Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Lake Winnipeg fishing report.

We’re sliding into early summer patterns now. Water temps on the main lake are running cool to mid‑teens Celsius, a touch warmer in the shallower south basin and river mouths. With no real tide action on this inland sea, your “tide” is the wind: a steady north or northeast wind piles warm, slightly stained water onto the south and west shores, and that’s where the bite really wakes up.

Environment Canada has us under a mild pattern: cool mornings, light to moderate winds, building sun and a stable barometer through the day. Sunrise is around 4:30 a.m., sunset near 9:45 p.m., so you’ve got long low‑light windows. Those first two hours after sunrise and last two before dark are your money times; mid‑day is still producing deeper, but it’s a pickier bite.

Fish activity has been solid. Local reports from the Red River mouth up through Balsam Bay say the post‑spawn greenbacks are spreading out onto the main‑lake flats and first breaks. Numbers of eater‑size walleye in the 16–20 inch range have been good, with enough 24–28 inch fish mixed in to keep things exciting. A few bonus sauger and the odd pike are coming in off the same transitions. Up toward Gimli and out over the mid‑lake humps, boats working deeper edges are finding fewer fish but better average size, classic Lake Winnipeg gold and green.

Best producers right now:

- For walleye on the flats: 1/4 to 3/8 oz jig heads in chartreuse, orange, or glow, tipped with salted shiners or fathead minnows. When the wind puts a chop on, that classic greenback combo is hard to beat.

- When they’re scattered: bottom‑bouncer with a spinner rig in hammered nickel or gold, 2–3 inch gulp or crawler, pulled at a slow, steady pace.

- When they’re aggressive: #5–#7 shad‑style crankbaits in perch, firetiger, and “clown” patterns trolled over 8–14 feet. Cover water until you mark pods, then circle back and work them.

On calmer, sunny stretches, downsizing to 1/8 oz jigs and going more natural—white, smelt, or silver—has been turning lookers into biters. After dark along rocky shorelines and river mouths, a suspending jerkbait or slow‑rolled swimbait is drawing some bigger fish for those willing to stay out late.

Couple of hot spots to circle on the map:

- The Red River mouth and downstream flats off the south basin: classic early‑summer greenback highway, especially with any north wind pushing current and color onto that edge.

- The Balsam Bay and Grand Marais area: working the first and second breaks off the points has been producing steady walleye with the odd bonus pike. When the wind flips, slide to the windward side and follow the stained water line.

- If you’re launching out of Gimli, those mid‑lake humps and bars are worth a look by late morning. Watch your sonar, don’t be afraid to move until you mark arcs tight to the breaks.

Boat control is everything on this big lake. Use the wind: drift with a sock when it’s up, slip‑drift or spot‑lock when you find a pod. Safety note from every local you’ll meet at the launch: keep an eye on the forecast and the sky—this lake builds fast when the wind turns.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Winnipeg fishing report.

Out on the big lake and connected rivers, we’re sitting under a classic prairie pattern: a cool start, light northwest to west winds building a bit through the day, and stable high pressure. Air temps are running cool in the morning, climbing into the low 20s by afternoon. Skies are partly cloudy with good visibility. Sunrise rolled in early and sunset will come late this evening, giving a long feeding window, especially at first light and the last two hours of daylight.

Lake Winnipeg is freshwater, so no true tide, but we do get seiche and wind‑driven water movement. With a light northwest push, expect a subtle setup of water on the south basin shorelines and a gentle current effect along points and river mouths. Anywhere that wind is pushing into structure will fish better.

Walleye activity has been solid. Local reports and bait shops around Gimli and Winnipeg Beach say boats working 8–14 feet off windblown shorelines are putting good numbers in the livewell, with plenty of eaters and the odd big greenback mixed in. Around the Red River mouth and south basin reefs, anglers are seeing consistent bites through the early morning and again late in the evening, with a bit of a mid‑day lull unless the wind chops things up.

Best baits right now:

- For walleye, jig and a minnow is still king. A 1/4 oz jig in chartreuse, glow white, or firetiger tipped with a salted shiner or live emerald shiner is hard to beat.

- When the sun gets higher, trolling crankbaits in perch, white, or purple patterns at 1.5–2 mph has been picking up suspended fish over 15–20 feet.

- For those chasing jumbo perch on the edges, small tungsten jigs tipped with a piece of worm or minnow head are producing.

Pike are active in the warmer back bays and along reed lines. Local anglers around Hnausa and the Willow Island area report good numbers of hammer‑handles with an occasional 36+ inch fish. Large spoons in gold or nickel, and big soft‑plastic swimbaits in white or smelt colors, are the go‑to. Steel leaders are a must.

Goldeye and freshwater drum are showing up in the lower Red and around the Netley–Libau Marsh area. Small hooks with worms or small pieces of shrimp under a float will keep rods bending, a good option if you’ve got kids aboard.

A couple of hot spots to circle on the map:

- The south basin off the Red River mouth: work the breaks from 7–12 feet, drifting or slowly trolling jigs and shiners. When you find a pod, hit spot‑lock and work them over.

- The reefs and humps off Gimli and out toward Black Island: walleyes have been stacking up on the tops and edges, especially when there’s a bit of wind putting a ripple on the surface.

Timing is key: focus hard from first light through mid‑morning, then again from late afternoon into sunset. Mid‑day, either go deeper with cranks or slow things down with live bait right on bottom.

That’s your Lake Winnipeg fishing update from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Lake Winnipeg fishing report.

We’re sitting under a classic prairie pattern: cool early, mild afternoon, light northwest breeze and mostly clear skies. Northwest winds are keeping the big lake a bit choppy but very fishable, with a gentle walleye chop pushing into the west and south shores. No real tides here on Lake Winnipeg, just wind-driven seiches, and with the current breeze, expect a slight rise and fall along the leeward shorelines.

Sunrise came early and the low light window was productive. Sunset will give you another solid bite window, with fish turning on again as the light fades and the wind settles. Daytime bite slows in the bright sun, but you can still pick up fish by pushing a bit deeper and downsizing presentations.

Recent word from local bait shops and lodge docks around Gimli, Riverton, and Pine Falls is that **walleye** and **sauger** have been the main story, with a few bonus **goldeye** and some **pike** showing up in the shallows. Anglers are reporting good numbers of eater-sized walleye in that 16–20 inch range, with a few big greenbacks still hanging around deeper breaks. Boats dragging spinners and jigs are seeing double-digit days when they stay on the pods.

Best action has been in 8–18 feet, depending on water clarity. Where the lake’s got a bit of stain from wind, fish are sliding shallower; in clearer stretches they’re holding closer to that 18–22 foot edge.

As for what’s working:

- **Lures:**

- 1/4 to 3/8 oz jigs in chartreuse, glow, and firetiger.

- Slow-dragging jig-and-minnow or jig-and-plastic along the bottom.

- For trollers, bottom-bouncer with a 2–3 hook spinner rig in hammered gold, orange, or chartreuse blades.

- **Bait:**

- Frozen shiners are still king on Lake Winnipeg.

- Fathead minnows doing well when shiners are scarce.

- For a finesse bite, half a salted shiner on a smaller jighead has been getting neutral fish to commit.

Fish activity has been strongest at first light and again in the evening, with a mid-day flurry if the wind picks up enough to rough up the surface. On calm, sunny stretches, you’ll need to slow way down, use longer leaders, and pay attention to your electronics—most of the better catches are coming from staying on top of tight schools rather than wandering.

A couple of **hot spots** to consider:

- The **south basin off Gimli and Willow Island**: classic walleye water with mud transitions and subtle structure. Work the 10–18 foot contours, especially where you see bait stacked on the screen.

- The **mouth of the Red River and out toward Hnausa and Riverton**: moving water and slightly warmer temps have been pulling in good numbers of walleye and sauger. Drifting or slow-trolling spinners upstream and down has been very productive.

Shore anglers near river mouths and commercial docks are also picking off fish on slip bobbers with minnows set just off bottom during low light.

If you’re heading out, bring a mix of jig sizes to match the wind, run your brightest colors in the stained water, and don’t be afraid to move if you’re not seeing fish on the screen in 10–15 minutes. When you find them, they’re grouped tight.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Lake Winnipeg fishing report.

Out on the big lake and connected rivers, we’re sitting under early-summer conditions: cool mornings, mild afternoons, and a light northwest breeze. Environment Canada is calling for temps in the mid-teens Celsius at first light, nudging into the low 20s by mid‑day, with just enough chop to put a nice riffle on the surface. Skies are partly cloudy, and barometric pressure is steady to slowly rising—usually a good trigger for walleye to chew.

Sunrise is right around that early‑morning 5 o’clock hour, with sunset just after 9 p.m. That long daylight window means your best bite is stacked around **first light** and the **last two hours before dark**. Mid‑day will still produce, but you may have to push deeper or lean on finesse presentations.

Lake Winnipeg is freshwater, so no true tides to worry about, but water levels and current are driven by wind and inflow from the Red River and other tributaries. A stiff north or south wind will push water and bait onto certain shorelines; follow that dirty, wind‑blown water edge, especially on the south basin.

Recent chatter from local bait shops around Gimli, Winnipeg Beach, and the Red River outlets has the usual suspects coming over the gunwales: good numbers of **eater‑size walleye**, scattered **trophy “greenback” walleyes** in the shallower, stained water, plus plenty of **goldeye** and **channel catfish** in the river stretches. Anglers working the mouths of the Red are reporting double‑digit walleye days when the wind lines up, with a few 26–29 inch fish in the mix. Cat guys soaking cut bait on the Red are still tangling with fish in the mid‑30‑inch class and better.

For **walleye**, the top producers right now are:

- 1/4 to 3/8 oz jig heads in chartreuse, fluorescent orange, and glow, tipped with a salted shiner or live emerald shiner where allowed.

- Slow‑trolled crankbaits in firetiger, perch, or bright greens along 8–14 feet of water, especially on the south basin mud flats.

- Slip‑bobber rigs with a leech or half a crawler just off bottom when the wind drops.

For **catfish** in the Red and related channels:

- Heavy sinker, big circle hook, and cut goldeye or sucker.

- Toss baits to the inside seams and behind current breaks; give each spot 20–30 minutes before moving.

Artificial‑only folks are doing well with:

- Paddle‑tail swimbaits on 3/8 oz jig heads in white, pearl, or motor oil.

- Jigging raps or lipless cranks snapped just off bottom on deeper edges.

A couple of **hot spots** to circle on your map:

- **Mouth of the Red River into the south basin**: Work the edges of the current tongue where river water spills into the lake. Drift or spot‑lock and vertically jig shiners on bright jigs. When that light wind lines up from the north or south, this area can light up fast.

- **Gimli and surrounding south‑basin shorelines**: Focus on 6–12 feet, especially where there’s a bit of stain and wind‑pushed chop. Pull crankbaits at 1.5–2 mph or run bottom‑bouncers with spinner rigs and crawlers. When the sun gets high, slide a bit deeper off the breaks.

If you’re bank‑fishing, the river mouths, causeways, and piers still offer solid action at dawn and dusk. Toss jigs with plastics or soak a minnow on bottom and be patient—those roaming walleyes and goldeye will slide through in waves.

That’s the word from Lake Winnipeg—steady summer patterns, with quality fish for the folks putting in the time at the right windows.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Lake Winnipeg fishing report.

We’re sitting under a classic prairie pattern: cool early, warming through the day, light to moderate west–northwest breeze, and mostly clear skies. Daytime highs are running in the low 20s, dipping into single digits overnight. That wind will keep a light chop on the big lake, especially on the south basin, but it’s very workable if you watch the gusts.

Sunrise slid in just after 5 a.m. local, and sunset will be just after 9:30 p.m., giving a long feeding window on those low‑light edges. The first couple hours after sunrise and the last two before sunset are your prime times, with a decent midday bite whenever the breeze cranks up and pushes bait onto structure or into the river mouths.

Lake Winnipeg isn’t tidal, so no saltwater-style tide swings here, but treat the **wind** and river inflows like your “tide.” A steady wind stacking water and bait on a shoreline or point will flip the switch on the walleye bite.

Fish activity has been good overall. South basin boats are reporting solid numbers of eater‑size walleye with the odd big greenback mixed in. On calmer days, guys running deeper mud flats are still picking fish, while the windy edges are producing the more aggressive biters. Shore anglers around the Red River mouth, Balsam Bay, and the causeways are still seeing walleye, a few chunky perch, and the occasional pike cruising through.

Recent catches have leaned heavily to walleye in the 14–20 inch range, with consistent limits for folks who stay on the move and don’t camp on dead water. A sprinkling of 24–28 inch fish has come off deeper drops and from the rougher water when the wind pushes hard. Pike are hanging around weedier pockets in bays and along rocky shorelines, with a few mid‑30‑inch fish being reported.

Best artificial lures right now:

- For walleye:

• **Jig and plastic** in 1/4–3/8 oz, chartreuse, motor oil, and white.

• **Jigging raps** or glide baits when fish show tight to bottom on sonar.

• **Shallow‑running crankbaits** in perch, firetiger, and clown patterns whenever there’s a good chop.

- For pike:

• **Silver or gold spoons** cast over weed edges.

• **Spinnerbaits** in white or chartreuse slow‑rolled along cabbage.

Best bait:

- Live **salted shiners** are still king for walleyes here; run them on a jig or a simple Lindy‑style rig.

- Big **frozen minnows** or chunk bait will tempt pike and the odd cat near river mouths.

- Nightcrawlers will pick up bonus perch and the occasional walleye when they’re finicky.

A couple of local hot spots to consider:

- **South Basin – Balsam Bay to Grand Beach:** Drift or slow‑troll jigs and cranks over 8–14 feet where the mud meets subtle rock or sand transitions. Watch for bait clouds on the graph, and if you mark arcs but don’t get bit, change color or speed before you leave.

- **Red River Mouth and channel edges near Netley:** Work current seams where lake water meets river flow. Vertical jig with shiners, keeping that jig just off bottom. When the wind lines up with the current, the bite can get silly in a hurry.

If you’re out in a smaller rig, stay conservative; winds build fast on this big, shallow lake. Keep an eye on the sky, wear your PFD, and don’t be afraid to tuck into a lee shore and fish tighter structure if the main lake starts to stand up.

That’s the word from Artificial Lure on Lake Winnipeg. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Lake Winnipeg fishing report.

We’re sitting in a classic prairie pattern right now: cool early, warming fast through the morning, light west to northwest breeze building into a steady chop by midday, then laying down toward evening. Skies are partly to mostly sunny with just enough cloud to keep it comfortable. Air temps are running cool at dawn but pushing into the low 20s Celsius by afternoon, so pack layers and sun protection.

No tides to worry about here on Lake Winnipeg – she’s a freshwater inland sea – but you’ll notice a bit of seiche-style water movement with the wind shifts. The big trigger today is light and wind, not tide.

Sunrise came early, and sunset will land later this evening, giving you a long window. The most productive bites are lining up around first light and again in that last 90 minutes before dark when the wind eases and bait pushes shallow.

Walleye action on the south basin has been solid the last few days, with locals reporting good numbers of eaters and the odd trophy coming from 8–14 feet off prominent points and gravel bars. On the north basin, anglers are still picking off bigger, darker fish along wind-blown shorelines and reef edges in 10–18 feet. Tullibee schools are starting to scatter a bit, but where you mark bait, you’ll usually mark arcs right above them.

Pike are cruising warm, slightly stained bays and river mouths, especially where there’s cabbage starting to top out. Expect lots of mid-sizers with the chance at a surprise gator if you stick with it. Perch catches have been more incidental, off the same structure as the walleye, but if you downsize, you can put a decent pan of them together.

Best producers for walleye have been classic prairie presentations:

- 1/4–3/8 oz jigs in chartreuse, firetiger, or plain white, tipped with salted minnows or frozen shiners.

- Slow-death or spinner rigs with crawler harnesses, run just off bottom at a modest trolling pace.

- For those running cranks, #5–#7 shad-style baits in perch, silver/blue, and purple have been hot when there’s good chop.

Pike are chewing on:

- Silver or gold spoons, medium to large, burned over the weed tops.

- White or perch-pattern swimbaits and spinnerbaits, especially around river mouths and rocky transitions.

If you want to key in on perch, downsize to small tungsten or 1/8 oz jigs tipped with bits of worm or minnow, and work the edges of the same bars holding walleye.

A couple of local hot spots to circle on your map:

- The mouth of the Red River into the south basin: follow the color line where the river water meets clearer lake water and work jigs along that transition.

- Pelican Point and nearby structure: drift or troll the 8–12 foot contour with jigs or harnesses when the wind sets up a good drift.

Fish are active but not stupid; if the bite slows, don’t be shy about changing jig color or dropping down a size. Keep your presentation just off bottom, and let the wind do the work when you can.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Lake Winnipeg fishing report.

We’ll start with the conditions. Environment Canada calls for a cool prairie morning on the big lake: light northwest breeze early, building into a moderate wind by afternoon, with temps climbing into the mid-teens Celsius and a mix of sun and cloud. That wind will stack some decent walleye chop along the eastern and southern shorelines. Sunrise is right around 5:20 a.m. local, sunset near 9:45 p.m., so you’ve got a long window, but the first three hours after sunrise and the last two before dark will be prime.

No true tides here, just wind-driven seiches, and with that northwest push, expect slightly higher water and a bit more current on the south basin shorelines. That added push often flips the switch for feeding walleye and sauger.

Recent reports from local anglers and bait shops around Gimli, Winnipeg Beach, and Selkirk say the greenbacks have been steady but not insane: boats are putting 10–25 walleye per outing in the south basin when they stay mobile, with a mix of eaters and the odd big girl pushing past 26 inches. Sauger are showing up deeper off the main drops, and there’ve been scattered channel cats taken up the Red River near Lockport, mostly on cut bait. A few jumbo perch are mixed in over mud and softer bottom.

Fish activity has been classic early-summer: mid-depth during low light, sliding deeper once the sun gets up. Think 8–12 feet at dawn and dusk, 14–20 feet during the day, especially off points and along main-lake transitions where rock meets mud.

As for what’s working, locals are leaning on three main patterns:

1. **Jig and minnow**

Simple but deadly. A 1/4- to 3/8-ounce jig, chartreuse, glow, or orange, tipped with a live salted shiner or fathead, vertically worked over pods of fish on the sonar.

2. **Spinners and crawlers**

Lindy-style spinner rigs pulled behind bottom bouncers at 0.8–1.2 mph. Gold, hammered nickel, or firetiger blades have been hot, with half a nightcrawler or a salted minnow. Covering water is the key on those big flats.

3. **Crankbaits**

Trollers are doing well pulling #5–#7 shad-style cranks in perch, silver/black, or clown patterns. Run them off planer boards to spread lines and target 10–18 feet, especially in the afternoon when the sun drives fish down.

For artificial-only anglers, soft plastics on jigs—paddle tails or flukes in white, smelt, or motor oil—are taking good walleye when snapped and paused just off bottom. Don’t be shy about upsizing; Lake Winnipeg fish aren’t scared of a bigger profile.

A couple of local hot spots to keep in mind:

- **Gimli to Winnipeg Beach line, south basin:**

Work the 10–14-foot contour, especially where there’s a subtle inside turn or a patch of rougher bottom. Drifting jigs until you find a school, then spot-locking, is putting fish in the boat.

- **Mouth of the Red River, near Netley and up toward Selkirk:**

Channel cats upstream, walleye near the mouth. Cats on cut sucker or goldeye fished on slip rigs; walleye on jigs and plastics in the slightly stained current edges.

If you’re shore fishing, hit the piers around Gimli or Winnipeg Beach in the evening with jigs and salted shiners. The windward side is usually better, even if it’s a bit uncomfortable.

That’s the word from around Lake Winnipeg. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Winnipeg fishing report.

We don’t have true tides on Lake Winnipeg, but changing wind and barometric pressure act like mini-tides. A falling barometer ahead of a front usually perks those greenbacks right up, especially along windblown shorelines and current edges.

Environment Canada is calling for early-season prairie weather: cool morning temps in the single digits Celsius rising into the mid-teens to low 20s by afternoon, with a light to moderate northwest breeze on the main basin. Skies are a mix of sun and cloud with a chance of scattered showers later in the day. Sunrise is around 5 a.m. with sunset close to 10 p.m., so you’ve got a big window to work those prime low-light bites.

Walleye activity has been good in the river mouths and along emerging weedlines. Reports from local bait shops around Selkirk and Gimli say eater-sized walleye in the 15–20 inch range are coming in steady, with the odd trophy greenback still showing up in 12–18 feet of water. Anglers are averaging half a dozen to a dozen fish per boat on better days when they stay mobile and follow the wind.

Sauger are mixed in with the walleye on the deeper edges, and a few bonus drum and pike are grabbing rigs meant for eyes. Northerns are active in the shallows and bay mouths; plenty of 6–10 pounders with the occasional bigger hammer showing for folks casting in flooded reeds and rock points. Perch reports are scattered, but some nicer ones are showing up for people slowing down with smaller presentations.

Best producers right now are classic prairie rigs:

- **Jig and minnow**: 1/4–3/8 oz jigs in chartreuse, glow white, and firetiger tipped with frozen shiner or salted minnows.

- **Lindy-style spinner rigs** with a crawler or minnow behind a 1–2 oz bottom bouncer, especially when the wind lets you drift 0.6–1.0 mph.

- **Crankbaits** in perch, chrome/blue, or clown patterns trolled along breaks in 10–16 feet are picking off active fish when the wind chops the surface.

For bait, frozen emerald shiners are still king on Lake Winnipeg, with salted minnows and nightcrawlers a close second. Where regulations allow, a half crawler on a spinner rig has been turning lookers into biters when the bite gets finicky.

A couple of hot spots to circle on your mental map:

- **Mouth of the Red River near Selkirk and out toward the lake**: work the current seams, channel edges, and any defined break in 10–18 feet. Drifting jigs or slowly backtrolling spinners is putting fish in the boat.

- **The Gimli–Winnipeg Beach stretch on the west side**: follow the windblown shorelines, especially where rock meets sand. Set up drifts across the first and second breaks; when you mark fish, work them thoroughly before moving on.

Midday, when the sun gets high and things slow down, push a bit deeper and downsize your jigs. Evenings, slide shallower and don’t be afraid to throw a bigger crankbait or swimbait for that one big greenback cruising the flats.

That’s your Lake Winnipeg report from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a bite.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Lake Winnipeg fishing report.

We’re sitting under a big prairie sky with cool, stable early‑summer weather. Environment Canada is calling for light northwest winds around 10–15 km/h easing off toward evening, with daytime highs in the mid‑teens to low 20s and a mix of sun and cloud. Air pressure is steady to slightly rising, the kind of pattern that usually keeps walleye chewing most of the day. Being an inland lake, there’s no real tide to worry about here—just wind‑driven water movement and seiche effects, so focus on windward shorelines and current seams.

Sunrise is right around 5:20 a.m. and sunset near 9:45 p.m., so we’ve got long feeding windows. The best bites have been the classic low‑light periods: first three hours after sunrise and last three before dark. Midday is still producing if you slide a bit deeper and slow things down.

Recent action has been solid, especially on the south basin. Anglers out of Balsam Bay and Patricia Beach have been putting good numbers of eater‑size **walleye** in the boat, with a few big “greenbacks” still showing in 12–18 feet. There’ve been steady reports of **goldeye** and **mooneye** in the Red River and Netley area, plus incidental **drum** and the odd **pike** hanging off weed edges and creek mouths. Shore anglers along the mouth of the Red are still picking up mixed bags on bottom rigs.

For presentations, the lake is fishing pretty much to form. A 1/4–3/8 oz jig and frozen **salted shiner** is still king on the south basin flats and breaks. Where you can’t get shiners, fathead minnows, leeches, or half a crawler on a jig or a simple Lindy‑style rig are doing damage. When the wind puts a chop on, a chartreuse or fire‑tiger jig, or a gold jig with a bit of pink, is hard to beat. On the hardware side, slow‑trolled crankbaits like shad‑style plugs in perch, silver/blue, or clown patterns are producing bigger fish on the main‑lake contours.

If you’re running artificials only, try 3–4 inch paddle‑tail plastics in motor oil, white, or green pumpkin on a 3/8 oz jig, popped just off bottom. For pike, throw flashy spoons in five‑of‑diamonds or silver, or big white spinnerbaits along weedlines near river mouths and back bays.

Couple of local hot spots to circle on the map:

• **Balsam Bay – Patricia Beach area**: Drift 10–16 feet off the sand and gravel transitions with jigs and shiners. Work cross‑wind drifts and watch for bait on your sonar; when you find a pod, spot‑lock and work it over.

• **Mouth of the Red River / Netley area**: Great for mixed bags. Anchor just off the current breaks and run a pickerel rig or slip‑sinker with minnows or worms. Let the scent do the work and be patient; once a school slides through, the action can get fast.

Overall, fish activity is good, water temps are coming up nicely, and with this weather pattern you can expect consistent bites if you stay mobile and follow the wind.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Lake Winnipeg fishing report.

We’re rolling into a stable early‑summer pattern on the big lake. No real tide to worry about here on the prairie sea, but barometric “pressure tides” are doing the work: a light, steady barometer and weak north‑northwest breeze means fish are sliding a bit shallower than they were on those last cold fronts.

Around Gimli, Winnipeg Beach, and Matlock, the morning started cool and clear with a light chop, building to a modest afternoon breeze. Air temps are running mild, with comfortable jacket weather at first light and shirtsleeves by midday. Skies are mixed sun and cloud, with a chance of an isolated shower later, nothing that should blow you off the water. Sunrise came early and the sun will hang up there late, giving a long low‑light window on both ends of the day.

Walleyes are the headliner, with eater‑sized fish and the odd greenback still showing in 8–14 feet along the first breaks and gravel transitions. The better pods are tight to subtle structure instead of wide open flats. Slow‑trolling bottom bouncers with spinner rigs and half a salted shiner is putting good numbers in the box. Jig‑and‑minnow still works, but a lot of locals are quietly switching to 1/4 oz jig and soft plastic paddletail in chartreuse, glow white, or motor oil when the bite gets picky.

Northern pike are cruising emerging weeds and creek mouths. Toss medium spoons in five of diamonds or silver, or a white spinnerbait slow‑rolled just above the weeds. You’re not going to find true giants everywhere, but there are plenty of mid‑30‑inch fish willing to smash something with flash.

Sauger are mixed in with the walleyes a bit deeper off the same breaks—think 14–18 feet—preferring a smaller profile jig tipped with a minnow head. Perch are scattered but showing on sand patches next to rock; small tungsten jigs tipped with a piece of worm or a tiny plastic are the ticket if you want a mixed bag.

Artificial‑wise, the best performing lures this week have been:

- 1/4–3/8 oz jigs with 3–4 inch paddletails in chartreuse, white, or firetiger

- #7–#9 crankbaits in perch and purple clown patterns for covering water

- Classic spoons for pike, especially in red/white or silver

For natural bait, salted emerald shiners are still king on rigs and jigs. Nightcrawlers are getting more looks as the water warms, especially on spinner harnesses. If you can get fresh goldeye or tullibee strips, those are a sneaky‑good option for bigger walleyes and pike.

Couple of local hot spots to put on your list:

- The reefs and surrounding flats off **Gimli**: work the upwind edge in 8–12 feet early and slide deeper as the sun climbs.

- The drop‑offs and current edges near the mouth of the **Red River**: a classic big‑fish spot when there’s some flow pushing bait out onto the lake.

Fish activity is best in that first two‑hour window after sunrise and again in the last two hours before dark. Midday bites are tougher but not dead—downsize, slow down, and lean on your electronics to stay on fish.

That’s the word from Artificial Lure on Lake Winnipeg. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report.

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