Ranking All Manitoba Master Angler Fish by Difficulty

Thought this would be a fun topic to tackle given my attempts at participating in this program. As of the writing of this post, I am now ranked 86th in the Master Angler awards. Could probably be higher but I will say I have enough experience to comment on this topic.

The Manitoba Master Angler Program for those who are unaware is a program where you can submit fish if they reach a certain qualifying length. Each species has its own required length and if you can catch five fish that meet the criteria, you get a Specialist Badge. Submitting fish essentially boosts your rank and specialist badges provide a further boost.

So as a fun project, I’m going to give my opinion of how easy it is to obtain a specialist badge for each species. I will admit I don’t have first hand experience with all the species but I will provide second hand information for some.

Evaluation Criteria

I will admit, species difficulty is different for everyone. Some people live much closer to certain fisheries. For the purpose of this activity, we’ll assume the angler is a Winnipeger, the most typical angler possible. We will assume the angler has access to all resources needed to catch fish.

We’ll use this criteria as a way to determine how difficult it is to obtain a specialist badge for each species:

• Cost
  • Distance
  • Equipment Required
• Fishing Difficulty
• Species Availability

We will use a ranking system of five tiers from S to D tiers, with S being the most difficult and D being the easiest.

D Tier

This will be the easiest species in terms of all criteria. The master angler record book is literally littered with all these submissions.

Channel Catfish

Given that the Red River runs through Winnipeg and Lockport is the best catfish fishery in all of Canada, it’s no surprise that catfish are one of the easiest fish to specialize in. No specialized equipment is really required, you can easily fish for them from shore. The average size is nearly master angler sized. One should be able to obtain their specialist badge in a few outings, perhaps even one outing.

Bullhead

I might consider this one to be even easier than catfish. In many of Lake Winnipeg’s tributaries, bullheads are very common and in fact the average size is effectively master angler sized. All you really need is a pickerel rig with worms and you might even catch two at once. Specializing in one day is very possible. In fact I’ve probably specialized in one day while not fishing for them at all (walleye jigging on the Red River).

Common Carp

I’ll admit I do not have my specialist badge for this one (I really should knock it out but never really had time to). Carp while a little bit harder to catch than catfish can be found relatively close to Winnipeg. The Red River has tons of big ones. Lake Manitoba’s tributaries can be loaded with them to the point you could probably cross a ditch on their backs.

Freshwater Drum

Drum like the other species are relatively accessible for most anglers being close to Winnipeg and not requiring a boat. The Whitemud River can be loaded with them and they can be targeted from shore. The Red River and Lake Winnipeg can produce master angler sized drum at times, though less likely than the Whitemud. Definitely harder than catfish but reasonably doable. Drum will eat anything though the best way is shrimp or night crawlers on a pickerel rig.

Goldeye

Goldeye are quite accessible in the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, I have even caught master goldeye within the city limits. Sometimes you can catch a specialist really quickly if you find the right school. A simple bobber and worm is all you need. Though I’ve specialized when just walleye jigging in the fall when there were tons of schools.

Sunfish

This might be a bit harder to get to but there are bodies of water relatively close to Winnipeg where you can catch them. Sunfish as a species are not difficult to catch and the 7” minimum might be a bit too obtainable. Typically a worm with a bobber catches them easily. Usually they are plentiful in numbers so if you do find them, you will likely specialize very quickly.

C Tier

These are the fish that probably need more resources or time to obtain. Though they generally aren’t too hard to knock off the list with some perseverance.

Black Crappie

This is a fish that I have specialized in day multiple times. The benchmark isn’t particularly high and crappies do schools up. The bite can be quite aggressive. The reason why I don’t consider them D tier is that there are some more resources required. A boat really helps when they are schooled in the open basins. Ice fishing is a good way to catch them but you do need sonar and sometimes a snowmobile if you want quality fishing.

Cisco (Tullibee)

This one was a strange one to rank since there is a relatively good fishery where they can be targeted in the winter. They have gotten a bit more difficult in recent times but a few trips will get a specialist badge. They aren’t particularly hard to catch when you do find them. I have also found other good fisheries for them in the Canadian Shield. Does require ice fishing gear and sonar.

Mooneye

I should knock this one off my list as well but they can be pretty easy to find during their run in late summer. The Winnipeg River system is a great place to target them and when you find them, they will be high in numbers and there’s a good chance they will be master angler sized. Though I will say unlike goldeye, a boat is very advantageous if you’re trying to find them.

Smallmouth Bass

There are some fisheries where you can specialize pretty quickly. Though on many good smallmouth waters, you should be able to catch at least one master angler a day. Many lakes in the Whiteshell and Nopiming produce good smallmouth. I would recommend a boat as you can reach many islands and reefs where a master angler smallmouth may be lurking.

Sucker

They can be found by pickerel rigging with worms on most rivers. In most cases they aren’t extremely common so they may take some time but someone who fishes a lot will eventually get their specialist. Sometimes they are caught in the most random of methods when you least expect it.

Now there is a case for them being in D tier as they are now targetable year round. Now I don’t know how well they bite on rod and reel early season when they are in the ditches. I am not totally surprised if people are netting them and submitting them that way. For that reason I’m keeping them in C tier.

Walleye

I feel like with Lake Winnipeg so close, they are quite attainable whether it’s on the boat or ice fishing. I’m not going to say they’re completely easy but with how accessible the fisheries are, most people will catch a master angler walleye at some point. Getting five in a day is possible in the right conditions. Though if you want to use a boat, you likely need a high end boat that can handle the waves of Lake Winnipeg. Ice fishing does offer some good walleyes on the Red River or Lake Winnipeg but it can take many outings to get your specialist badge.

Yellow Perch

We have the Shoal Lakes near Winnipeg which are a good perch fishery. However it can be hit or miss and it’s really only accessible during the ice season. I have heard that in the past, specializing in a day was very much possible. Today getting a master angler there is very much possible but it probably takes some time for a specialist badge.

B Tier

Things get tougher here where you probably need further drives or there really isn’t a consistent strategy.

Brown Trout

Stocked trout in general are not super easy fish to catch and it’s likely you end up with single digit numbers of fish at best. Brown trout are probably the most wary trout out there. Furthermore, there are not many quality brown trout fisheries near Winnipeg. Most likely you will need to go to the parklands region of Manitoba for a chance.

Now there is a bit of a way to cheat brown trout. In the fall, the fish hatcheries release their brood stock into the wild in places not too far from Winnipeg. I’ll admit my biggest brown trout is a brood stock from a pond. Some of the biggest trout in the province are brood stock. They definitely don’t look pretty with their beat up bodies but it’s a way to get the badge. Even then it’s not a super reliable way to specialize, likely several trips are required.

Burbot

There is a reliable fishery in Cedar Lake where there are tons of trophy burbot. Again this is a far drive but if you nail the timing you can get into a ton of burbot. I should really finish this myself one day but I’ve been too busy to visit Cedar.

Largemouth Bass

This is a weird one to evaluate. There is a population in some pits not too far from Winnipeg but the largemouth are extremely wary due to the insane boat traffic. I specialized in these a long time ago but I have to feel it’s not as easy as it used to. There is also Mary Jane Reservoir but getting master angler sized bass aren’t extremely easy.

Northern Pike

This is a hard one in the sense that northern pike are extremely solitary and it’s rare that you will get more than one in a trip. Likely you do need multiple trips just to catch one master angler. If you know the right spots, it does get easier but those spots are pretty confidential and rarely do people have the intel. I will say that there are good pike fisheries not too far from Winnipeg if you are willing to grind and explore.

Northern Manitoba does make things easier with their superior pike fisheries though but that’s lots of gas to burn.

Rainbow Trout

Probably a bit easier than brown trout as rainbows are stocked in more places. That being said it still requires lots of effort as the good fisheries are far away from Winnipeg. I feel like rainbow trout are a bit dumber than browns but stocked trout are generally harder than most species. There are some fisheries in northern Manitoba where there are big and gullible rainbows though. Though unlike brown trout, there isn’t really the brood stock cheat.

Rock Bass

This is a weird one as some master angler rock bass are caught in the city of Winnipeg. Though I can’t say I’ve ever found a consistent rock bass strategy near Winnipeg. There are some good fisheries in Wahtopanah Lake and Lake of the Prairies but those are pretty far.

Tiger Trout

Tiger trout require a lot of effort to access compared to most trout but those fisheries do pump out master anglers quite regularly. Twin Lake for example is a world class trout fishery and one can finish their specialist if they make multiple trips.

A Tier

This is for the ones that don’t have a consistent strategy at all or require very far drives. Many of these I have not caught.

Brook Trout

Brook trout as a fish aren’t super hard to catch but it seems to be hard to reach 20″. Many stocked trout waters rarely produce masters. Your best chance is when they release brood stock trout from the hatcheries. There are the sea run brook trout in northern Manitoba but that’s a very far drive. I personally do not see myself completing this one anytime soon.

Lake Sturgeon

With the Winnipeg River closure, there is no longer a reliable strategy aside from grinding whatever is left. Without the closure, this could be a C tier. The best chance at a sturgeon would probably be in the Assiniboine River where they are stocked. Most fisheries are infested with bycatch that will likely take the bait before a sturgeon will.

Lake Trout

This requires very far drives on big water which requires a big boat. Probably not the hardest A tier to find and I should get it eventually. The big boat or snowmobile are required to have a chance at big lake trout. Even on famous fisheries, a big lake trout is hard to catch and can take days.

Lake Whitefish

I have never even targeted them before. The most reliable fishery would probably be Clear Lake which has incredibly draconian regulations and requires a national park license. They are incredibly hard to pattern. I have legitimately caught only a handful of whitefish before, all incidental catches.

Muskellunge

These used to be impossible until some recent stockings. Apparently the benchmark of 31″ is very easy to obtain. Though distribution is extremely limited and they are muskies which do require good fishing skills.

Sauger

They can be randomly caught on the Red River but the most reliable way would be fishing Wekusko Lake which is far north. I have heard though in recent years, it’s become harder to catch them there in the master angler size. Aside from Wekusko, there isn’t really any reliable strategy to get your specialist.

Splake

Definitely one of the hardest stocked trout due to lack of distribution and likely will take many outings to catch them. This also depends on when stocking occurs as the province doesn’t always stock them. I am very fortunate to get this one out of the way at least.

S Tier

These are the ones that would be considered near impossible for most anglers.

Arctic Char

This may not be impossible as there have been recent stockings but will take years before we have a good fishery. I managed to catch my first arctic char this year and it was a runt. I don’t foresee anyone getting one in the next couple of years as they will take time to grow.

Arctic Grayling

Well this is the one that requires a plane and thousands of dollars to stay at the edge of the province. I do plan to do this trip one day if I can save up enough funds that that’s definitely not for years. They are supposedly not too hard to catch when you find them though.

White Bass

This was once a D tier fish though in a cruel twist of events have become an S tier. I am very fortunate to have obtained this one before their near disappearance from the Lake Winnipeg system. It was such a sudden disappearance. With thousands of anglers fishing the Lake Winnipeg system, we only have maybe a handful of catches a year at best. Though perhaps the environment could change and they could rebound. To this day, biologists are trying to determine the cause of the disappearance. Though in the meantime, to get this badge someone would likely need to spend countless hours on the north basin of Lake Winnipeg to have a chance.

Final Words

Well that’s my list. I’m sure many people will disagree with my assessments which is to be expected. Perhaps my experience is limited for some species and maybe I have skill issues. There are so many variables and the state of the fisheries can change over time. Feel free to let me know in the comments what your disagreements are.