Ice Fishing Monster Pike on Lake of the Prairies

This winter I had the opportunity to try Lake of the Prairies for pike. I have previously talked about the walleye fishing in an earlier blog that I did while on an errand. While Lake of the Prairies is an excellent walleye fishery, it was pike that we would go for this time. After a couple failed attempts over the years, we hoped that this would be the year to conquer it. We would drive all the way from Winnipeg and spend the night on the ice to maximize our chances. As it would turn out, Lake of the Prairies is one of the best pike fisheries in all of southern Manitoba.

Equipment

As with any ice fishing trip, there’s lots of gear to bring, though we’ll highlight key equipment that needs to be brought for trips like these.

When ice fishing for pike, always use a 10″ hole. I have fit large pike in 8″ holes before but it’s incredibly difficult to get their head up. The more time the fish spends under the ice, the greater the chance of the fish getting off. You also don’t want to lose that fish of a lifetime under the ice just because you are unable to get it up the hole. If you only have an 8″, at the very least try to drill double or triple connecting holes to ensure the pike will fit.

As mentioned in previous articles, digital mapping is extremely important. Whether you use Angler’s Edge Mapping or Lakemaster Manitoba, a map is very critical for the success of this trip. I will go over how we utilized mapping on Lake of the Prairies.

In general when fishing for pike, tip ups with big dead baits are the best presentation. You can use traditional tip ups or the IFishPro which I have discussed in a previous article. I personally prefer the IFishPro because I like fighting fish on a rod. If you use an IFishPro, ensure to use a medium-heavy or heavy rod with a large spinning reel with a smooth drag. For baits any oily store-bought fish like mackerel, sardines and herring will suffice.

Since we were winter camping, lots of extra gear had to be brought in. Winter camping is also a heavy topic that I will probably need a separate article to describe.

Structure and Locations

As Lake of the Prairies is a reservoir, the most defining feature is the old Assiniboine River channel. This is a very important piece of structure that pike and other fish will wander on. This is why digital maps are recommended. Aside from the permanent shacks of the locals, there isn’t an easy way to find the river channel without having to drill dozens of holes and measuring the depth of each one. Underwater humps and points are also difficult to find on Lake of the Prairies as the shoreline hardly provides any clues.

Be very careful of where you drill your holes on Lake of the Prairies. There are lots of shallow water areas that are not so apparent. Even with digital mapping, keep in mind the water levels and the thickness of ice. The time we went, the maps showed 12 feet of water, however looking down the holes, the bottom was very visible. We once watched helplessly as one group in the distance was drilling closer and closer to the shallow water. Eventually they hit mud which could have ruined the blades and the trip. If they had mapping available, that could have been avoided.

Mapping is very critical when it comes to placing your bait in the right zone. With these reservoir pike, we experimented by placing baits along various points of the slope. It does not take much distance to go from shallow to deep. So I put my Angler’s Edge Mapping chip in my portable unit and walked to where the slope was to drill exactly where I wanted. If you are in a group, consider setting up your tip ups at various depths. Note which tip ups go up the most. Then start gradually moving all tip ups to the most productive depths.

Fishing for Northerns

There is not much to say once the tip ups have been set. I usually keep my baits around a foot above the bottom while waiting for flags. That trip we had a total of 10 flags in three days of fishing with a total of five pike. That is a very low amount of activity so keep yourself occupied. Cooking a good meal, setting up camp and playing mobile games are good ways to pass the time. Judging from my discussions with other local anglers, while the bite could have been hotter, it could also have been slower.

One thing that you can do while waiting for flags is to make a live well. Drill a line of partially drilled connecting holes and flood your well with water. When you do catch a big pike, you can leave it in the well. This allows the fish to breathe while getting your camera and bump board ready. The elongated shape of the well prevents the pike from thrashing too much. Remember big pike are fragile and should be treated with the utmost care. Allowing a big fish to flop on a hard surface can cause damage.

Keep in mind that all pike over 29.5″ need to be released.

While the fishing was slow we managed to get three master angler sized pike. The pike measured at 30″, 39″, 41.5″, 43.5″ and 44.5″ which are incredible sizes. I fought my pike on a rod as I was using an IFishPro. It was pretty amazing fighting them as they made screaming runs. Seeing the monstrous jaws open at the hole was incredible. It really makes you wonder what those leviathans don’t eat.

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Bonus Perch and Walleye

Lake of the Prairies may be an incredible pike fishery but it’s definitely worth trying for perch and walleye. In the early morning and evening, take a shot at perch and walleye as pike fishing tends to be slower during those periods. The perch in the lake are quite large. I managed to catch my personal best perch on a small spoon tipped with a minnow head. It really gives your brain something to do after a long day of waiting for flags.

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As soon as the sun is high in the sky, usually I shift my focus back to pike. Perch and walleye seem to be less active midday.

Final Words

At the end of the trip, I drove home to Winnipeg excited about all the big pike we caught. Driving through the valleys of the southwestern Manitoba was quite scenic in the fading sun.

Lake of the Prairies is honestly one of the best places in southern Manitoba to catch a pike of a lifetime. I would definitely return one day to see if my personal best pike can be beat. It’s definitely possible as there are much bigger giants lurking in its depths. It is a fishery that demands persistence and mental fortitude but the rewards are incredible.