A man in the snow using a stick to take pictures.

Choose Electric!

by Review
A man in the snow using a stick to take pictures.

There’s been a bone of contension over the past few years, with the introduction if the electric ice auger into the ice fishing mainstream. We’ve seen a lot of products hit the market, some hits and some misses. I first started using a hand auger powered by a cordless drill, now, I have a plethora of options on the market, most of which are making the demise of the gas auger closer to a reality.

My first foray into electric augers was attaching a cordless drill directly to my hand auger flight. Which quickly turned into a poor decision with the thick ice we see on Lake Winnipeg, I burnt out my drill the first trip out. But choose the right drill, and connect it to a Clam drill plate designed with industrial ball bearings that absorb the load from the auger so the drill is only used to spin the auger and not support the torque and it might be the perfect choice for you.

A blue and black stand with a handle

My next electric ice auger experience was with the first generation Ion. I got my first chance to use it right around Christmas time on Lake Dauphin, it worked great for drilling inside a friends permanent shack, with no fumes and its ability to re-drill holes but it lacked the speed to take on its gas counterparts.

By the time we launched Icebound Excursions, we knew that an electric auger was the way we wanted to go. Our SnoBear paired with an electric auger allows us the ability to drill our holes from inside, making set-up easier, and warmer. Electric Ice augers are inherently forgiving in nature as the auger only spins when you have your finger on the trigger,  and is ready to go as soon as you slide the battery in. One feature I like is that when the auger binds in the hole the power cuts out instead of transferring all that momentum to your wrists. With some of our customers being new to ice fishing an electric ice auger was the safest auger we could choose, and the obvious choice. We choose the Ion X, the best on the market at the time, it cut holes reliably all season long (up to 3.5′ of ice) and with the exception of the blades icing up on colder days didn’t give us any grief. We weren’t as quick as our gas counterparts, but with us fishing some areas day after day after day, its ability to re-drill holes was a huge asset.

We started the 2018/2019 season with the Ion X, and quickly realized that the bite had changed, we found ourselves never fishing the same area more than a few days and never fishing the same holes more than once. This meant we were drilling many more holes per day, and speed was becoming a factor. After experimenting with different flights, we had to make a decision, do we switch augers? I borrowed a friends Strikemaster Lithium 40V and the difference was clear, we cut our set-up time down and got more holes per charge. We ran that auger the rest of the season and it performed right through to the end. (Just make sure you have a spare set of blades or two with you).

We’re entering the 2019/2020 ice season and it’s become clear that electric ice augers are here to stay, and they’re ready to challenge gas augers. New this year we have the Ion G2 which is touted as faster, lighter version of its predecessor, Strikemaster hasn’t changed their auger, but they’ve come out with a lighter flight and Clam is now entering the game with it’s 120V 8″ Auger Kit that stands toe to toe on specs with anything on the market. With 240 Watts Clam’s electric ice auger chews through up to 1800 inches of ice per charge with a planetary gear system that delivers up to 325rpm. All backed by the longest warranty on the market (5 years). I can’t wait to get my hands on one and put it to the test on one of the most notorious lakes in the country.

The pace of change in the ice fishing world has been immense, development in ice augers are no exception. Whether you’re currently using a hand auger, gas auger or have already made the switch to electric chances are there is a better version hitting the market this year. I still drill the first hole of the season using my trusty hand auger (superstition), but with the lightweight of electric ice augers, the long lasting batteries or speed the newest generation delivers, there is no reason to use anything else this ice season.

Defending Champ

A black and red metal pole with an arrow.


Strikemaster Lithium 40V
$749.99CDN

Power: 200 Watts
Battery: 40V 5AH
Inches of ice: 1600"
Weight: 24lbs
Warranty: 2 years

Powerhouse

A blue and black device with various accessories.

Clam 120V Auger
$799.99CDN

Power: 240 Watts
Battery: 120V 2AH
Inches of ice: 1800"
Weight: 25lbs
Warranty: 5 years (1year Battery)

Comeback King

A green and black image of the top of a stick.

Ion G2
$999.99CDN

Power: 240 Watts
Battery: 40V 6AH
Inches of ice: 2000"
Weight: 17lbs
Warranty: 3 years3

A man holding a fish in front of a boat.

Walleye | Sander Vitreus

by FishFish Profiles

Probably the most sought after sport fish in Manitoba, the Walleye (sander virteus) or as it’s known locally pickerel, can be found throughout the province.  There are plenty of fly-in and drive to lodges, lakes and rivers that hold trophy potential, as well as some lakes that may not hold many giants, but will keep you so busy you’d think they were pan fish.

We operate on Lake Winnipeg, the 2nd largest watershed in Canada, and the 10th largest lake in the world.  It is a premier Walleye fishing destination, with countless Manitoba Master Anglers caught each and every year.  The Walleye roam the lake following the baitfish.  This migration concentrates them near the tributaries of the south basin in the fall, and they stick around until the spawn in the spring.  This provides an excellent opportunity for both novice and avid ice anglers.  We have had multiple guests catch their first ice fishing, and have it be a Master angler, some with it being their first fish ever.

A woman holding a large fish in her arms.

Most anglers are familiar with the lipless crank bait bite on Lake Winnipeg, and it is one of my favourite methods to catch theses beautiful fish.  Other popular methods are the trusted jig and minnow as well as flutter spoons like Clam’s ‘Peg’ flutter spoon.  Having a decent selection of these lures on hand should have you covered for a day on Lake Winnipeg this winter.

A person holding onto some fishing hooks
Lake Winnipeg Go Box

fNo two days on the lake are the same, I’ve been out with two groups on the lake where on day one group was on fire, and the next it was the other group.  The difference, not where they were fishing, but how.  Both groups were fishing 50 metres of each other, however the first group was fishing with a subtler finesse action on their crank baits, the second group a very aggressive action.  Once we caught on to the difference between the groups, we where able to dial in our action, and get everybody’s rods to start bending.

If you’ve read this far, I should probably let you in on a secret weapon,  I’ve had weeks where everyone I’ve talked to has been struggling, and we’ve been having some of our best days out on the ice.  The reason Clam’s Rattlin’ Blade Spoon, it’s slimmer profile combined with the stainless steel ball bearings in the attached rattle chamber trigger those walleye to bite on the days when nothing else seems to be working.  Just ask my guests who ‘borrow’ the lure while we’re busy taking pictures of their buddies Master Angler.

If you are looking to target some greenbacks this winter, consider getting Icebound.

A man holding a fish in front of a boat.

Lake Winnipeg Walleye Regulations 2018

by FishRegulations
A man holding a fish in front of a boat.

Limits and Possession

Fish are considered to be in possession if they are not immediately released into the water from which they were taken. Possession limits are the same as daily catch limits in Manitoba. You may possess no more than one limit of each kind of fish at any time. This includes all fish you have in hand, camp, transportation, at home or for use in a competitive fishing event.

Walleye (Pickerel) & Sauger (either or combined):

  • General Limit
    • Conservation Licence – 4
    • Regulare Licence – 6
  • None may be shorter than 35cm (13.75″)
  • Only one may exceed 55cm (21.5″)
  • Anglers may retain only 1 walleye longer than 70 cm per year. Licence holders who catch and retain one of these fish must immediately record the date on the back of their licence.

* information above obtained from the 2018 Manitoba’s Anglers Guide

A man holding a fish while standing next to a child.

Northern Pike | Esox Lucius

by FishFish Profiles

One of the most aggressive species of fish found in Manitoba, northern pike (esop lucius) have always been one of my favourite fish to catch.  They are a great option to target through the ice.

With the large variation in waterbodies across the province, from rivers to shallow mud bottom lakes to deep shield lakes.  Manitoba provides a great opportunity to land monster pike.  Withe the largest in the province recorder at 153.67cm (60.50in) caught on Apisko Lake, you may land your new personal best. With Master Anglers being caught through the ice all across the province  from up north on Reed Lake to the Red River in the south or Lakes throughout the Whiteshell and Winnipeg river to the east. Get your name in the record books today!

With one of the most common ways to target these fish being the use of tip-ups, they can also be targeted through the ice ice with spoons, crank baits and even jigs.  The hard water season can be the easiest time of the year to single out the largest fish.  Using a quick-strike rig with a large smelt or Cisco (tullibee) suspended off the bottom.

Normally not a favourite table fare, in the winter, pike loose a bit of their characteristic slime and fishy smell making them a great option for a shore lunch.

Manitoba Ice Fishing Map | Please Contribute

by General Information

Thank you for visiting Icebound Excursions, we are working on compiling a map of ice fishing ‘points of interest’ in Manitoba. Please check back often as we update the map.

*The following map is for reference purposes only, Icebound Excursions and its contributors make no guarantees of ice conditions.  It is up to the users to verify conditions before using any of the information found on this page.

If you would like us to add a point of interest to this map, please complete the form below.

Touch-A-Truck

by Events

We had a blast at touch-a-truck Stonewall, Manitoba’s biggest touch a truck event.  We have attended the past two years with our son, and this was our first with the SnoBear.  It is an interactive fundraiser, your family can get up close and personal with all the trucks and tractors all the boys and girls are enthralled by.  On our first trip our son spent the first 5 min running from truck to truck, he was so excited he couldn’t choose which truck to see first.  We hope to attend this event in the future, until then enjoy this short video from this years event.

A body of water with trees and clouds in the sky.

Icebound Excursions | An Origin Story

by General Information

When my wife and I started dating one of our favourite times of the year was our annual canoe trip into the backcountry of Nopiming Provincial Park with her dog.

A body of water with trees and clouds in the sky.

We would spend the day fishing from the canoe while paddling around the lake; enjoying the peace and quiet afforded to us by the remote location.  Fast forward 5 years, and the two of us, our 2 dogs and our son don’t quite fit in the canoe anymore.

After cramming us all into our tent at campsites for a couple of years we picked up a 1976 boler trailer and made the trek to as many of Manitoba’s provincial park campsites that we could get to. Our son loved collecting stamps in his ‘Passport to Adventure’

A man and boy in front of an rv.

These trips served to indulge our need to get outdoors, but it also introduced our son to the outdoors and fishing. In 2016, at the age of 3, he caught his first fish and by the end of the season he had caught 7 different species, 2 Master Anglers and even a few personal bests, that top his parents.

 

A boy holding a fish while sitting in the back of a boat.
A woman and child in a boat with luggage.
A man holding a fish while standing next to a child.
A young boy holding something in his hand.
A young boy holding a fish in his hands.
A young boy holding a fish in his hands.
A young boy holding a fish in his hands.

Koselig

With winter approaching and the arrival of our daughter, we packed the trailer away in storage, but we didn’t want to let that be the end of our outdoor adventures.  In the spirit of ‘koselig we picked up some snow shoes and bundled up the little one and headed to the urban oasis that is Fort Whyte Alive.  This was our son’s first introduction to ice fishing and he loved it. My son and I would head out with our flip-up and go ice-fishing once a week.

Snobear

We did manage to get all four of us in there on a few of the milder days, but it wasn’t ideal.  After reading about the Snobear in Hooked Magazine, my wife and I made a trip to Manitoba’s Outdoor Showto check it out.  While we couldn’t justify the cost for ourselves, it was obvious that this was the ultimate way to get out on the ice as a family.  Our first question to the sales rep was where can we rent one in Manitoba.  Her answer was “nowhere, yet”.  When we got home my wife turned to me and said “why can’t it be us?”.

Not one to turn down the opportunity at getting my hands on a new toy, we quickly came up with a business plan and Icebound Excursions was born.  With the goal of making ice fishing more accessible for families and excursions easier for avid anglers we set everything in motion to start rentals late in 2017.

A man and boy in the driver 's seat of a car.
Our first ride in a SnoBear