Water has gotten much clearer, so change up the tactics a bit.
Not so much a reactionary strike anymore. Zebras have dramatically increased water clarity. You can see it on the livescope, they are more cautious to rattle baits. Sure you still get the freight trains that hammer them, but more often for me it’s jigging spoons, flutter spoons and smaller baits with 1/2 a salted. I don’t bother with livies, you have to dump them before leaving. Waste of money.How so? Are you running more natural looking stuff?
Salted minnows is not what I am hoping to be doing up there.
The last two times I was up there I ran a snootypatootie almost exclusively.
I'm still apprehensive but will give a this:Beginning on October 1, travelers arriving in Canada are:
^ source: https://stefanik.house.gov/press-releases?ID=3360688A-09D6-46B9-9466-67A64767A08E#:~:text=Beginning on October 1, travelers,through the ArriveCAN app, and
- No longer required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter Canada or meet COVID-19 testing, quarantine, or isolation requirements,
- No longer required to submit public health information through the ArriveCAN app, and
- No longer required to wear a mask in terminals, ports, and on aircraft.
Is anyone going back to Canada for fishing, now that the mandates are lifted? Our group is planning on going back to Lake Winnipeg, after a couple of years off, due to the COVID mandates.
Good to know. I appreciate the info.Not so much a reactionary strike anymore. Zebras have dramatically increased water clarity. You can see it on the livescope, they are more cautious to rattle baits. Sure you still get the freight trains that hammer them, but more often for me it’s jigging spoons, flutter spoons and smaller baits with 1/2 a salted. I don’t bother with livies, you have to dump them before leaving. Waste of money.
Water has gotten much clearer, so change up the tactics a bit.
Thank you for this extensive response and info!! This is great.Open water is still relatively dirty up there, although it's cleared up quite a bit over the years. Once it's iced over with no wave action it clears up a lot by January. the zebra muscles have definitely changed ice fishing tactics. we first fished Lake Winnipeg in 2010 and I lived there from 2014-2020. amazing how much clearer the water is. went from not being able to see the bottom of your hole, to seeing the bottom of the lake in 8 FOW from the top of the ice last winter. areas near the mouth can still be murky because of the Red, but you don't have to get too far away from the mouth and its clear water. Upnorth is definitely right that the walleyes are more cautious of rattle baits. there's still days and times that they work well, but the last 3 years I've probably fished 75% spoons. there have been a fair amount of days in the last 3 years or so that I'll hardly even mark any with a rattle bait, switch to a spoon, and start marking fish within minutes (usually after a cold front). It's also important to have a slip bobber or dead stick out now too. Last March (2022) I fished two days up there. granted it was after a cold front, but half the fish I caught came on a slip bobber with live minnows. For anyone going up there, I would say just be prepared with everything and switch it up like always. You might still have a day or two where they hammer the rattle baits, but probably be thinking spoons and more traditional tactics overall. Also have a slip bobber rigged up and don't rule out buying live minnows if they're in a fussy mood. it's still really good fishing, just different then several years ago
March for our group. Good luck up there!Has anyone been up there yet this season? My first trip for the season is in a couple weeks and I can't wait!
Good to know. I appreciate the info.
I might have to bring more than a couple snooties with, I guess.
Never disappoints.How so? Are you running more natural looking stuff?
Salted minnows is not what I am hoping to be doing up there.
The last two times I was up there I ran a snootypatootie almost exclusively.