Ice-fishing Friday: Prairie reservoirs have killer walleye and pike action. Here’s how to catch these reservoir hawgs

For years, I’d heard stories about anglers catching and releasing 25-pound-plus northern pike and hefty walleye in prairie reservoirs. I live in central Alberta, a five-hour drive from the nearest of these seemingly mystical man-made waters. But with plenty of natural lakes within a similar distance, I just didn’t see the appeal. And to be honest, the tales seemed too good to be true.

That all changed a few years ago when I finally hopped in my truck and headed south to see what all the fuss was about. What I found was unexpected. Fishing folklore may run rampant about some places, but the reservoir hawgs in these prairie waterbodies are the real deal. Indeed, a trip to these unique western fisheries should be on every ice angler’s bucket list.