Your Lake Manitoba Fishing Destination
Fishing bait is available for purchase at the Park Office/General Store, where you can also purchase fishing supplies and ice.
The north basin of Lake Manitoba is shallower than the other parts, with lots of shoals, irregular shoreline, rocks and weeds. This area is highly productive, and helps to feed the rest of the lake.
In the north, the nutrients and the fish flow south with the current. Heading south through the Narrows, all of the fish and food become concentrated, so the further south you get, the more fish there are. Lake Manitoba’s north end is more sandy than the other parts, with enough rocky areas to provide shelter and cover for the fish.
Pike
Pike fishing is a huge draw in Lake Manitoba, partly because the floods of years past have created excellent habitat. When the water flooded low-lying areas, grassland was submerged and became marshy. Pike love this. They hide when they hunt, and spring out on their prey with surprise and ferocity that other fish don’t quite match.
Ice fishing for pike in the north is spectacular. You get a lot of pike through the ice. In part, this is owing to the increase in spawning habitat.
Walleye
There are also walleye in the north, especially right up in the bays. You can drift throughout this area, and fish from shore too. Jigs and worms are simple and highly effective.
Carp
In early spring, carp and silver bass are also prominent in the north. Carp fishing is a lot of fun because these fish grow huge and challenge anglers to keep them hooked and landed.
Silver Bass
Silver bass is also plentiful. One of the great things about fishing for silver bass (or freshwater drum as they are also known), is that when other species slow down in the heat, drum keep biting. As well, they aren’t fussy about their food choices. That means they can be caught on a lot of different presentations. You can troll for them with spinners and spoons, though in the north where it’s shallow, you may have better luck jigging. Fish with worms near the bottom.
Some of the most productive spots, as mentioned, are right up in the bays. North and South Twin Islands, Portage Bay and Steep Rock are all good places to start. If you’re further south, get into Vankoughnet Bay and Watchorn Bay.
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