Lake Winnipeg Walleye Slot Size
Lake Winnipeg Walleye Ties for World Live Release Record. It's official, Lake Winnipeg has produced a giant 34 inch walleye that has been recognized by the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame as one of three, ice fishing catch and release world records! This amazing greenback walleye is a true testiment to the world class. Industry, biologists differ over Lake Winnipeg walleye AMC Grand Chief Arlen Dumas said the results of the study show that fishers are well aware of the health of the fish population.
Lake Winnipeg is known for its walleye ice fishing. In fact, it’s home to the famous “Green Back Walleye,” on Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada. It offers the best chance at landing a 10+ pound walleye through a hole in the ice. For years, prior to social media becoming such a giant influence, this lake has been producing the fish of a lifetime for many anglers. Walleyes were being plucked from the waters with giant lipless crankbaits and ice fishing spoons the size of soup ladles. Going after any fish with aggressive techniques is something I live for.
Prior to my first Lake Winnipeg ice fishing trip, I thought it would just be another day on the ice. I’ve never been more wrong in my life. If we would have been able to gain an air temp of 60 degrees, it would still have been below freezing. Between a snowmobile going down, the auger flighting freezing up between holes and the howling wind, I didn’t think I’d ever come back to this lake. Then it happened, a 32” walleye with the coolest colors I had ever seen. From that moment on, I planned on making the pilgrimage every year.
Shortly after our first Lake Winnipeg walleye fishing trip, I decided to become better prepared, even if it was only for one trip every year. What Lake Winnipeg gives out, it also takes back. We broke a lot of things that first time around and that’s because we were unprepared. Ice fishing is ice fishing…we thought.
My initial upgrades were going to be to my actual ice fishing gear. My love for lipless cranks was already in the courting stage but I really didn’t know what I needed at that point. What I did know, is that I wanted all of them. The following list is not numbered for a reason; they all seem to work.
The infamous Lake Winnipeg Greenback Walleye – should be on the bucket list of every walleye angler.
Lipless Cranks for Giant Walleyes
- Live Target Golden Shiner – Now, you can get all the colors with a glow base. Overall, I think the profile and sound make more of a difference than the glow, but it never hurts to have all your boxes checked.
- Jackall TN60/50 – Nice, subtle action/vibration with enough weight in a smaller package to drop you back into the right depth. The only issue I’ve had with a Jackall is the tailhook fouling on my line. Most times can be attributed to user error when working the bait too aggressively.
- Rapala Rippin’ Rap – #6 and #7’s are my go-to lures for many bodies of water. In the murky waters of Lake Winnipeg, I tend to rely on contrast rather than color. Firetiger, for example, is an incredibly productive color because of its’ high contrast.
- Northland Rippin’ Shad – Simple colors, not a lot of options and fantastic glow bases are the main reason you can line a tackle box with these lipless cranks.
- Custom Lipless Cranks – Sometimes certain colors set you apart from the rest. In fishing, a leg up on the competition is always warranted.
Walleye Jigging Spoons
- Pelican Spoons – With some of the best colors out there, these lightweight flutter spoons continually produce.
- Slender Spoons – A personal favorite of mine for all different bodies of water. I typically carry two of every color with me.
- RJ Lures – Some lightweight spoons with a multitude of colors to cover your needs and wants.
- XStream Tackle – Rattle Styx and Sonar spoons have pleasantly surprised me on my last trip. It’s like a Buckshot and Slender spoon got together and had a kid. Tip it with a minnow or fish it naked, you will catch fish.
- PK Lures – Pretty much their entire lineup is a solid choice, regardless of the body of water. Just make sure to choose the appropriate size.
Ice Fishing Jigs
- If you happen to talk to any local, a deadstick will sometimes make all the difference. Calling a fish in with the lipless and getting it to attack a deadstick is commonplace on Lake Winnipeg ice fishing as well as our home lakes. What I’ve found to be the best option is a roadrunner jig with an attached blade (see below). If you choose to pick up some live minnows, this is a deadly combo for big fish.
Lake Winnipeg Bait
- Canadian salted shiners and live minnows carry a little sticker shock, but I wouldn’t be caught on the ice without some sort of meat hanging from my hooks. Whether you want to fork over the cash or make your own, you’ll need some bait.
- There are many ways to make your own salted minnows and they’re perfectly legal to take across the border. I’ve tried using the Coca-Cola method as well as the Borax method. In my opinion, the Borax minnows held together much better than Coca-Cola minnows.
Lake Winnipeg Walleye Slot Size Chart
Recommended Ice Fishing Rods
Ford vs. Chevy, Pepsi vs. Coke or Vikings vs. Packers. Hardcore people will stay to one side regardless of the reason. The same goes for ice fishing rods. It’s been a long time since I started with a simple Berkley Lightning Rod, but it’s been nice to upgrade along the way. Rod technology is constantly advancing to bring stronger, more sensitive rods to the masses. However, with the improved technology, cost continues to rise. What I recommend is to get the rod that fits your budget. After all, this is a once a year trip for many anglers. If you’re in the market, there are a couple of rods that should be on your radar.
- JT Custom Rods, specifically the 40” Black Reign. I run two of these while I’m on the Lake Winnipeg. One is dedicated to rattle baits while the other always has a spoon attached. Everything about these rods makes you feel warm inside. Perfect sensitivity ties into a stout backbone to handle the upsized tackle and massive walleyes.
- Tuned Up Custom Rods – 38” Commander is worth looking at. I started with the Power Precision, which handled Winnipeg walleyes with ease. The Commander is a beefier version with all the goodness still intact.
- St. Croix Custom Ice Rods – A little newer to the game, but with the quality that St. Croix typically produces, I’d have to imagine they handle fish well. Look for something 36” or longer with at least a medium action.
Ice Fishing Reels of Choice
I’m a simple man and focus on the functionality of my equipment. Many times, the expensive gear seems to win out in durability. With that said, every ice rod I own is paired with a Shimano Sienna FD500. For under $40, you get a reel with a fantastic drag, instant anti-reverse, and smooth action. Use what you have or what you want, but please don’t overlook this reel.
Lake Winnipeg Walleye Slot Sizes
Fishing Line
Every year, I think I swap out what type of line will be used on Lake Winnipeg. Typically, 10lb Power Pro Super Slick is on all of my rods. Last year, I decided to switch out to a 10lb mono. The reasoning behind the switch went back to the idea of just keeping the fish attached. When fishing Lake Winnipeg, you’re usually standing on three feet of ice underneath you. Allowing the fish to have a little more wiggle room and not solely relying on the action of the rod oftentimes allows you to land what you hook.
Ice Augers for Lake Winnipeg
Whatever brand you run, having a 10” hole makes things a whole lot easier. The last few trips we’ve made, a Strikemaster 40V Lithium has made short work of drilling holes with the added benefit of spitting the slush back with the reverse feature. Whatever you own will work just fine, just be sure to have a backup.
Lake Winnipeg Lodging
- Canalta Inn – Selkirk, MB. Nothing like clean rooms, a hot breakfast, and a Jacuzzi to make your fishing trip that much more enjoyable.
- Selkirk Inn and Conference Center – Selkirk, MB. Affordable and right next door to Smitty’s Restaurant and Lounge. If you pass Chuck the Channel Cat, you’ve gone too far.
- South Beach Resort and Casino – Scanterbury, MB. Comfortable rooms, an in-house restaurant with the added bonus of a little gambling (if you have a rough day on the ice).
- Petersfield Motor Inn – Petersfield, MB. Minutes from Werner Road Launch with an attached lounge/restaurant.
Restaurants
A hot meal and a cold adult beverage is the best way to cap off a day of fishing regardless of where you are.
- Sadie’s Diner and Lounge – Petersfield, MB
- Petersfield Curling Club – Petersfield, MB
- Boston Pizza – Selkirk, MB
- Tim Hortons – Selkirk, MB
- Smitty’s Restaurant and Lounge – Selkirk, MB
- Mango’s South Beach Restaurant, South Beach Casino, Scanterbury, MB
Lake Winnipeg Bait and Tackle
- Smoke N’ Fish – Selkirk, MB. They have all the live bait and salted shiners you can handle along with the best Lake Winnipeg ice fishing tackle. If you haven’t bought your Manitoba Fishing License yet, this is the last place to get it done.
All in all, this trip needs to be on your bucket list. The chance at a 10-pound walleye is incredibly high with few opportunities offering the same probabilities. Big fish with fewer numbers tend to start the season. As the days get longer, numbers of fish tend to increase. It truly is a place to catch your “fish of a lifetime.”
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In 2000, the Area A Slot Limit for Walleye was implemented. Area A defined by ‘the area south of Gammon-Bloodvein Rivers to the south and west shores of the Winnipeg River, including Lac du Bonnet, and the southern boundary of Whiteshell Provincial Park, and from Lake Winnipeg to the Ontario border (excluding the Winnipeg River from Pine Falls Dam to Lake Winnipeg)’.
The slot limit initially was all walleye between 38 cm and 70 cm must be released. Notice the lower end is not 45 cm but 38 cm. This reflects the different growth rates for walleye located in lakes predominately in the less productive Canadian Shield country versus a highly productive reservoir like LOTP. The growth rates are different, however the age at sexually maturity for walleye would remain the same at around 5 years of age. The lower limit of 38 cm would again try to encompass most mature females in the population. The lower end of the slot was raised from 38 cm to 40 cm in 2002, raised again in 2004 from 40 cm to 42 cm and once more in 2007 from 42 cm to 45 cm. I think the intent was to start at the biologically preferred size and eventually raise the lower limit to allow more additional harvest for anglers as well as keeping the slot the same as other lakes in Southern Manitoba (LOTP, Whitefish and Wellman Lakes for example) possibly to avoid regulation confusion.
There is a challenge in adopting one size specific regulation such as a slot limit, to a large area like this. Not all lakes are created equal. Pre-slot limit data in Area A is limited but obviously warranted a drastic change in walleye regulations for the area. When we (Eastern Region Fisheries Branch) started our Non-Lethal Sampling Program (NLSP) in 2008, some of our initial objectives were to look at the comprehensive walleye data collected and see what state walleye populations were in, how effective walleye fry stocking was on target lakes (most of them within the Area A identified boundaries), and attempt to see how effective the slot limit was working on a lake by lake basis. We targeted lakes that had some form of development (cabins, lodge, campground etc.) and easy access (both would allow for potential intense harvest pressure on walleye stocks) and were within the Area A walleye slot limit boundaries. Also, most of the lakes we looked at were stocked annually with hundreds of thousands of walleye fry.
Our results have shown us that only certain lakes have responded well to the slot limit regulation. These lakes all have solid natural reproduction. (walleye fry stocking contributes less than 5% to the walleye population) Also walleye age structure was healthy, representing many year classes, both in the slot and below the slot and these lakes usually were the most bio-diverse in that they held many different species. An example of these lakes include Jessica, White, Betula, Beresford and Big Whiteshell. On these lakes we will only stock walleye fry during years of draught in order to boost natural recruitment. We do this because even if the lakes do not naturally produce decent year classes, the pressure from anglers does not necessarily stop.
On other lakes such as Booster, Barren, and Caddy, we caught less walleye and fewer year classes. All had some level of natural reproduction, lower catch rates of walleye and fewer strong year classes. Walleye fry stocking contribute 35 % – 55 % annually to the walleye population as yearlings. There are also modest populations of yellow perch, smallmouth bass and black crappie, which compete for food with walleye at all life stages. On these lakes, the slot is still effective, however we would stock more walleye fry per year but would stock alternate years. We do this because in a natural scenario, if you have two back to back bumper crops of walleye, usually the second one does not make it much past the post larval stage due to extreme competition from the previous strong year class.
There are definitely some lakes that should be regulated under some kind of minimum size and/or altered slot size. I also firmly believe that all the walleye lakes in Area A should have a limit of four walleye. However, at this point in time I do not think we have an option to fit regulations based on a lake by lake basis as a result of our NLSP studies. The angling guide would simply get too complicated (or would it?). What we can do is continue to assess our lakes, and apply our knowledge and common sense to move forward in the best possible direction.
I have definitely simplified this topic and the work we have carried out to a large degree. However, I think what it does point out that we face great challenges when managing our fisheries resources. We have many tools and techniques at our disposal and just one of them is the slot limit. The absolute key to relative success is to be able to access the data with adequate staff, equipment and funding required to manage our fisheries properly for now, and the future.