From: Bryan Bogdan – Wekusko Falls Lodge
We have ice and lots of it. The ice has lifted which has drained majority of the slush off. The top half of the ice (36-48″) has started to candle, but we will have good ice to fish until the end of season, on April 30. The slush factor made ice fishing tough to be mobile, as well as a slower bite. Things really turned on at the end of March, but as the slush built up, the fish slowed down. Recently, things are starting to stabilize and fish are moving towards pre spawn areas….finally.
Walleye
Rattle baits and horizontal baits have been the best. Somedays you don’t even need to bait. We have been catching in 7-28′ of water, depending mostly on water clarity. Jigging raps, acme hyper glides, rippn raps and buck shot spoons have been very productive. Tipping with a minnow is how we start, but if the bite is on that day we discard the bait and really work the bait until a mark shows up on the flasher, at which point slowing the presentation down and keeping just above the fish. This technique has hit a lot of fish this week.
Pike
Shallow bays are the ticket right now, fish are in them for both pre spawn and eating. Oxygen is re-established in the skinny water (3-5′), allowing for tip up action to be fast and furious. Hanging both big and small baits produce every side of fish right now. To get the big ones, you just have to week through the small ones. But the big girls have big girths right now. An average 40″ pike right now has an 18″ girth, making for some big weight when you hook into the really big fish.
Lake Trout
With the ice lifting, the lakers can be anywhere. Every lake has it’s own differences and fish actions. Clearwater lake seem stop be productive in the 60′ range, while Reed Lake is 30′ or under. We are constantly catching Lake Trout while we are like fishing in tight to shore, meaning they literally can be anywhere right now. The spoon bite has been best lately, with tipping them with minnows. Dead sticking ciscoes has still been extremely effective as well. As a reminder, be sure to run a fluorocarbon leader, to keep anything that is line shy interested. I also have been cutting down to 15lb fluoro on those real finicky days.
Burbot
They are really moving up on reefs right now getting ready to spawn. Look for sandy areas, or sand/rock reefs adjacent to deep water. Anything with a rattle, of tube jigs has been the most effective right now. Burbot can be caught all day as the spawn draws close, instead of the typical night bite. Also remember to chum, as that additional scent is a sending beacon, bringing the fish right to you. 5-28′ is the depths where we are most concentrating on, as they are very active int these areas chasing any fish off the spawning areas.
Rainbows and Brookies
As the ice has lifted, many fish are really pushing tight to shore as they cruise looking for more larvae and invertebrates to inhale. The average rainbow right now on Kormans Lake is 21″ right now, and many 17″+ brookies are being caught. This fishery is only going to get better with time. Chartreuse powerbait has been very effective, as well as small spoons tipped with a mealworm or nightcrawler. But be sure to make sure your dead stick rod is well secured, as these big rainbows are not scared to take it in the water.
Bryan Bogdan
Wekusko Falls Lodge
877-358-2341
