Cold, Cold Go Away

Mr. Chicago meets Ms. Pike

It's been a bit of a weather rollercoaster in the Opasquia Provincial Park. Summer has had a hard time getting going up here even though some guests experienced highs in the triple digits one their travels through Winnipeg a week ago. While the day time highs push into more normal numbers, the nights have brought the return of freezing temps almost every night this past week. Our chainsaws have been working overtime trying to keep wood piles full. 

The cool weather and late spring has delayed the normal progression of the local ecosystem. Bears are still being seen chasing after beaver pups in their dens - often by now they'd have moved onto fishing for suckers in streams as their spawning runs begin. Likewise, water surface temps have failed to get above the mid to upper 50's on any of our lakes. 

Cold water and variable weather has seemingly led to variable fishing. Some groups haven't been able to keep fish OUT of the boat, others were finding the fish less receptive. The outgoing guests at Cocos this week reported some of the best fishing they've ever had, and one member of their group has been coming up since the 70's. Likewise, West Lake said just about any bait, any color, presented anyway seemed to entice both Walleye and Northern. They boated several Walleye in the mid-20" range and several Pike in the mid-30's. Favorite baits included perch colored and blue / orange crank-baits set to dive 5-10' and small jigs tipped with black twister tails.

I had the opportunity to spend a few days fishing at Central and Southwest this past week. We were targeting Walleye almost exclusively and had great success on just about any wind blown shore or island, but again the fish were shallow with many being picked up around 4'. 

Moonrise over XZK

With warm days in the forecast, we'll see if water temps. come up and the fish go down.

Speaking of water levels, the lakes are now WAY down. Many of the typical problematic rocks that we mark at Central are now well above the surface. Other ones that are not usually an issue may become so. For guests coming up to any of our lakes soon, please exercise caution while boating to avoid a rock strike and drive with the trim/tilt tab in the DOWN position while traveling forward to lessen the effects of an impact should one occur. 

We're excited to have the next group of fishermen and women (several this week!) in camp as of this afternoon and will update as we get reports from them. 

Happy fishing everyone,

Ryan

Nice Central Lake Walleye

Shore Lunch!