If April showers are supposed to bring May flowers, what do snow flurries will bring? With more snow falling as I type, it seems that Mother Nature has other plans for April -at least short term. I have not seen this amount of snow on the ground in April in decades. The good news is our fire season, which officially started at the beginning of the month is off to a slow start. Interestingly enough, Lake Superior is at its lowest level in decades, so not all of its tributaries are snow covered. However with all this snow, It looks as if lake levels here in Northwestern Ontario will be up when opener arrives. 

Last weekend, we were up in Armstrong enjoying some beautiful weather, fresh snow, and a bit of ice fishing. The heavy snow on the lakes is insulating the ice from the higher sun and there is still considerable slush, which can turn a weekend ice fishing trip into an adventure, if you're not careful. My oldest daughter (Megan) and I took the opportunity to climb one of the cliffs at McKenzie Lake, while the rest of the gang monitored a couple of lines. The only thing more incredible than the view looking down onto the lake was the time shared with family and friends. There were a couple of vertical sections in the climb. As I held Megan's foot from slipping while ascending one of the vertical rock sections, she exclaimed with a slightly cheeky tone, "now this is some quality father daughter time". The challenge of the climb combined with the one-on-one time was incredible, an experience we will never forget. I have witnessed the same "magic", countless times, while greeting the Otter returning from one of our lodges or outposts. I don't think there is a better place in this hectic world to experience quality time with friends and family than in a wilderness setting. There is something special about remoteness. 

It makes you more aware. It exposes you to the simplicity of life where your likely to find what really matters.

 As opener now looms within sight I thought I would point out some of the springtime hot spots at our American Plan destinations. For those of you who have booked an early season trip, congratulations, you've chosen a fantastic time for fishing our beautiful northern Canadian lakes. For the most part, the fish can be counted on to be in specific areas this time of year. Spawning time means that fish require certain water parameters and structure to get the job done. If we have a look at the spawning characteristics of both walleye and pike for example, then compare those to the features and layouts of Miminiska, Makokibatan, and Whitewater lakes, we can isolate major areas of spring spawning congestion.

Miminiska Lake Notables: Snake Falls, Mim Falls, Ferguson Creek, Keezhik/Troutfly Creeks, Wottam Creek, Honey Hole, Narrows, Howells Lake, Walleye Mine, Airstrip Bay, Wottam Lake, Narrows Bay.

Makokibatan Lake Gems: Walleye Alley, The Cut, Albany Outflow, Sand Point, Frenchman's Rapids,

Poplar Tree.

Striker's Point/ Whitewater Lake x's: The Narrows, Ogoki Inflow/Outflow, Goldsborough Creek, Bay of Pigs, McKinley Bay/Creek, Mice Creek, The Hallway.

Tips & Tricks

Pike will use shallow back bays to spawn and timing is everything to find aggressive fish. Find them pre spawn and you can have a hay day, find them during the spawn and you may as well keep washing your lures. Post spawn fish, especially the biggest females, move out of their spawning grounds very quickly. This is evident in the number of 40" + pike we see walleye anglers catch while jigging this time of year. Nonetheless, fish these bays hard and if you come up empty in the shallows, keep working the transition zones out to the next deepest adjacent water. I like weedless spoons, topwater frogs/mice, buzzbaits, and soft plastics for fishing the shallow sections and graduate to spinnerbaits, husky jerks, swimbaits, and larger casting spoons as I go deeper.

Walleye can be found where the current is. Sections of river, creek mouths, and narrows all provide ideal spawning grounds. Walleye literally stack up by the hundreds in some of these zones and can be fairly easy to catch. Moving water and high oxygen are more important to Walleye than depth at this time. It is not uncommon to locate and catch fish at various depths, given you have flow. Standard ¼ oz and 3/8 oz jig heads with white tails, gulp minnows, live minnows, or dew worms will definitely produce fish. If that's not exciting enough, and the fish seem to be shallower, casting Long A Bombers, Rapala Countdowns/Minnows, X-Raps, and even Little Cleos works effectively.

There are some exceptional spring Walleye and Pike fishing opportunities on Wilderness North's 'Big 3'. Both Miminiska and Makokibatan, our Albany River destinations are also home to world class brook trout fishing. Spring is fantastic for trout as the rivers run cold and high. There are some absolute football dwarfing brookies in the Albany. They are very fly friendly and eagerly await your offerings. Most of the brookie waters require guides for safe navigation so please contact our trip planners for further info.