Fishing The Wilderness Lakes and Waterways of the WINNIPEG RIVER

New Regulations Posted By the MNR

New regulations restricting size and catch limits for walleye ONLY, anglers on the Winnipeg River have been approved and will go into effect beginning Jan. 1.
MNR McAughey Says,
It’s going to have a fairly significant impact in terms of fish anglers can keep.”
The new regulations, which apply to both residents and non-residents, includes a slot size allowing anglers to keep only walleye 35 to 45 centimeters ( 13.8 - 17.7 in) long as well as one over 70 cm in length (27.6 in. For non-residents, the catch and possession limit has been reduced to two walleye or sauger for a sport licence, and one on a conservation licence.
MNR also noted that the new regulations apply to the entire Winnipeg River system from the outflow of the Lake of the Woods to the Manitoba border including the following lakes: Middle, Gun, Pistol, Lost, Hidden, Little Sand, Big Sand, Roughrock, Swan, Tetu and Eaglenest.
“People may not be aware that all of those water bodies are part of the Winnipeg River,” said MNR McAughey. “And these regulation changes apply to all of those water bodies.”
MNR must also weigh the impact management decisions might have on the local economy due to its effects to the tourism industry on the Winnipeg River.
“At the end of the day if you can improve the fishery and still allow (non-residents) to catch and eat fish while they are here, they will go home happy,” said McAughey.
“We think (the new rules) will be palatable, but at the same time it will prevent anglers from keeping mature female walleyes.”

Due to this new regulation change KCR will be reinstating the taking of the 1 big Northern according to the fishing regulations on limits and size put out by the MNR.

Starting in 2004 we will no long refund deposits of cancellation no matter what the reason or who makes the deposit. If one person takes charge in sending the deposit they should be sure they collect it from each person booking. Also starting in 2004 you will be charged for the plan you booked for regardless of an early departure. In other words if you book for a 6 day stay you pay for the 6 days.

The number of anglers who catch and release fish is growing rapidly. Many anglers who practice catch-and-release fish for the enjoyment and sport. Of course a lot of anglers have always 'let the little ones go to grow up and get big', while keeping the bigger fish to eat. But lately, fisheries managers and anglers have realized that letting medium-size to large fish go , makes even more sense. This is because the larger, older fish are the breeders.

We have purchased more of the Misty River 18 foot boats totaling now to 6 as upgrades. These boats have electric start motors, livewell, build in storage, floor and room for 4 fisherman or 3 fisherman plus guide. The boats will be $30.00 more per day for 2 people and $10.00 per day for each additional person up to a total of 4 people than the regular boats. 2 more of these boats maybe be added by mid summer.

Many of you have been asking what to tip the guides, so here is the guideline. Average tip per guide is $20.00 a day. This is when guiding 2 fisherman per oat. If the guide is guiding more people such as a follow boat it's usually more.

Border Crossing

Border Crossing has been questioned now for the last couple of years, so here is what I suggest. Answer only the question they ask. They have been asking for picture ID's and birth certificate now so you should bring them along. Sometimes they will just wave you on with just a few question and the next time they will tell you to pull over. For more information on what can be brought into Canada contract the border people.

Walleye Equipment List

Jigs

A mixture of round head jigs in sizes 1/4 through 1/2's with the majority being in the 3/8th and ounce weights. Colors include plain, chartreuse, orange, black, pink, white, blue, red, and two tones. Always sharpen your hooks before using. Jigs can be used with all live bait or twister tails.

Crank baits

The Rapala Original Floating Minnow, the Husky Jerk, and the Shad Rap. Given one crank bait and only one, it would be the Shad Rap, probably the best producer of trophy walleye.

Shad Raps, number 7's, 8's, and 9's. For the Husky Jerks, Use HJ08 and HJ12, and in the Minnow it's the 9's, 11's, and 13's. Colors, well for bright days it's bright colors and dark colors for dark days, or reverse it. Perch, crawdad, silver are favorites.

Blades in all the hammered such nickel, gold, copper. Chartreuse, red, orange, blue, white, green, yellow, black and anything else you care to try.

Northern Pike Equipment List

NORTHERN PIKE - Think bright colors! Bait-casting rods spooled with 10 to 17 pound line are suggested. Tandem spinner baits in 3/8- to I -oz. sizes are excellent. Choose silver, gold or orange blades matched with white or fluorescent skirts. A selection of spoons, including five of diamonds and red/white colors are an Ontario tradition. Don't overlook a Daredevil or Little Cleo in silver/blue combos, at least 3/4 oz. in size.

Mepps or Blue Fox inline spinners are superb. Use blades in 4 and 5 size up through the Musky Killer. Silver or fire tiger blades are good, including prism blades. The larger Mepps Minnows are great - in blade sizes of and 5. Steel leaders are suggested on the spinners.

Larger minnow lures are important - Rapalas (sizes I I and up), Husky Jerks, Rebels, Thunder Sticks, etc. Rat-L-Traps in larger sizes, emphasis on nickel and gold. Also, large jigs 3/8 to 3/4 oz. tipped with a 5-inch grub or Twister are good choices. Small musky lures take fish, including Cranes, 6-inch Suicks, baby buck tails, etc.

Small mouth Bass Equipment List

Quality monofilament - 6-or 8-pound test. The traditional small mouth rig starts with a jig and night crawler or plastic combination, typically 1/8 and 1/4 oz. jigs with an oversized hook. Jig colors should include orange, brown, fluorescent green and natural shades. A selection of plastics start with Twisters (2 and 3-inch) and grubs, 4- inch finesse worms (Berkeley, Zoom, Kalin, etc), crayfish plastics and 3-inch tubes (same color recommendations as jig heads). Besides regular ball and standup jigs, darter-style jigs in 1/8 and 1/4 oz. are excellent for plastic worms, skirted twin tails and grubs.

Shad-Rap style crank baits in natural colors, including orange (duplicating crayfish) Sizes 7 and 8. Also, crank baits that duplicate crayfish - like Rebel Crawfish. A selection of suspending and floating minnows in 3 and 4-inch sizes, including floating Rapalas (sizes 5 and 7), Husky Jerks, Suspending Rogues, Jr. Thunder Sticks, etc. Also, Rat-L-Traps in 1/4 and 1/2 oz. sizes.

Downsized tandem spinner baits, typically 1/4 oz. and Beetle and Twister Spins. Mepps style in-line spinners in No. 3 and 4 sizes are suggested. Good top water lures are the new Rapala Skitter Pop (No. 7 size), Pop-R's, Zara Spook Puppy (3-inch size) and 1/4-oz. Hula Popper.

At times pre-rig worms in 4-and 6-inch sizes are deadly. The Worm Ike-Con and Mac's are good choices. Blake more Road Runners in 1/8 and 1/4 oz. sizes are suggested.

BAIT COLORS
Buck tails & spinner baits - Chartreuse- Black - Purple - Red - Orange and natural Blades - Large Colorado & Willow leaf - Colors are Silver - Red & Copper
Stick Baits - blue/sliver - brown/orange - black - chartreuse and any other color you want to try.