LAKE OF THE PRAIRIES- PART 2

The combines were rolling across the grainfields of western Manitoba as I trailered my boat to the Lake of the Prairies in late September. Arriving at Kilmans Resort on the west shore of this long reservoir shortly after noon, it was time to renew some old friendships with a group of buddies that had come as far away as Whitehorse for a weekend of fishing and relaxing.

After getting our gear stowed in one of the two cabins we had rented, we organized our fishing gear in one boat and launched at the cement ramp right at the resort. With over five hours of daylight left, we had plenty of time to find some of the walleye this reservoir is famous for. Heading south toward the dam face, we started marking fish in seven metres of water. With only light winds to contend with we used the back troll motor to position the boat along a drop-off about a hundred metres from the dam face itself. On the first drift we landed and released a couple walleye that were in the restricted 45 centimetre to 70 centimetre zone but the next two came in short and were placed in the back livewell for supper that evening. We fished this area for the next hour and half with pretty good success but the best was yet to come.

Heading back towards the resort we moved into some shallower water. Tying on lighter jigs in the 1/8-ounce range, we cast the shoreline in water that was two to four metres deep close to visible matted weed clumps.

Just down the shoreline two or three large fish swirled in the shallow water along the edge and in the pockets between clumps of these same weeds. Casting toward the edge of the nearest clump, my jig had barely entered the water when there was a solid thump of a big fish taking the minnow and jig combination. Sure enough we had found the walleye and the next three hours were every anglers dream as we caught one fish after another, even one over the 70 centimetre slot size.

A white jig tipped with a minnow was the ticket on this particular trip, probably because we could see small silver minnows jumping everywhere as aggressive walleye pursued them.

After a round of golf the next day at the spectacular but tough Gilbert Plains course we once again found the walleye shallow this time on a point of bay across from the resort that had some weed clumps as well. While the bite was a little slower at first, once the sun started to set over the valley, the fish became active once again.

While Lake of the Prairies does not produce the number of trophy walleye that certain anglers look for; it does provide some of the best fishing overall for walleye in western Canada. Myra Kilkenny, who along with husband Lawrence and Annette and Jim Mansell own and operate Kilmans, says compliance to the slot size has been excellent. Regional biologist Ken Kansas knows the harvest as been way above average given the fishing success anglers are having but while not concerned in the short term, he says two or three years at that level would have an affect on the fishing.

If you decide to take the four-hour ride from Winnipeg to try your luck, there is a variety of accommodations now available in this part of the world. Russell and Roblin both have top quality motels a short distance away with the Asessippi campground on the south end of the reservoir ideal for families in the summer. Pyotts Point in the center section of the reservoir and Rickers in the north are two more camping spots that allow easy access.

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