New Iceland’s Legendary Walleye Fishing

Figured that it’s time to talk about Manitoba’s hottest walleye fishery in open water. Can’t really have a Manitoba based blog without talking about Hecla Island in the heart of the former Icelandic colony on Lake Winnipeg. Settlers from Iceland tried to make a living in this harsh environment and many struggled to survive. Today Hecla Island and the surrounding area are fun recreational areas with lots to see as well as lots of fishing.

Around six years ago we boated out from the harbour and encountered only A few boats. A nearby boat told us to never tell anyone about the fishing there. We never did but it was inevitable that word would get out. Soon it would become the walleye fishery in the province. It wouldn’t uncommon to see dozens of boat crowded tight to shorelines. All the popular fishing influencers across the Midwest all make the pilgrimage at some point.

As for the fishing, it’s nearly fly-in quality or even better at times. You can get trophies and numbers which is generally unheard of. A hundred fish with a few trophies in a day is nothing special. The fishing is always mostly decent year round. Plus it’s not far from the population centres of Manitoba and has paved roads right to the boat launch. I may have fished comparable walleye fisheries in the past but nothing really beats the ease of access.

Access and Launches

Gull Harbour has accommodation and supplies if you are planning long term trips. There is a boat launch with a full marina where dock slips can be rented for longer trips. Some of the greatest fishing spots are within sight of the harbour itself. It can be busy so be sure to practice the best launch etiquette possible. Make sure to not use the docks on the north as they are reserved for the commercial fishermen. Use the plastic docks to pick up your boat launcher person. Should be easy to follow other people to know where to stage and park.

Keep in mind that Lake Winnipeg is infected with zebra mussels and spiny water fleas. Be sure to do your part and decontaminate if you plan to fish outside of the Lake Winnipeg watershed.

The Lake

Lake Winnipeg is the 10th biggest freshwater lake in the world and will overwhelm most watercraft if the winds get strong enough. You can never 100% trust the forecast. You need to prepare for the worst and leave if it gets bad. Most fishing takes place between the channel of Hecla Island and Black Island which does provide some protection from waves. A north or south wind will make things uncomfortable. I will say that unless it’s glass calm, I would not venture out on small watercraft.

At times there will be commercial nets. They will be marked by buoys with flags. Best to stay very clear of them to avoid getting caught in them or losing tackle. Be respectful as the commercial fishing industry is a very important livelihood for some.

In terms of navigation, the best tool for me would be Angler’s Edge Mapping, whether it’s the physical chip that works on Lowrance units or the mobile version. The area is quite well mapped with one foot contours. It gives you an idea of where to fish ahead of time and how to avoid hazards. Check the website on how you can obtain Hecla mapping.

Shore Fishing

I figured that I would talk a little about the shore fishing scene in Hecla. Gull Harbour and the Hecla Village have piers that extend into deep-ish water. Commonly you will see tons of anglers with pickerel rigs. I’ve done it many years ago myself and I remember catching tons of perch. Haven’t shore fished there recently ever but I always hear good things.

Boat Fishing

So now we can get into the meat and potatoes. Fishing is actually pretty simple for the most part. All you need are jigs and many tubs of shiners. If you do run out of bait, plastics will suffice. I like jigs with blades as they flutter in the current giving the presentation a bit more flash. High quality jigs are recommended as catching tons of fish will destroy the paint of low quality finishes.

As the area is the choke point of Lake Winnipeg, there is quite a bit of current which is why you may need an assortment of jigs. You may need 1oz jigs at times. The current and wind will dictate where you should fish. Typically the shoreline that receives current and wind has a good chance of producing. Many people anchor in an area and large schools of walleye will come in periodically.

As much as I kind of don’t endorse this, seeing where other anglers fish does kind of give you an idea of where to fish if you are new to Hecla. Just make sure you are clear of other boats and their anchor lines.

One can take a more proactive approach in finding walleye. I’ve seen people drift with the wind. You can move your trolling motor very slowly while jigging to cover water. A very aggressive approach would be to troll crankbaits. These walleyes are fairly aggressive so you can get away with suboptimal presentations. If you have 2D sonar you can drive until you see a few lumps on bottom. If you have forward facing sonar, it’s even better as you can easily determine if your spot is actually fruitful or not.

Get Out There

If you want to experience fly-in fishing without needing to travel long distances, consider Hecla Island as a destination. Many people have caught their personal best walleyes there as well as the most amount of fish caught in a day. It’s easy to get to and has decent accommodations nearby. There are some trails and sightseeing for the non-fishers.

I don’t always go there as I like challenges personally but whenever I do, everyone has a great time with the fast action and big fish. Us Manitobans are truly blessed to have an amazing walleye fishery so close to home.