rock piles, ledges and flats. Swedish
Pimples, Jig-A-Whoppers and Lindy Flyers tipped with perch
eyes are local favourites, but a simple jig and minnow
shouldn’t be overlooked. —B.F.
Dauphin Lake, Manitoba
Dauphin’s perch are typically 13- to 16-inch horses
approaching 1½ to two pounds. Late winter is prime
time on this incredibly shallow—often less than
six feet—sprawling prairie bowl. The fish can be
anywhere, but they’re very bottom-oriented. Tip
a Genz Worm with a piece of red-wriggler-coloured Gulp
Mini Earthworm to imitate the bloodworms (chironomid larvae)
the perch here feast on. —G.P.
Lake Manitoba, Manitoba
From late February through the end of March, you’ll
find anglers filling their buckets with fat perch near
the town of St. Laurent on sprawling Lake Manitoba. Concentrate
on sand flats in 10 to 15 feet of water, targeting the
perch gathering to spawn. Local anglers enjoy the best
results with a simple pickerel rig tipped with frozen
Lake Manitoba shiners. —T.J.S.
Kashe Lake, Ontario
Though small in size, Kashe fishes big, with 14-inch crappies
common. Toward last ice, fish 20- to 30-foot depths adjacent
to the previous season’s pencil reeds. Bluegills,
perch and black crappies crowd such areas, where they
slam small WildEye Jigging Soft Minnows. Keep it simple
and still catch plenty of fish by hanging a lively emerald
shiner 18 inches off the bottom under a float. —G.P.
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Lake Nipissing, Ontario
Nipissing’s huge populations of ciscoes and whitefish
go largely unnoticed all season. Locate 40- to 60-foot-deep
mid-lake flats adjacent to structures, then use your sonar
to pinpoint the fish. Lift, drop and pause a black-backed,
silver-sided Balanced Jigging Rapala, Half & Half
Nu-Wrinkle Williams Ice Jig or a Badd Boyz jig tipped
with a white, two-inch Power or Exude grub. —G.P.
Lake of the Woods, Ontario
From mid-December until mid-April, more crappies are hooked
in Sabaskong Bay than anywhere else in Canada. Catch fish
suspended in transition areas between the main-lake basin
and hard structures with a Genz Worm or Frostee Jigging
Spoon dressed with a Power Micro, Lindy Tiny Tail or Riverside
Beavertail. Bigger baits, such as Jigging Rapalas and
W30 Williams Wablers, entice the giant slabs. —G.P.
Lake Simcoe, Ontario
Simcoe offers simply the best perch fishery in the world.
At last ice, the area between Georgina and Thorah Islands,
around Atherley Narrows, is hot. Shake a small Badd Boyz
jig tipped with a maggot, waxworm or tiny tube in 15 to
35 feet of water. When the perch are fussy, barely twitch
one of the locally famous Bug lures. —G.P.
Rainy Lake, Ontario
Rainy Lake’s attraction? Variety. The Northwest
Arm and Paddy Bay are famous for crappies, while the Northeast
Arm, Manitou Sound and Ash Bay provide wonderful herring,
smelt and whitefish action. And don’t overlook Swell
Bay or Red Gut Bay for perch. Comfortable weather makes
last ice best. All of the lures and techniques mentioned
for Ont-ario’s panfish waters work just as well—or
better—here. —G.P.
Lake Saint-Louis, Quebec
Perch fanatics will love the lake’s Vaudreuil Bay,
in the Vaudreuil-Dorion area, with perch averaging between
seven and 12 inches. And it’s not uncommon to catch
fish weighing up to a pound. You’ll get a lot of
action in four to five feet of water; the best period
is from mid-February until ice out. Here, a teardrop jig
dressed with a maggot is the ultimate weapon. —P.C.
Lake Saint-Pierre, Quebec
If you really enjoy perch fishing, you have to try below
the different rock dams in the Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola
area in January, or during the last two weeks of the season;
perch up to 12 inches are not uncommon. A teardrop jig
works wonders, as does a tip-up and small minnow. Look
for depths of two to eight feet along the drop-offs. —P.C.
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1.
WALLEYE | 2. PIKE | 3.
PANFISH
4. LAKE TROUT | 5.
FLORIDA'S WINTER BASS FIX |
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