OC Online - Hot Spots 2006

text by Tom Adamchick, Mark Anderson, Ken Bailey
Patrick Campeau, Brad Fenson, George Gruenefeld
Jake MacDonald, Paul Marriner, Jim McLennan
Wayne Phillips, Gord Pyzer

Simply the Best
(Walleye, Whitefish)

WALLEYE
Calling Lake, Alberta If you like trolling the flats, this is the place to work your favourite crankbait in the spring. Fish areas adjacent to the shoreline for steady action. More info: Reel Angling Adventures, 1-866-961-3425. –B.F.

Island Lake, Alberta Casting shallow-running cranks along the shoreline and islands in the spring and early summer produces unbelievable numbers. Troll the flats or jig deeper water if you tire of casting. More info: Island Lake Lodge, (780) 743-0214. –B.F.

Lesser Slave Lake, Alberta Fish the flats in the spring with a bait rig tipped with leeches or dew worms. In midsummer, locals like to jig minnows on the drop-offs. More info: Adventure Alberta, (780) 849-5346. –B.F.

Walleye hot spot: Lac St-Pierre (Mark Krupa).

Pigeon Lake, Alberta Throughout the year, troll bait rigs and crankbaits over sunken islands, rocky shorelines, sand flats in the east and mud flats to the west. Jigging small structure can produce big fish, too. More info: Get Hooked Fishing Adventures, 1-866-963-1888. –B.F.

Canoe Lake, Saskatchewan Bottom bouncers, spinner rigs and dew worms are summer favourites. Fish the flats and along drops for the best results. Drifting and jigging is a great alternative. More info: North Haven Lodge, (306) 829-4311. –B.F.

Cree Lake, Saskatchewan July is good, as the cool waters warm up. For trophy fish, troll shallow-running crankbaits in dark-bottomed bays. Drifting with the wind over shallow water is also effective. More info: Tourism Saskatchewan, 1-877-237-2273. –W.P.

Devil Lake, Saskatchewan In July, work the river channels entering the lake, paying close attention to plunge pools below rapids. Cast lightweight jigs upstream, and let the current carry them down. More info: Tourism Saskatchewan, 1-877-237-2273. –W.P.

Jan Lake, Saskatchewan In early June, ravenous, post-spawn walleye head for Jan’s many narrows. Casting and retrieving jigs tipped with frozen minnows, while drifting through narrows and across bays, is pure dynamite. More info: Tourism Saskatchewan, 1-877-237-2273. –W.P.

Lake Diefenbaker, Saskatchewan Early in the spring, concentrate on the two dam sites, or on Coteau Bay. As the water warms up in early July, try bottom bouncers and spinner rigs or crankbaits around Saskatchewan Landing. More info: Discover Lake Diefenbaker. –B.F.

Last Mountain Lake, Saskatchewan In the spring, fish the north and south ends. By early July, fish the breaks in the main-lake basin with Lindy Rigs, or jigs. In the fall, use crawler harnesses or cranks along shorelines or on sandy points. More info: G & S Marina Outfitters, (306) 725-4466. –B.F.

Madge Lake, Saskatchewan Trolling live-bait rigs or crankbaits works well on the mud or sand flats in the summer. There are also some interesting drops, sandbars and sunken islands to check out. More info: Duck Mountain Lodge, (306) 542-3466. –B.F.

Mountain Lake, Saskatchewan Fish stack up below Robinson Falls all July. Move medium-weight jigs tipped with chartreuse bodies across current edges. Or suspend jigs tipped with frozen minnows below slip bobbers. More info: Tourism Saskatchewan, 1-877-237-2273. –W.P.

Otter Lake, Saskatchewan As darkness falls in early June, troll or cast minnow-imitating crankbaits in shallow, reedy bays. Find water from six to 13 feet deep, and work from deep to shallow water. More info: Tourism Saskatchewan, 1-877-237-2273. –W.P.

Reindeer Lake, Saskatchewan Fish 1/2-ounce jigs in the faster water below the Whitesand Dam in July and August. White soft-plastics work so well, you can forgo tipping the jigs with minnows. More info: Tourism Saskatchewan, 1-877-237-2273. –W.P.

Saskatchewan River, Saskatchewan On summer evenings, fish The Forks (the confluence of the North and South Saskatchewan Rivers) with Pickerel Rigs baited with minnows or leeches. Work all current seams, especially right where the rivers join. More info: Tourism Saskatchewan, 1-877-237-2273. –W.P.

Tobin Lake, Saskatchewan Target the old river channel and sandy points during the spring and summer for consistent action on crankbaits or bouncers with spinner rigs. More info: Town of Nipawin, 1-877-647-2946. –B.F.

Wollaston Lake, Saskatchewan Work the rivermouths in June. Focus on slower current areas and nearby shallow bays with warmer water. Jigs tipped with chartreuse or yellow soft-plastics are tops. More info: Tourism Saskatchewan, 1-877-237-2273. –W.P.

Dauphin Lake, Manitoba Throughout June and July, try trolling nightcrawler- and leech-tipped spinner rigs behind bottom bouncers at the mouth of any one of the five major rivers that flow into Dauphin Lake. More info: For Your Walleyes Only, (204) 638-8659. –G.P.

Lake of the Prairies, Manitoba Jigs tipped with leeches, dew worms, minnows or Berkley Gulp! are the local favourites. Fish the old river channel, rocky points and inside turns all season. But stay mobile—there’s tons of structure. More info: Manitoba Conservation, Roblin office, (204) 937-2181. –B.F.

Red River, Manitoba In October, trophy greenbacks weighing four to 11 pounds migrate into the river downstream of Lockport. Backtroll with crankbaits or shiner-tipped jigs. More info: Cat Eye Outfitter, 1-888-228-3933. –Jake M.

Winnipeg River, Manitoba Drift a jig and minnow, or troll a firetiger Shad Rap close to the bottom at the rivermouth in late September and October. More info: Travel Manitoba, 1-800-665-0040. –G.P.

Snowshoe Lake, Ontario In late spring and summer, cast cranks, rubber-tailed jigs or streamer flies into the pools and eddies where the Bird River flows into the lake. More info: Snowshoe Island Outpost, (807) 224-3474. –Jake M.

Dozois Reservoir, Quebec Focus on drop-offs and along sandbanks in June. Trolling Original Floater Rapalas or worm harnesses will assure you some nice ’eyes. Later in the season, try jigging. More info: Réserve faunique La Vérendrye, (819) 438-2017. –P.C.

Gouin Reservoir, Quebec From June to September, this 1,570-square-kilometre waterbody is a haven for anglers who like to jig curly tails. Look for sharp edges and deep structure. More info: Pourvoirie du Barrage Gouin, 1-877-720-8900. –P.C.

Lac St-Pierre, Quebec If you’re looking for sizes and numbers, the fall season offers great possibilities. Fish with 1/2-ounce jigs tipped with three-inch Power Grubs in the navigation channel. More info: Pourvoirie Roger Gladu, 1-866-836-1317. –P.C.

WHITEFISH
Gull Lake, Alberta On sand flats in six to 10 feet of water, fish a yellow or chartreuse wire worm, or gold or copper nymph, close to bottom under a slip bobber. Gull fishes well all summer. More info: Backcountry Sports, (403) 348-0224. –B.F.

Iroquois Lake, Saskatchewan Maggots and mealworms dangled below the ice in December fool many whitefish. Working shallow, sandy-bottomed bays from inside ice tents allows you to watch subtle biters take the bait. More info: Tourism Saskatchewan, 1-877-237-2273. –W.P.

As always, please be sure to check the local fishing regulations and seasons before wetting a line at any of these hot spots.

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