MANITOBA
A week of wind and below normal temperatures made time on the water pretty miserable for most. As always the hardcore got out there. It was a good time to be a shore fisherman. For example a week ago the surface water temperature in the Whitemud River was 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Yesterday it was down to 48 degrees and the bite was nonexistent. Before all this happened there were some walleye being caught but mostly big freshwater drum.
Matt Gelly – Red River Cats!
‘Twas a much different May long weekend with the recent wildfire evacuations in the eastern region. I want to thank all of the firefighters and personnel from provincial wildfire service for their relentless work! It’s been a brutal stressful time for many. So much loss. Condolences to the Nowell family on their tragic loss in the Lac du Bonnet Wendigo fire. Let’s pray for more rain.
We tried to salvage the long weekend with a good ol’ trip to Lockport. Took the kids out for catfish. The Red River has been on fire since the opener. Everyday is a bit different but the bite is consistent enough to lay in a few. Boy did the kids have a great time!
We fished standard catfish rigs with shrimp. We tried cut bait (sucker) but shrimp was better. Cats can have a bait preference so try it all. 3oz no roll sinkers were holding well in the current along the break line. I do want to mention that we did have some cats come out of shallow water as well. Line choice is always tricky while shore fishing at Lockport. We did break off on a couple fish in the rocks with 50lb braid mainline. Bring lots of rigs and weights! I tie my own cat rigs with 30 pound big game monofilament and snelled 5/0 circle hooks.
Good Tip: Bring rubber boots. There’s a lot of shallow spots approximately 20 feet out from shore and it’s easier to release the fish from in the water. Please be careful. May is always prime time for cats. Get out there and have FUN!
NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO
Gussy was back home terrorizing the bass and walleye on Lake of the Woods. He was out for a couple of hours and caught some great fish. When Gussy says they are biting it is time to get on the water.
“I was using that marabou jig for smallmouths. For walleyes, I seldom use anything other than a Ned rig (green pumpkin Hula StickZ) or a small swimbaits (MinnowZ). They work.”
SASKATCHEWAN
Robert Schulz – G&S Marina Outfitters
The Northerns are still in the shallow bays resting up after their spawn. They are just starting to put the feed bag on so in the next few days the bite should be on for the pike. Casting swim baits and floating a smelt under a bobber are producing some nice fish.ALBERTA
Wes David, Fishing the Wild West TV
The southern Alberta reservoirs are fishing extremely well since the season opener on May 8th. Reports are coming in that anglers are catching both quality and quantity of walleye.
All the boat launches, docks, and marina systems are in place and are in good shape. The campgrounds were full of anglers and weekend campers for the long weekend in May. However, in typical fashion, rain made the first long weekend of the year a little soggy, but that didn’t seem to slow the walleye bite.
On Tuesday, after the long weekend, I fished Crawling Valley Reservoir in the Brooks Tourism Region, and I caught many walleye less than five minutes from the boat launch. The walleye were holding in nine to 13 feet of water, either along the shoreline or on shallow water sunken humps adjacent to the shoreline. Anyone who has fished Crawling Valley Reservoir knows the reservoir is loaded with these sunken humps. However, not all these sunken humps were created equal. Walleye were holding on some humps while others were abandoned.
Bottom-bouncing a PK Vortex with a minnow until you located walleye was a great search and locate presentation, then setting up and vertical jigging the edges of the humps or sharp drop offs of the shoreline with a Chubbs jig and a Liquid Mayhem soft plastic produced consistent bites. I see reports from Lake Winnipeg that the walleye bite is on. I guess I’m heading east.