Fishing reel

Winnipeg River

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Species: Bass, Catfish, Perch, Pike, Sturgeon, Walleye/Pickerel, Whitefish

Coordinates: 50°37′54″N 96°19′13″W

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Location: Manitoba

Length: 235 km

Why we chose it

In 2012, ranked #13 in all-time hot spots

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Winding its way from Kenora, Ontario, to Lake Winnipeg, and draining more than 100,000 square kilometres, this historic waterway now draws anglers instead of voyageurs. The Winnipeg offers a terrific mixed fishery, and some epic catfish toward its mouth, but over the years we’ve mostly recognized it as a walleye hot spot. While the river may have fewer trophies than some waters, there are loads of fish, and the local greenbacks are notoriously hard fighting.

In 2008, Walleye; Good numbers of easily accessible big fish

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When to fish: September and October.

Where to fish: Current breaks, reefs, points, rock piles and large flats in the mouth and last few miles of river.

Tip: Troll crankbaits or vertically jig 3/8- to one-ounce jigs tipped with large minnows on bottom.

—Steve MacInnis, host of Adventures North