Ice Fishing Greenbacks on Lake Winnipeg
- Britney Magdal
- Mar 24
- 3 min read
As the ice season winds down, we decided to go out with a bang—and there’s no better place to wrap up winter than Lake Winnipeg. This wasn't just a weekend trip—it was a full three-night stay in an icehouse, chasing big greenback walleyes in comfort.
We hooked up with Kannuk Outdoors, and let’s just say... they delivered. My father-in-law Steve tagged along with us for his first-ever greenback experience, and it did not disappoint! If you're into big fish, late-season bites, and ice fishing with a little luxury, this one's for you!
Watch the Full Video: Lake Winnipeg Greenbacks: Ice Fishing Overnight
Click above or watch below to see the trip unfold—monster fish, first-time reactions, and unforgettable bites.
Trip Highlights:
Location: Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba
Outfitter: Kannuk Outdoors
Style: Icehouse basecamp + hole hopping
Catch: Multiple greenbacks in the 22"–26” range
Conditions: Late-season, active bite windows, big water challenges
We stayed in a fully outfitted icehouse for 3 days, giving us warmth, comfort, and the flexibility to explore when the bite shifted. We mixed basecamp fishing with mobile hole hopping to stay on the schools—and it paid off.
Why Lake Winnipeg?
Lake Winnipeg is legendary for a reason. Its greenback walleyes are not only massive, but their vivid emerald color makes them one of the most photogenic fish you can pull through the ice. This late-season trip gave us the full experience—bitter cold mornings, bluebird afternoons, and that classic “just one more drop” feeling all day long.
First-Time Greenback Magic
Steve came into this trip not knowing what to expect—and watching his reaction to pulling a fat Winnipeg walleye through the ice was one of the best parts of the trip. For anyone who's never been north of the border for ice fishing, this video is a perfect intro to what Lake Winnipeg has to offer.
What We Used: Baits, Tactics & Reaction
We relied on two key presentations during the trip—and both produced in different ways:
Jigging Raps/Rattle Baits
Spoons tipped with frozen shiners
These greenbacks were aggressive at times, especially when chasing up Jigging Raps.
RATTLE BAIT TIP
If they start following up your rap, continuing to lift up and keep it ABOVE THEM. They will follow that thing so far up - so don't stop - you never know when they will just make that leap and SMOKE it!
We used them mainly as a call bait, which would draw in curious walleye from a distance with long, quick lifts and pauses. When they wouldn’t fully commit, we’d drop down with a more subtle flutter from a spoon tipped with a frozen shiner head (they were more interested in the heads than the full shiner).
Frozen bait was our only option. Due to Canada’s updated bait laws, live bait was completely unavailable—not just near the lake, but across the entire province of Manitoba. And with a province-wide live bait ban coming in just two years, this trip gave us a real preview of what the future of bait fishing in Canada will look like.
Typically, we’d run a set line with live bait below the ice while actively jigging to call fish in. If they didn’t hit the Rap, they’d often crush the bait on the deadstick. But this time, that secondary option was off the table.
Despite the shortage, frozen shiners on spoons performed well in combination with the rattle baits.
Top Lures
Final Thoughts + What’s Next
This was our final ice fishing trip of the season, but we’re already gearing up for open water. If you’re into real fishing, raw moments, and big fish energy, now’s the time to subscribe and ride with us into spring!
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