Blackstrap Lake 2016-2017

[Whytie]

also I lost my snow shield for my marcum LX5 down the hole . If anyone has an extra they like to sell let me know. The fishing hole, wholesale sports and cabelas are all sold out.

[Churchill River]

Saskbucks,  for the age of a Walleye from the strap compared to Walleye up North.  I have aged 100's of Walleye that were caught on the Churchill.  A 3 lb Walleye always was 10 to 12 years old.  Fish in general will grow faster down South then the North.

We were out today, but didn't get started until 10:30 and fished until 4:30.  Did really well on the perch, with one small pike and one small walleye.  They still are biting in spurts, so there was a lot of slow periods.  Started just South of the North end and worked our way South of the back bay across from Shields, trying 5 different spots.  Caught fish in all 5 spots.  They seem to be all over, but not interested in biting all the time.

Over the years I have caught 2 perch were their black stripes were running long ways on their body vs up and down as 99.9% of them do.  Last week I was talking to a guy on the lake that fishes the strap a lot and I mentioned this to him and asked him if he has ever caught one.  He seemed surprised by this and said............no I have never seen one like that.   Well, I met the guy on the lake today and he said, I caught one with the stripes running long ways yesterday.  Just wondering if any other fishermen have caught perch like this. 

[saskbucks]

Saskbucks,  for the age of a Walleye from the strap compared to Walleye up North.  I have aged 100's of Walleye that were caught on the Churchill.  A 3 lb Walleye always was 10 to 12 years old.  Fish in general will grow faster down South then the North.

Thanks CR! My buddy caught a 7 pounder up there last spring and wondered how old it was.  He released it, hoping to catch it again someday.

[Churchill River]

If that 7 lber was caught on the River, that is a big Walleye for the River, and it would of been 20 or older.

[saskbucks]

It was a lake fish. But from right around there.

[gman51]

nice little walleye bite last night fished from 5-7,  4 walleyes 1 keeper at 16," on the flag 24 fow. 3 smaller ones jigging 12-14 fow. missed a few on the hook set, fairly steady action on the graph for the last hour .out in front of hill again.

[Churchill River]

Rip, you catching any perch on the South side?  Or marking any?

[gman51]

I mainly target walleyes and have only caught a few perch so far this year. Been seeing lots of smaller targets on the graph but I also don't actively persue them. same for pike. I wait til March for the perch bonanza.and do great for perch south of the causeway.

[ryder29]

How is the slush situation after a few days of ice weather?

[gman51]

was out last night for a couple hours and as to be expected with the warm temps and especially the wind lots of water on the east side and deep slush on west side of lake soon to be the same over the next few days.talking about the access driving down the boat launch. cant say for the north end.  fished the west side last night from 5-730 caught a handful of walleyes literally all 6 that were caught were 8" lol. missed 1 decent mark and had a couple drive by,s. insulated rubber boots should be popular this weekend.

[ryder29]

Thanks for the update ripnflutter!

[bigk]

Seen some pictures of the swimming pool from today. Anybody still driviving on ice today?

[gman51]

Yes but the boat launch is getting sketchy. This is the worst I've seen the ice conditions for a long long time for mid February. I was fishing last couple days of march last year and wasn't anything like this. Crazy amount of water to trek through. Don't forget the ice cleats.

[bigk]

Gonna be warm for awhile yet. Not good not good. How's access at north end? Assume rip was referring to park boat launch.

[Pollock fish]

I'm assuming it should not be an issue to walk on tomorrow? Was out before the warm weather and was 3' of ice... herd there's some spots getting pretty wet? Any one out on Friday north end that can report ice conditions?

[gman51]

yes i was referring to the one in the park. and yes plenty of ice that's not the issue keeping everything dry and not wiping out breaking something and going for a bath could be an issue. i was driving all over yesterday out from the main boat launches....

[ryder29]

North end launch is good. Yesterday's water barely skimmed over last night.

[bigk]

Good walleye bite this morning with a couple perch as well. Left at noon. Flasher was lit up all day but bite slowed down after around 8:30. Gonna try again tomorrow morning. Was fishing 25 feet of water in front of shields. Walleye were 12-15". One perch was small the other was a jumbo. My partner got skunked. Everything caught on a white flutterfish and lived to swim another day.

[gman51]

walked out in front of the park entrance yesterday early am middle of lake 22 fow fished til 1pm. caught 1 walleye jigging (perch glow frostee spoon) seen few more on the graph, not committing, 2 flags triggered landed 1 walleye 12" and 1 that dropped the bait. no perch ,no pike. not much wind yesterday. ice didn't melt as much without the the strong winds. heading out somewhere today looks like the heavy S.E winds are back try and find somewhere less breezy.

[Churchill River]

The bite is still very slow............one or two at a time every 2 hours or so..........did get a couple of 6 lb Walleye.

Probably another 10 days to 2 weeks before it picks up again.

[Walleyekid]

Didn't see a thing at 24 feet of water from 11-5 yesterday. Started to pick up in the evening a bit, but pretty slow overall.

[gman51]

did the evening bite yesterday, wow sure feels like end of march weather. fished from 4-730 out in front of the boat launches 24-25 fow started out seeing marks small ones come and go then the last 1 1/2 there was a jumbo perch invasion.hooked up on around 15-20 of those tubs. with a handful of walleyes in the mix. 1 walleye at 15 " rest were smaller. 1/8 oz gold frostee spoon with a minnow head. but it probably didn't matter just nothing to big for lure,s.

[Pollock fish]

Today between 9:30 am and 11 am on the strap with my kiddo... threw prob 6 back too all around the same size. About my second good putting all year.  Finally a fish fry, been a tough season. 24 fow...

[Pollock fish]

Have got to enjoy my new set up in my pop up three four times this year after spending the first half the season making it.... took me forever to find a canvas stove jack... so much nicer than propane and twice as warm. And can cook a warm meal on the ice while fishing. Also love the smell of a good fire. Would never go back...

[AndyJ]

That set-up looks like the perfect portable Saskatchewan ice shack and/or winter camping tent.

[small-town-fisher]

Nice job on the pop up looks very nice and easy enough to move around still.

[Pollock fish]

Thanks.Yup jus gotta let it cool off or toss a bit of water on it to cool it off if u wanna move...

[small-town-fisher]

How was the ice looking when you were out should a person start thinking about pulling there shacks off.

[Pollock fish]

I was on north end sat and it's like 38 " still lil water ontop . People n trucks n shacks everywhere. And today was jus north of boat launches and was a lil soft right at the boat launch jus right at shore though. Where a few.vehicles out and still lots of shacks by Evans... ice is prob 4 " less on south half then very north end. But the forecast says below zero for the next few weeks. Nothing above zero day or night so I wouldn't be concerned about it unless we get another week or so above zero.

[ran7ger]

 great perch there pollock, nice job.  love the popup/stove set up too.  where did you find that canvas stove jack?  did you sew it in yourself?  been looking at outfitter tents but i already have a fat fish that never gets used would be great for winter camping.