SEASONS

WHACKM Outdoors operates year around, and it is imperitive to book a trip with timing in mind to target the species you desire. Here is a basic breakdown of the four seasons and what time to book would best interest you. Keep in mind this is very basic information. Contact us for more specific information.

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Summer

Late June to end of August

This is the best time, obviously, for fair weather fisherman. Although not every day can be bright and sunny, temperatures generally range between 20-30 C (68-86 F). Warm water species like carp, pike, and walleye are a good choice, however trout are not. Trout can be caught during this time, but warm water temperatures stress these cold water fish during the fight, and mortality rates drastically rise on released fish. Ethically, WHACKM will not book trips for trout fishing during this summer period as fall, winter, and spring offer great times to catch.

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Fall

September to November

September still looms as a great time for walleye and pike, but later fall means colder water and lethargic fish, however big ones can be caught. Fall time is a great time for trout, but not necessarily for the highest numbers. However, some of the biggest trout taken happens in the fall. Temperatures can really vary in the fall time, pretty much anywhere from summer temperatures to winter temperatures depending on the year, so there needs to be a wide range of clothing you must bring to make sure you stay comfortable. Ice can begin to form anywhere from late October to early December on the lakes, and safe ice (6+ inches) for ice fishing can occur even in late November. As a rule of thumb, September and October are safe open water times, while November can be a wild card, so keep this in mind.

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Winter

December to March

Safe ice occurs at different times on different lakes, however December is the time safe ice is forming, and having a large variance of lakes is important for access. December can be cold, and tends to be bitter at times in late December reaching -30 C (-22F). Before you decide that this time of year is too cold to handle, and most people do, I will tell you that early ice can produce the hottest bite of the year for pike, walleye, perch, and trout. Second or third week of December would be my recommendation. As thicker ice forms, the walleyes tend to shut down during cold stretches, however pike and trout can be caught all winter long. The best time of the year to land a trophy pike is from mid January until the end of March. Walleye fishing can be hit and miss through January and February, but recovers in March, as temperatures by this time can begin to reach the melting point.

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Spring

April to Mid June

General fishing closure here in Southern Manitoba is from April 1st until the second weekend in May. This closure affects all species except for stocked trout in designated stocked trout waters. Don't fret, because during this springtime period, is the best time of year for trout. In fact, late ice in April can be downright explosive for trophy trout, and can be astonishingly warm out on the ice. Just like with ice forming, lakes will loose ice at different rates. However, there are a lot of options here so there will always be a location to wet a line. When the ice peels off, the trout bite stays hot until the water begins to warm in late June. The opening of the general season brings about good fishing for those species as well. Weather warms from melting point in the beginning of April to summer conditions by late June, with May being a wild card of anywhere in between.