Make Yourself at Home for Manitoba Ice Fishing

Manitoba boasts countless incredible ice-fishing destinations.

September 18, 2024 By David A. Brown

Sitcoms, reality shows, national news, college football, yellow perch fleeing the walleye’s approach.

Wait, what?

Sounds like we broke the series there, but if you’re cozily tucked inside one of Gaune Fishing’s Yetti ice shacks strategically placed atop Lake Winnipeg, you might see any or all of those. Owner Chris Gaune said these heated and luxuriously furnished apartments on the ice offer one of fishing’s most unique “getaways.”

Moreover, while seasoned hard water anglers appreciate the complete enclosure during harsh conditions, this endearing experience creates a stress-free scenario that’s ideal for introducing first-timers to Manitoba’s stellar ice fishing.

“It’s like fishing from your living room,” Gaune said. “You can cook dinner, you have a microwave, you have a fridge, you have satellite TV, you have Wi-FI, you have (Garmin) Livescope.

“Some people will be watching the fish come in on Livescope while they’re watching a movie at the end of the day, or the kids will be playing their video games, while fishing at the same time. You pretty much have all the amenities of home, except when you open up the door you have a big lake in front of you.”

Fantastic Fishery

No doubt, Lake Winnipeg showcases an ice fishing bonanza that often features some of the biggest ‘eyes you’ll ever lay, ahem, eyes upon. What makes these waters so appealing for impressive quality and quantity? Matt Smith of Kannuck Outfitters, who also offers ice shack rentals, said Lake Winnipeg’s consistency is one of its strongest attractions.

01-manitoba-ice-kannuck-04 — Big walleyes are the norm at Kannuck Outfitters.

“On Lake Winnipeg, you have the benefit of safe ice, and you can pretty much drive anywhere in a truck, most years, so it’s accessible for pretty much anybody who has a 4x4, snowmobile, or track vehicle,” Smith said. “It’s nice because we’re close to the U.S./Canadian border, so we’re a quick trip for anybody in those northern states.”

As for the fishery, Smith said Winnipeg’s in solid shape. And with the lake’s large limestone influences, this is the place to find the big green machine.

“The fishery is going strong; you get really good numbers of fish, lots of big fish and you probably have the best chance of catching a greenback walleye over 10 pounds than anywhere,” he said. “You catch them all winter.”

Gaune shares the Lake Winnipeg wonder: “It’s such a big body of water that holds a lot of fish. It’s the biggest lake in the province and it’s a walleye factory.

02-manitoba-ice-kannuck-05 — Comfort and convenience are top priorities at Kannuck Outfitters.

“You can have unbelievable days of ice fishing. The chance of catching a 10- to 13-pound walleye is not something you can do on every body of water. Somedays you have to work for it and you may only catch a dozen fish, but somedays you can sit there and pound of them and catch 50, 60, 70 fish through the ice.”

“If you’re used to (fisheries) with plowed roads, it’s definitely not that; it’s a little more off the grid,” he said. “That’s where the guide comes in handy. If a comes up here, it’s a lot to take in and when you pull up to that lake and have an idea where to go, where it’s safe to go and where you’re not going to get stuck.”

Something For Everyone

Gaune and Smith both offer a customer-friendly menu of services from basic day rentals, overnight stays on the ice, and guiding in whatever combination suits the angler’s preference. You can run-and-gun, sit-and-watch, fish a little, relax a little—structure is available, but so is flexibility.

04-manitoba-ice-gaunefishing-01 — The whole experience is at the core of the adventure at Gaune Fishing.

Starting with the transportation, Smith uses tracked SUV’s to shuttle people to and from the ice for guided trips or their ice shack accommodations, but he finds about 80 percent of his guests drive their own vehicles. Get to the lake or the lakeshore and your ice fishing outfitter will take it from there.

“Guys can bring their own (transportation) and then a lot of times, they’ll just follow us around when we’re guiding them,” Smith said. “It all depends on what they pay for. If they’re hardcore anglers that have their own stuff, we’ll just keep finding fish and keep them moving.

“If it’s a group of beginners that need more of a hands-on approach then the guides can settle around and stay with them all day and teach them everything.”

05-manitoba-ice-gaunefishing-05 — Trophy class walleyes are the norm at Gaune Fishing.

Between fishing sessions, an ice shack, or a more furnished wheelhouse offers a nice respite from the elements. Quick lunch, power nap, longer rests—it’s simply a matter of personal preference.

“Some guys will combo that with a guide trip and just use it to sleep in; some guys will use it as a home base if they have all their own stuff,” Smith said. “They’ll sleep there, do their meals there and then explore the lake. Some groups just want to hang out and fish in the wheelhouse the whole time.”

Noting that what was once more of a subculture element for seasoned anglers is now gaining mainstream popularity, Smith points out the beginner-friendly appeal of ice shack getaways. Seclusion’s part of the appeal, but help is never far.

06-manitoba-ice-gaunefishing-11 — Catchin big walleyes from the comfort of a wheelhouse that are fully outfitted take the experience at Gaune Fishing up a few notches.

“It’s definitely a cool experience. It’s a great way to get people introduced to ice fishing. You’re sitting in the comfort of basically a little cabin on the ice with TVs and couches. It’s especially good for getting kids into it because you can keep them occupied in there.

“It’s warm and comfortable—you’re really not roughing it. You’ll get a good walk-through of all the equipment and how everything works with the guide, especially if you’re new on the ice. We’re always close by if there are any concerns or safety stuff.”

On Terra Firma: For a more indulgent trip, Bryan Bogdan’s Wekusko Falls Lodge welcomes ice anglers with 10 cabins featuring screened-in decks, satellite TV, heating and air conditioning, fresh bedding/bath linens, cooking and eating utensils, 3-piece bath, Wifi, coffee maker, potable water, refrigerator, stove/oven, microwave, BBQ, and heaters.

The lodge’s location in northern Manitoba provides access to over a million acres of productive ice-fishing spots on Wekusko Lake, Reed Lake, Woosey Lake, Snow Lake, Korman Lake, Deep Lake, and many more. With seemingly endless options, anglers can expect a dynamic mix of walleye, northern pike, lake trout, sauger, burbot, yellow perch, whitefish, tulibee, rainbow trout, and brook trout.

07-manitoba-ice-wekuskofalls-01 — The walleyes are hungry and willing biters at Wekusko Falls.

08-manitoba-ice-wekuskofalls-03 — Lake trout are a favorite species to pursue at Wekusko Falls.

A nice touch at Wekusko Falls Lodge—the heated fish cleaning shack that makes the chore more comfortable. Thaw your catch and clean them at your leisure in a tidy, comfortable facility with LED lights, cup holders, and running water.

09-manitoba-ice-wekuskofalls-09 — The entire family will make memories together at Wekusko Falls, it's totally worth a family winter vacation.

Ask about the all-inclusive Ice Fishing Package.

Top Tactics

Smith said most of his guests like to fish aggressively with LiveTarget rattlebaits, Rapala Rippin’ Raps and Clam spoons. Big fish often like that in-your-face stuff, but the traditional jig and minnow still produces.

Bogdan said 95% of his guests prefer the DIY route, but he also offers guiding. The key to enjoying a multi-species day headlined by walleye, but complemented with pike, burbot, and lake trout—mobility.

“The bite mood is always changing, so you just have to find the active pods of fish,” he said.

Smith finds the same on Winnipeg.

“The south basin where we do most of our fishing is just a massive area and there’s not a lot of structure, so those walleyes are always moving and chasing bait,” he said. “We’re pretty good about moving shacks once or twice a week to try and stay on top of those schools of fish. We do this all year and try and go with the seasonal progression."

Gaune makes a notable observation: In addition to the greenback walleye’s different appearance, he finds they also exhibit a unique lure tendency.

10-manitoba-ice-wekuskofalls-07 — Winter adventure awaits in Manitoba.

“I do feel like our Lake Winnipeg greenbacks—through the ice, but maybe not the case in the summertime—they do tend to go after spoons quite a bit,” Gaune said. “In a lot of lakes I fish in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Ontario, usually you don’t get away with catching walleyes on spoons.”

What to Expect

Ice shack rentals typically include the basic cooking gear and utensils. Guests just bring their own food and beverages.

Preparing your own meals in the icehouse definitely adds to the ambiance, but Gaune and Smith will set up fish fries, upon request. (Walleye and burbot are the local favorites.)

Furthermore, with Lake Winnipeg situated about an hour from Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, Smith notes the local options. Along with tackle shops and grocery stores, the route includes hotels and cabins for anglers who’d prefer to ice fish during the day and sleep ashore.

For DIY types, Gaune offers this parting advice: “If they’re coming up to stay in one of my Ice Castles, I have them covered with everything—rods, reels, tackle and so forth. But if they’re coming up just to do a run-and-gun and hit the lake themselves, bring a decent 38- to 42-inch rod with braid and fluoro/mono leader. Bring variety of baits to determine what they want certain days.

“If you’re going to be fishing outside, dress warmly. Lake Winnipeg is called ‘Big Windy’ for a reason, so if it’s minus 20, minus 30 and she starts blowing, she gets cold really quick.”