Wet long weekend turned off most fish

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/05/2005 (7524 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Don Lamont

IN many parts of central and southern Manitoba, at least 30 millimetres of rain fell last Saturday, swelling creeks and rivers, mudding water and slowing the bite for a number of species of fish.

A trip to Lake Minnewasta near Morden on Monday produced only one small walleye and one small crappie, despite fishing anywhere from one metre to 10 metres of water, using a variety of techniques.

We marked lots of fish in four metres of water with only one fish in this depth finally biting a live bait rig tipped with a nightcrawler. The only crappie of the day came in a metre of water on a slipfloat and small chartruese tube jig, a technique that usually works for shallow spring crappies.

Unstable weather and water conditions turn off most fish, as was the case at Lake Minnewasta. One exception is the channel catfish.

These amazing predators will chomp a bait no matter what the water conditions. Anglers have had tremendous luck on both the Assiniboine and Red rivers over the last week. Pieces of frozen sucker is the bait of choice.

I went to the Whiteshell this week as well, but conditions were still tough for walleye and crappies at most of the popular lakes, including Caddy, North and South Sailing lakes and Star Lake.

Mud Turtle Lake continues to produce some outstanding smallmouth and small pike action.

Smaller lakes with no major inflows are not as affected by large amounts of rainfall so look for action to improve over the next couple of weeks.

Lake of the Prairies continues to produce some excellent walleye. Tournament anglers are getting ready to head there June 4 for the Russell Lions Lake of the Prairie Walleye Tournament. The event has a first place prize of $12,000. For more information visit the website at www.lakeoftheprairies.com.

That same weekend Rossburn will be hosting the 5th annual Great Parkland Trout Festival. The three-day event attracts fly fishers and novice anglers.

Patterson Lake will be the site of the Silver Pig Challenge, a three-hour contest between some of the top Canadian and American fly fishers. More information at www.flippr.ca.

The second annual Foundation for Advancement in Glaucoma and Cataract Research Inc. Fishing Event and Banquet will be held June 3 at Otter Falls Resort. This one-day event features some great fishing on the Winnipeg River and a walleye supper. For more information contact Guy Thomas at 770-2320.

Lynn Lake holds its annual derby at Berge Lake Provincial Park July 2. A 10-minute drive from the town, the park has camping and a sandy beach for family swimming. Fishing is also excellent for walleye and pike. For the largest pike caught that day, there will be a grand prize of $1,000 cash and one trip for two persons to Sawbill Lodge on Reindeer Lake to fish for lunker lake trout, trophy northern pike and walleye. Trip includes meals, boat and motor, and air transportation by Lynn Lake Air Service. For more information, visit the website at www.lynnlake.ca

The 7th annual Fish Winnipeg Media/Corporate Challenge is scheduled for June 14. Funds raised go to the Youth at Risk Fishing Program. Each summer more than 600 youngsters get a chance to go fishing within the Winnipeg city limits, taking home a new rod and reel at the end of the day.

dlamont@mts.net