This time of year many fishermen are hooking up to boat trailer and seeking out open water to relieve the winter cabin blues, for me it’s the complete opposite. I am still searching for safe fishable ice. Sometimes it requires a bit of traveling like in this case this trip takes us to Lake Winnipeg seeking the elusive “greenback” walleyes. The annual spring spawning run to the famous north flowing Red River is what draws these “beasts” into the southern basin of Lake Winnipeg
Fishing in this southern basin is nothing special. It’s simply a big bowl of 13-15 feet of water full of roaming walleyes staging for the spawn. Staying on top of this school of fish is the tough part. These fish just like any other walleyes are looking for bait fish to feed on, when the bait is present on the flasher often times a few “greenbacks” are not far away. Calling out to these fish with rattle baits is everything, very aggressive jigging motions to lure these fish over often time results in vicious strikes. Tipping these rattle baits with a minnow head did turn some fish into biters vs. lurkers
Mobility…Mobility…Mobility…As the Red river continues to dump dirty water into Lake Winnipeg these fish stay around the baitfish who stay in the clearer water. So moving sometimes a quarter mile per day to stay in clear water is crucial to staying on this active fish. Drilling holes about 30 yards apart to search for new schools was also sometimes successful for us. A person can watch other fisherman move right along with the school as well to get a good idea of the direction they are moving
This trip is something that I have wanted to do for a very long time; the chance at catching a true trophy walleye is very good. Our biggest fish was 29.5”x16.5”. We watched a younger guy catch a 30’x 18 and a 31’x 18.5 about 50 yards away from us. The potential for a trophy fish is increased while fishing Lake Winnipeg. The average size fish caught by our group was about 21-22” in length with a weight of about 4.5lbs. Small heads with huge bodies!!! With the size of Lake Winnipeg it’s very important to have some hands on information of ice conditions and most importantly the bite. Local resident and guide Lee Nolden has all the information needed to make sure you stay on top of the fish as well as current ice conditions. Lee’s contact information for a trip is 888-463-7525.
This is likely my last ice report for the season, it was a great 2009-2010 ice season. It will certainly go down as a great year….Til next time
More pics of trip…Jesse Miller aka crossing big eyes and Ron Clark…sorry Ron forgot your handle here…
Nice fish guys!
I gotta admit, tying into some big green backs like those thru the ice does sound like a lot of fun.
Holy Buckets! Sweet report Cal!
Wow great report Cal!!!
Very nice report! Those Walleyes in shallow water must fight like crazy.
Its a really fast fight…by the time you set the hook with a 36″ rod and crank 3 times the fish is at the bottom of the hole. Then that is where the battle starts…
Good news that if they do get off inside the hole they cannot turn around so just put your dipper down the hole and bring them up… 
Nice Report Cal!! Now I’m really regreting not going!
Now I’m going to have to think about those big eyes until we hit the hardwater next year. Man, thats a long time! 
Great report Cal! I’ve always wanted to go up there this time of year for those big girls
Cal, is that a lipless crankbait you’re using?
Yes it is….1/2 oz to be exact…. Any rattle bait will work…We even caught some fish on whistler jigs. As long as it makes noise it will draw the fish in..
Hey Ryan…..sorry for posting these pics to rub it in…
sounds like fuuuun! great job guys!
I tried those through the ice at the dam down here. About 2 jigs in and guys were giving me dirty looks from all the noise they were making.
Great report & nice fish.
Great report Cal. Nice looking fish.
Next year 
Looks like a fun trip. Nice report!
Great report Cal!!
I’ll add that trip to my list. 
No whiskered walleyes??
Very nice fish and report Sir!
Cal,
NICE FISH!!! Looks like you guys had a great time.
Awesome read Cal, that had to be a hoot
Nice smackdown!
Great report, you had a hell of a year Cal, those silver eyes are perfect to help wrap up the season
Yes the 2009-2010 ice season was one of most favorite simply because I fished so many new places. Ironically I focused a lot more attention towards panfish as this trip to Manitoba was my only trip where I targeted walleyes. I am already looking forward to early December 2010.
Very cool Cal, sounds like an absolute smackdown! Those are some big fish!
Joel
Nice report Buddy!
Cal, I presume you lic. will be good for all summer. Could be worth a trip after the ice goes out.
Darn tootin thats a nice bunch of fish.
Darn tootin thats a nice bunch of fish.
Hi Calvin, it was nice fishing with you. Fishing has been good all of last week. We have only a few days left here. Not a smany big fish this week as last. I did get a 30″x18.5″ and a 29″x16″ fish this week though.
Keep in touch
Lee
Hey Lee….Welcome to IDO….
Thanks for showing me the ropes on Lake winnipeg, look forward to the early decemeber bite already….
keep in touch as our fall run can be great too in the red and winnipeg rivers.
Lee…Did you try any of those blade baits?
Yes I used them. It is hard to tell how good they are as everything I threw down the hole caught fish!