Fishing Plans
Bring your favorite fishing rods and reels along with rigs for walleye, bass, and northern pikes. Pliers come in especially handy for de-hooking northerns as well.
You will want to be current on all Manitoba fishing rules and regulations, as Conservation officers visit the lake periodically to enforce the laws.
Make sure your line is fresh and your barbless hooks are sharp. You are going to a great fishing lake!
Fishing Licenses and vehicle parking permits can only be purchased online at manitobaelicensing.ca
Barbless hooks are now compulsory when fishing in the Province of Manitoba. May we suggest to re-bait your favourite lures with a barbless hook, or pinch flat the barbs down on the lures that you intend to use.
Careful handling in releasing fish reduces the mortality of released fish.
First-time guests may want to print the map and study it as part of their preparation. Just remember to steer clear of the rocks as you are responsible for any prop or other rental property damage.
One thing you will not need is a guide. Fishing is so good that finding them is not going to be difficult!
WALLEYES
There are not many places you can go where it’s common to catch over 100 walleyes in a single day. Crow Duck Lake in Manitoba, Canada is one of those places. Of course there are other fish to be found in our beautiful lake as well, such as Northern Pike and Smallmouth Bass.
Trophy Walleye Fishing
The Manitoba Conservation launched a walleye stocking experiment in 1985. At that time walleyes were introduced to see if the species would take. Prior to that Crow Duck was known as a pike and Smallmouth bass lake. It didn’t even have walleyes. Between 1985 and 1989, Manitoba fisheries crews stocked over six million walleye fry into the big lake.
Manitoba Conservation implemented the zero-walleye limit in 1993. People look at Crow Duck as an affordable way to experience walleye fishing you’d experience at a far northern lodge or some remote place. It’s a unique experience that has been very popular. It’s probably one of the greatest walleye lakes on the North American continent, and it shows that catch-and-release has worked.
Now a new phase of the fishing experiment has begun. Beginning in 2016 two walleyes under 45 cm ( 17.75 inches) may be taken from the lake. Two walleyes per person are currently the maximum allowed.
A primary walleye fishing method is slip bobbers and night crawlers while anchored. A Lindy rig is popular while drifting for walleye. Bottom bouncers trailing a spinner and worm work well while trolling. Remember that the law throughout Manitoba stipulates that every lure or hook attached to a rod must be barbless, or the barb must be crimped on every hook or lure.
SMALLMOUTH BASS
There are good and fiesty bass to be caught in Crow Duck Lake as well. Bill Kolansky and the friendly staff will give you all the tips on how to land one on your line.
Trophy Bass Fishing
Before walleyes were introduced, Crow Duck Lake was known for its smallmouth bass. The smallmouth bass is a spectacular gamefish. On a light line, the smallmouth puts up a battle, often jumping repeatedly and diving down into the depths. The fight in this fish is bound to win your respect and admiration.
Remember that Smallmouth bass often group together by size. So, if you find a smaller-sized group, there will rarely be a bigger smallmouth among them. Smallmouth bass prefer to hide out where the rock ledge drops off sharply.
Speaking of size, all Smallmouth bass over 40 cm (15.7 inches) must be returned to the lake immediately.
Crow Duck Lake has excellent bass habitat with 75 miles of rocky shoreline, underwater rock piles, and many weed beds. Bass fishing is fantastic in June. Expect to catch lots of nice ‘Smallies’ with an excellent chance of landing a ‘Master Angler Award’ (18″ or more) bass. A smallmouth bass over 18 inches in length is needed to qualify for a Manitoba Master Angler Award. Here is a link to more information about the award: Manitoba Master Angler
