PERCH PARADISE
LAKE MANITOBA , LAKE WINNIPEGOSIS and PELICAN LAKE

PELICAN LAKE

It's a lake with a history of winterkill but with the addition of an aeration system and better control of water levels, it has turned into a trophy perch fishery.

This winter, taking a break in a hectic schedule, and with a beautiful sunny day forecast and mild temperatures I couldn't resist temptation any longer. After quickly loading up the ice fishing equipment in the back of the truck, I headed west out of Winnipeg, on Highway # 2 past the communities of Starbuck, St Claude, Holland, Treherne and finally Glenboro. I then headed south on Highway # 5 from Glenboro about 50 kilmetres until I reached the turnoff to Pleasant Valley and Provincial Road #253. From here it was about another 35 kilometres to the valley itself, the very south end of Pelican Lake. Turning right on the grid road at the bottom of the hill I couldn't help but notice a huge sign proclaiming all the restoration work that had been done to this lake. It seems both Agriculture Canada and the Manitoba Conservation Department have been involved in lake level regulation to prevent winter kill of the fish species that swim in this shallow fertile lake.

It was another right at the Pelican Lake access road and then a left at the Pembina River Weir and diversion control building with a BEER message scrawled on the side. Down the dike I bounced, following the rutted trail of hundreds of ice anglers who had gone before me. In no time at all I was on the vast ice surface of Pelican Lake. Spread before me were about 25 vehicles, and about 12 ice shacks all out enjoying a great day of ice fishing for jumbo perch and the mighty northern pike. In fact on this particular day I must have caught and released some 20 northern pike, the biggest 90 centimetres while trying to catch perch. It was crazy! That is was in the short four hours that I fished before darkness descended. What a fishery! Hats off to the local anglers and organizations who have worked hard to make this lake what it is today. I will be back very soon.

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