For anglers, Canada sits like a crown jewel atop North America. Its vast lakes, mighty rivers, and pristine environment all spell “outstanding” for fishers looking to snag trophy catches and “Grand Slams.”
Perhaps no other Canadian province captures anglers’ imaginations as much as Manitoba. With a rugged landscape and more world-class “secret” fishing holes than you can shake a stick at, it’s no wonder this region is near the top of many serious fishers’ bucket lists.
The potential catches here are as varied as they are impressive. Some of the standout trophies available to land here include:
Northern Pike: The central region of Canada is one of the premiere northern pike destinations in the world, and it’s not hard to see why—it’s an ideal place to catch this trophy beauty sometimes referred to as the “King of the North.” It’s most common in remote fly- and boat-in areas, but the trip’s worth it for this monster.
See more pictures of Northern Pike caught with the experts at Big Sand Lake Lodge
Lake Trout: These fast, heavy beauties are known for their big runs and for tussling with ambitious anglers. The opportunity to land a 40-pound lake trout is very real, even at some drive-to areas. It’s not unheard of to snag a lake trout exceeding 50 pounds!
See more pictures of Lake Trout from Big Sand Lake Lodge
Walleye: Giant walleyes (known locally as “pickerel”) are common in central Canada. They’re big, plentiful, and have a great taste. What’s more, the “greenback” variant—unique to Lake Winnipeg and its tributaries—is known for its immense size.
We’re proud of the walleye we catch – see more images from Big Sand Lake Lodge
Arctic Grayling: This unique fish is known for its fight, its aerial action, and its numbers throughout the region. Casting into a school of hungry Arctic grayling is a true bucket list item without compare.
View more pictures of Big Sand Lake Lodge’s Arctic Grayling catches
Whichever catch you’ve set your eyes on, it’s critical to plan your trip for the right time of year – nonetheless, the fishing is spectacular year-round. Use Big Sand Lake Lodge’s handy fish availability calendar below, and start planning your trip today.
FISHING SEASON: WINTER
December: Arctic char | black crappie | brook trout | brown trout | burbot | northern pike | rainbow trout | splake | tiger trout | walleye | jumbo yellow perch
January: Arctic char | black crappie | brook trout | brown trout | burbot | northern pike | tiger trout | walleye | walleye (giant greenback) | jumbo yellow perch
February: Arctic char | burbot | northern pike | walleye | jumbo yellow perch
FISHING SEASON: SPRING
March: Arctic char | black crappie | brook trout | brown trout | burbot | lake trout | northern pike | rainbow trout | splake | tiger trout | walleye | walleye (giant greenback) | jumbo yellow perch
April: Arctic char | brook trout | brown trout | burbot | lake trout | rainbow trout | splake | tiger trout | walleye
May: Arctic grayling | black crappie | brook trout | bullhead | brown trout | channel catfish | carp | lake sturgeon | lake trout | largemouth bass | northern pike | rainbow trout | smallmouth bass | splake | tiger trout | walleye | white bass | jumbo yellow perch
FISHING SEASON: SUMMER
June: Arctic grayling | black crappie | brook trout | bullhead | brown trout | channel catfish | carp | lake sturgeon | largemouth bass | lake trout | northern pike | rainbow trout | smallmouth bass | splake | tiger trout | walleye | white bass | jumbo yellow perch
July: Arctic grayling | black crappie | brook trout | bullhead | channel catfish | carp | goldeye | lake sturgeon | lake trout | largemouth bass | northern pike | rainbow trout | smallmouth bass | walleye
August: Arctic grayling | black crappie | brook trout | bullhead | channel catfish | carp | goldeye | lake sturgeon | largemouth bass | northern pike | rainbow trout | smallmouth bass | walleye
FISHING SEASON: FALL
September: Arctic grayling | black crappie | brook trout | bullhead | brown trout | carp | goldeye | lake sturgeon | lake trout | largemouth bass | northern pike | rainbow trout | smallmouth bass | tiger trout | walleye | walleye (giant greenback)
October: Black crappie | brook trout | bullhead | brown trout | carp | lake trout | largemouth bass | northern pike | rainbow trout | smallmouth bass | splake | tiger trout | walleye | walleye (giant greenback)
November: Walleye | walleye (giant greenback)
Dreaming about your own Canadian fishing trip? As the old saying goes, there’s no time like the present to start planning. A fishing trip to Canada’s lakes can easily be the trip of a lifetime. Monster trophy fish await, and you can even pursue the “big brag” itself, the Canadian Grand Slam.
To make your trip one to remember, book a trip during your favorite season with the folks at Big Sand Lake Lodge in Manitoba, Canada. Every year, Big Sand Lake Lodge guides help their sports catch and release 20–30+ pound northern pike; 50+ pound lake trout; 3-4 pound (average) walleye; and trophy-sized Arctic grayling. Located in Canada’s remote wilderness, Big Sand Lake Lodge offers Canadian fishing at its best. Contact us today!