Northern Manitoba fishing...

tod osier

tod osier

Well-known member
Supporter
Since this group never disappoints when it comes to great info....

I'm starting to think about a fishing trip to Northern Manitoba next summer, was thinking maybe a 10-14 day canoe trip in the far north woods for some fishing. Get off the road via canoe on a chain of lakes or slow river/lakes chain for lakers, walleye and brookies. I'd also like to take the train to Churchill for a week or so see the birds, belugas, maybe bears in season. This would a DIY trip 100%. I'd love to float a river from the boreal out to the Hudson Bay and would do it if I could figgure out something that would work for less than crazy money.

Anyone spend some time up there? I'm at the point where I know there are some crazy places there - lots of remote lodges with amazing fishing, but don't have any lines on specific areas to look (it is all water on the map). There are not all that many trip planning resources for the area, compared to areas I've spent time in. I can spend time on the phone this winter taking to fisheries folks once the summer/field season is over, but I'm just looking for some grist for the mill now just to keep thinking and any advice from some who was been there.

T
 
The Sutton River in Northern Ontario is a 75 mile trip that ends at Hudson Bay. http://hearstair.wordpress.com/sutton-river-specs/ It is world class brook trout fishing and it terminates inside Polar Bear Provincial Park. There are also guide goose trips to the Bay in late August. It would not disappoint but it is an expensive flight. It would not get you anywhere near Churchill Manitoba.

I also recommend the following site for canoe routes. http://www.myccr.com/content/northern-region-0 I have linked you to the northern Manitoba routes but you might consider browsing other areas. This comprehensive site has great routes all across Canada.

I have canoed many of the routes in Ontario if you are interested.
 
Thanks Paul! The Sutton River trip was suggested in a private conversation with another forum member a few weeks back. I've read several trip reports from there and all I can say is wow!!!! It does have everything, amazing fish, easy water and starts in Boreal and ends near the coast. Cost is high and I didn't call the hearns to see what the actual costs would be and how they could accomodate us, but that is something to keep in mind. I'll always choose not to go with an outfitter if I can get away with it. The flight time in that area is really long to get dropped and picked up, so I understand the expense. We also dont' need fishing quite that good :).

I registered for myccr.com the other day and I've been looking through routes (and trying to get some books). I was thinking Ontario for a while, but Churchill has a strong draw with the Belugas for Gus (not that I'd care unless you could harpoon them :) and there are a LOT of birda I'd really like to see, so it seemed to make sense to to a wildnerness trip in Manitoba on the way to Churchill, rather than Ontario. I'd love to find a float that was 1/4 to 1/2 the price of the Sutton. I also am not up on the flying with canoe laws yet in Canada these days, so I need to read on that too.

Again thanks! I enjoy just reading about the cool stuff out there, let alone doing it.
 
How about this one Tod? http://www.myccr.com/...eroutes/deer-river-0 It takes you right where you want to be.

This year the water is really high but there is no telling what it will be next year. Manitoba is experiencing serious flooding right now.
Click to expand...


You are too good Paul, I read on that route a couple weeks ago when I was really fired up and was salivating on the idea. The Class I-II-III depending on water scares me - with Gus at 8 - if it was Jen and I - no problem, but possible class III with a kid :(. I also read that in low water the route is too shallow and people have had to cancel. I believe there are guided wilderness trips led on the river, so there are likely some folks to find that really know the water well to judge flow in relation to do-ability. I'm going to keep coming back to that route since it is so perfect. River stuff in a canoe with kid scares me, that is one of the reasons I was thinking lakes fishing wilderness and then Churchill.

Our trip canoe is white - I was thinking of freighting it to Churchill on the train to commune with the whales - that was untill I read that it is mating season!
 
That's a funny thought on the belugas.

Check this out. http://www.myccr.com/...-telescope-and-onnie

I was born and raised in Kenora, not too far south of here. For the last 15 years I have been canoe camping and hunting to the southeast of Kenora in the area around Ignace and Sowden Lake. Lots and lots of canoe and camping opportunities (crown land) and I can feed you lots of ideas it it interests you. There is one canoe route on the English River but it is a bit absurd the way they do it. There is a much easier way that is family friendly, accessible, and safe.

[inline woodland.jpg]

View attachment woodland.JPG
 
Last edited:
English River at Talking Falls near Ken Lake.

IMG_0287.jpg


IMG_0291.jpg


8c6dba62.jpg

 
Tod,

I have a contact in Gilham, MB that is a Canadian Ranger and works for MB Hydro and frequents Churchill. I can contact him and see if he'd give you the skinny on how to do this DIY. If anyone can give you some tips he'll be able to.

I'll let you know what he says.
 
Thanks Paul, those are some gorgeous pics. Your link didn't work for me, but I'm thinking in wood caribou was where you meant to send me.

What I'm thinking at this point is to try to find someplace in Northern Manitoba to do some wilderness canoing, since we need to get up to Thompson or Gillam to catch the train. That is what I'm thinking anyway, since going North, go North, plus licensing and reference materials for one vs 2 provinces. I just got a copy of the Backroads Manitoba and I'm startign to pick myway through it. The large parks in the area you are talking about would be nice since I'm assuming general crown land would be more beat up/logged than a provincial park. I'm just looking for ways to exclude some stuff to streamline to start making progress. If you said that the fishing and scenery was better in the area you know, I'd be more than all ears. I appreciate your info and pics thus far - Thanks!
 
Tod,

I have a contact in Gilham, MB that is a Canadian Ranger and works for MB Hydro and frequents Churchill. I can contact him and see if he'd give you the skinny on how to do this DIY. If anyone can give you some tips he'll be able to.

I'll let you know what he says.
Click to expand...


Bryan, wow, thanks for the offer. Any info you could get, I'd appreciate. If you talk to him can you ask about fishing in Churchill, I'm having trouble finding any specific info on what is available from there. Looking at the area near Gillam, Thompson, etc, there sure is a lot of water there. If he had any suggestions as far as lakes that are semi-remote and had great fishing and great wilderness experiance - that would be awesome. We are good with being self sufficient in the wildnerness, but are slow movers with a 7-8 year old in tow, so that limits us as far as fast water and a lot of portaging, long portages are not so bad, but lots of portaging or technical paddling - not good, if that makes sense.
 
Todd,

Several years ago I did a duck/goose trip to Manitoba. Just freelanced it with my Grumman Sportboat and my 6hp Suzuki. A rancher in the area put me on to the walleye fishing in the Waterhen River, which runs between Lake Manitoba and Waterhen Lake.

I told him I didn't bring any fishing equipment he said, "Take me and I'll show you how to catch them." When I picked him up and asked what they bite on he said "beef heart".

We trolled a piece of beef heart behind a "Junebug" spinner rig. I would never believed it if I hadn't seen it. This was early October, and the duck shooting on the river was incredible. Lots of redheads. I would however, recommend bringing a bigger boat, as the river current was very strong.

This is not as far North.as Churhill, but it's very remote. No cell service and good luck trying to find a loaf of bread and jar of peanut butter.

Art
 
Todd,

Several years ago I did a duck/goose trip to Manitoba. Just freelanced it with my Grumman Sportboat and my 6hp Suzuki. A rancher in the area put me on to the walleye fishing in the Waterhen River, which runs between Lake Manitoba and Waterhen Lake.

I told him I didn't bring any fishing equipment he said, "Take me and I'll show you how to catch them." When I picked him up and asked what they bite on he said "beef heart".

We trolled a piece of beef heart behind a "Junebug" spinner rig. I would never believed it if I hadn't seen it. This was early October, and the duck shooting on the river was incredible. Lots of redheads. I would however, recommend bringing a bigger boat, as the river current was very strong.

This is not as far North.as Churhill, but it's very remote. No cell service and good luck trying to find a loaf of bread and jar of peanut butter.

Art
Click to expand...


That is a great story Art. Beef heart :).

I'll pull my maps out this evening and take a look at the area. I know I'm really going to want to duck hunt up in the future.

T
 
I sent my friend the information you were seeking, I'm sure he'll be in touch soon and hopefully get you pointed in the right direction Tod. I may have to apply a "finders fee" though and make you hunt with me some day.
 
I sent my friend the information you were seeking, I'm sure he'll be in touch soon and hopefully get you pointed in the right direction Tod. I may have to apply a "finders fee" though and make you hunt with me some day.
Click to expand...


I'll accept the finders fee, BUT I think you are getting the short end of the stick! Thanks, T
 
I drove to Gillam one time, which is on the Nelson river. I don't know if that's one of the spots you were considering, but its the end of the road. You could fly or train to Churchill from there. I remember it being 17 hours road time from Neepawa to Gillam. BORING and flat.

What about one of the southern "Mountain" parks like Riding Mountain or Duck Mountain?

A flight from Winnipeg to Churchill for a visit might turn out to be the best option and there is tons of Canadian Shield country north and east of the big city in the Whiteshell area. Geography wise, you can see Nothern MB by going east into Ontario as well. Good place for a rock hound who likes to fish.

Let us know as you get this plan dialed in.

Mike
 
I drove to Gillam one time, which is on the Nelson river. I don't know if that's one of the spots you were considering, but its the end of the road. You could fly or train to Churchill from there. I remember it being 17 hours road time from Neepawa to Gillam. BORING and flat.

What about one of the southern "Mountain" parks like Riding Mountain or Duck Mountain?

A flight from Winnipeg to Churchill for a visit might turn out to be the best option and there is tons of Canadian Shield country north and east of the big city in the Whiteshell area. Geography wise, you can see Nothern MB by going east into Ontario as well. Good place for a rock hound who likes to fish.

Let us know as you get this plan dialed in.

Mike
Click to expand...


Mike,

I was out of town. and just got in.

My thought was I'd like to get up to Churchill as part of the trip and I'd probably drive to Thompson or Gillam and take the train from there. From the end of the road the train ride is not supposed to be too bad for length and it goes through some country I'd like to see (I haven't spent nearly enough time in the taiga-tundra transition area and it is a lot less expensive than flying). The potential boring-ness is something that doesn't bother me, you have to see it once to decide that it is boring (people say the plains are boring too and I don't agree with that :).

The only reason I was looking into Northern Manitoba for fishing was that it was more remote than more south and I'd always pick that. If the fishing would be way better further south, I'd be all ears. We woudl still probably drive to Gillam to take the train North if we did a canoe trip. I seemed to me to make sense to try to get remote as possible for the quality of the experiance (plus dumb fish are easier to catch as you know). I'm open to your thoughts!

T
 
Reply from my friend that lives in Gillam, MB. If you have more questions feel free to post em' and I'll send them to Brady.

I would suggest the Snow Lake Area. Reed Lake, Tramping Lake, Wekusko Lake. Still in the Canadian Shield and lots of Canoe ability. Churchill Gillam is swamp and bugs. Very technical rivers with tons of unmaintained portages
 
Reply from my friend that lives in Gillam, MB. If you have more questions feel free to post em' and I'll send them to Brady.

I would suggest the Snow Lake Area. Reed Lake, Tramping Lake, Wekusko Lake. Still in the Canadian Shield and lots of Canoe ability. Churchill Gillam is swamp and bugs. Very technical rivers with tons of unmaintained portages
Click to expand...


Thanks Bryan, please pass on thanks to Brady. I'll sit down with a map and pick through these suggestions. I appreciate the suggestions!

T
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top