Ice fishing season total catch for local anglers

Anglers and business owners are biting into the busy ice fishing season as they reel in the winter season's offerings.

While the fishing is good on Lake Winnipeg, people are looking to take advantage of the popular pastime. Master Angler Rick Gergatz says this season is going very well for ice fishers.

"People are looking for things they can do outside in the wintertime and this is one of them," Gergatz says. "You are outside and the added benefit is you get supper if you are good at it."

He says it can be a costly hobby, but the results and ice fishing community are great benefits.

"Lake Winnipeg is world-class in that respective," Gergatz says. "We catch many, many large walleye and we get a big tourist trade that comes up from the U.S. just for that purpose."

. I fish out of a Snobear, which is like a short Bombardier. I can drill homes and fish in warmth…which I like. Here is what it looks like on the outside.

Gettem' Greenbacks, which operates near Gimli, has seen an increase in interest this year after the pandemic slowed tourism down.

"Rentals are definitely up this year the last five years of operating our company we have seen a very large increase in rentals," they say in an email.

They began creating TikToks, some of which have gone viral.

@gettemgreenbacks #getyourgimlion #icefishing #bigwindy #greenbacks #walleye #lakewinnipeg ♬ Paradise - Ikson

In the winter, the female fish are fattening up, preparing for spring. This helps fishers find heavier-than-usual fish in the winter. Master anglers could catch female pickerels that are 28 inches long or larger.

Gergatz says people need to be cautious about the conditions. He regularly updates the Lake Winnipeg Ice Report, hoping to give other ice fishers a good picture of what the ice looks like.

"With the extra snow we are getting this year and conditions with the winds," Gergatz says. "it makes getting out there a little more difficult."

He says people need to ask themselves "what if" before going out, preparing for communications issues, breakdowns, and more. He suggests new fishers stick to cleared ice roads, such as in Gimli or on the Red River near Selkirk.