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Hopefully this helps all the Greenback lovers.
Due to individuals using my (Todd) info about the Red & Winnipeg River as their own, or not attributing it to me when posting on various message boards I have taken this page down in the past. Sorry to the good guys, but I won't have my intellectual property used without credit. If I continue to see this, I'll simply remove the page. I love the area, love the fishing, but this is the most extensive info I've seen for the area. It's simple, say you read about this on REELWALLEYE if you use the info! - Todd
I also recommend that you contact Stu McKay up in Lockport at http://www.catsonthered.net/ for info and lodging on the Red River. Stu has great cabins, his own ramp, and will get you on fish or get you a guide trip to make sure you get on fish!
For Winnipeg River loding in the Pine Falls area, Laurent Raymond at http://www.papertown.ca/ has the prime lodging over there plus there are guides in the area. Make sure to stop at the Manitou Inn and have the scallops and foccaccia bread.
Pine Falls/Winnipeg River
Drive to Powerview, Manitoba at the corner of Hwys 11 and 304. The Papertown Motor Lodge and Clark’s Corner are right there, Clark’s is the area bait store/restaurant. Then go up HWY 11 North to Pine Falls. The Manitou Lodge is on the North end of town on the west side of the road. The boat ramp is about 1/2 mile north of the Manitou—go north past the paper mill and take a right where the link fence ends. You’ll go a half a mile down a rock/mud road to the river—there are no signs. In 2008 it seemed there were a lot of really nice fish, we got a couple of pigs and a bunch give or take 20".
You can also try the Red River at Selkirk, MB. I tell people that go with me to think of it like Trophy Deer Hunting. Pine Falls or Selkirk are not for the person who wants 50 fish days like July in Saskatchewan. It’s for a trophy of a lifetime, fishing can and probably will be slow at times or the whole trip. BUT—you might catch 12 fish all day and 6 of them are over 6 or 8# with a 11, 12, and 13 or something huge. We do have big number days—but they are rare. Jiggers will catch more fish, but I think trolling has a much better avg. weight. Again, figure out the fish! Every day and every year is different, don't be stubborn. If Traverse Bay isn't going, fish in the river and vice versa. Keep trying.
Stay on the right/east side of the Winnipeg river all the way out to the bay, especially at the mouth. Rocks are in the middle and the west side. Do not hold me responsible for rocks, duh, you are in Canada!!! They are in the bay too, be careful. We generally go out to the rocks marked as Wright/Robinson Rock to start fishing—maybe two miles from the mouth. It is a 100 yd half long section of rock shaped like a half moon sticking out the river—USUALLY!!! Depends on the water level. We fish that area back to the mouth on the west side of the channel and across the channel to the snowmobile sign side but to the north on the east side—fish where YOU find ‘em! Be bright and get your maps before you go, http://www.fedpubs.com/mpchrt/charts/winnipeg.htm to get what you need.
Items that work for us:
¨ Jigs from 1/4 to 5/8 oz (WalleyeFlasher jigs from www.reelbait.com absolutely RULE), Chartreuse, Orange, Green, Glow White, Pink seem to be good colors. WalleyeFlashers have caught more hogs for us than the rest combined.
¨ Cranks: 7-9 Shad Raps, Deep Thundersticks (old style), Deep Husky Jerk’s, Bomber 6,7, & 24 A’s, Wally Divers, Deep Rogues. For me… #8 & 9 Shad Raps outside with rattling stuff inside on shorter lines inside the spread seems to work best. Out of the 50 or so fish over 10# up there we’ve got, probably 80% came on Shad Raps and ALL of the 12-14# stuff. BUT, if you go entirely to Shad Raps—you will generally not do as well. I question it, but I’ve found this to be true in a lot of trolling applications. I’m going to try some Salmo’s this year.
¨ Best Cranks seem to usually have some pearl/white in them, fire tiger, or gaudy blue or green.
¨ Put Scent on Every Crank—I like Berkley Walleye and Dr. Juice
Techniques:
· We go out to the Rock area and start trolling the flat and flat edge. There is a channel just east of the rocks in the bay. The water is usually 10-14’ deep—depends on the year. We just longline troll using 10-14# mono on linecounters. You definitely want good equipment—10-14# walleye can really fight in 10’ of water. I like a softer than normal tip with a good backbone 8' 6" trolling rod. I’ve had to retire more than one shad rap because it was toothed to death up there. I use Daiwa linecounters and Bass Pro P & K Walleye Angler rods primarily
· You must have barbless hooks!!! Even on lures TIED on your line but not in the water - lures in your tackle boxes do not have to be crimped
· Jigging is done on the channel edge, rock pile, OR if you can find small rockpiles just protruding through the bottom you can do really good. The ones you can feel tapping a jig.
· Devil’s Island is good, but be careful anywhere in the bay, we’ve lived through some unbelievable waves there and depending on the water levels there are a few "gotcha" rocks out there - especially up around Devils and East of the protruding rocs on South of Snowmobile Point (named for the snowmobile crossing sign there).
· Planer Boards are great if there aren’t many boats around.
I would jig or troll depending on what you like to do. Sometimes, though the water is cold, even fast trolling can be good. In 2000-2003 we caught some good fish going 3+ on the GPS. That makes for one heckuva hit! I say 10-14’# mono cuz we use 10# if the water is 14’ deep or so and 10# if it is shallower. I kinda shoot for 100’ of line out before I hit bottom with the side running shad raps. I like to have a three lure spread with maybe 115’ left, 75’ middle, 100’ right. That would be maybe a #9 Rap, 24A, and a #8 Rap.
The weather gets hairy at times in October, Overbring clothes, rainsuit, hat, gloves, even a boat heater, etc. Remember it can be COLD. We've fished in blizzards, launched when it's 10 degrees F, etc. Remember boat lids freeze shut, pumps break, etc.
Red River/Selkirk
The Red is murky and can be a tic fast depending on where you anchor up to jig and the water conditions, in 2008 there was basically no current at times. In 2008 the Bass Pro XPS Jigs were the best in the light current, but normally 3/8 - 5/8 jigs are the norm, Walleye Flashers are the KING on the Red (the whistlers with the colored blades are real good too) and I like the 5/8 Lindy Fuzz e Grubs with the "keel" head. I also usually use a small piece of power bait on the hook shank in a contrasting color. I've seen a lot of ways to hook salties, I go in the mouth and up through the skull. Personally, I do use a stinger and superline on the Red if I'm losing too many shiners or there's much current. I also usually like to jig like a heartbeat. Pause..... twitch Pause....... twitch Another good one is three hits on the bottom, then lift it and hold for 5 seconds, repeat. For some reason I never do as well there jigging very rapidly or in a straight cadence.
I like the powerlines above the power house, the buoy line, the birdhouse/flag area, ramp side of sugar island, and the cable car area (I think that's what they are anyway). Sometimes early and late anchoring right on the break above the hole by the power house can be awfully good and is rarely fished. I hate to say it, but the community holes are pretty good and there for a reason if you look at your depthfinder you'll see why. Most have breaks, or ripples, island tips - classic stuff for fall walleyes.Make sure you bring a heavy anchor with some chain and a good rope. MORE anchor than you think you need so you can short rope. I like the boat to swing a little back and forth so I don't double anchor. 30# of cement in a bucket is about right :) Don't be attached to your anchor!
Bring #7-9 Shad raps and CD 5 & 6 Wally Divers, Medium Frenzy's, etc. Troll upstream slowly trying to nudge the bottom now and again. Hope you don't mind losing cranks - you will. I like jigging to start and if it dies switch to trolling mid-day then back to the jigs. It's really hard to troll I think because of the constantly changing bottom, though it can be fun when they're hot. It is truly the "within 6" of the bottom" or you don't get bit river fishing I think. You can get "salties" at Stu's, various gas stations, etc.
Another tip, buy various packs of "salties", they can work better for some reason. Don't get unsalted and don't lick your fingers. I open them and buy the biggest ones I can find. A buddy likes to put on two or three on at a time, each his own.
Make sure you have the fish & chips and some Kokanee's at a place called Barney Gargles in Selkirk - pretty good stuff. Manitou is the best food at night in Pine Falls. Don't ask about breakfast, if you are with me we've launched.
One other thing, if you use anything I've written, you've just entered a contract that says every piggy goes back! This will make the fish Gods happy and they will smile on you!!!
 
 
 
 
JUST A FEW I AND MY FRIENDS HAVE CAUGHT - and R E T U R N E D! (those pictured range from just under 12# to 14.5#) | 
