Fishing Minnitaki Lake--Rice River area

[WalleyeWagon3701]

I am looking for information on the direction of the water flow on Minnitaki Lake around Neepawa Island and Phantom Island. I have been to Minnitaki Lake 5 times but have focused on Red Pine, Trout Fish and the Arm.

Additionally, does anyone have any experience fishing around Neepawa Island, Strawberry Island and/or Twin Pine Island. Will be going the last week of May. The Rice River is a protected area until June 16 but looking to stay just to the north of the mouth of Rice Riverto hopefully get onto female Walleyes post-spawn.

Fish-On Uncle Lar!

[scar]

have a cabin on neepawa and have fished the lake several times during the period you are asking about. this is a tough time in that area as the walleyes are still in the sanctuaries so thick you could almost walk across them. the fish that are out are very scattered in may-a few here and a few there but no real awsome bite anywhere yet. the minnicau creek area is usually real good and all the other "normal" advice holds true. wind blown points and islands will hold some fish. we used to think fishing the bays and areas as close to the sancturary as possible would be productive but those spots never really paid off.
even though red pine is actually open for catch and release only we would still go and have a blast in there and then try to find enough around neepawa for a fish fry.
scar

[WalleyeWagon3701]

Scar, thanks for the note. Can you comment on the direction of the water-flow in the lake? Additionally, what about the islands just south of Abraham's Chute?

[scar]

not sure what you mean by water flow. the only places there is any type of current really on the lake is where minnitaki pours into abram at the chute and around the english river. i did forget to mention the chutes as one of the best spots on the lake for that time of the year. there will be a lot of boats there though and you will need a very good anchor. lots of presentations will work at the chute -jigs,bottom bouncers or cranks. all other parts of the lake are mostly jigs at that time but backtrolling with spinners/crawlers to find fish can be real successful
scar

All of the water in the English river system flows north, rice into Minnitaki, into abram, pelican, then Seul. Eventually this water empties into the Hudson's Bay....long canoe ride though..lol

[WalleyeWagon3701]

Scar, thanks for the info. What date do you anticipate ICE-OUT and post-spawn?
Scar, when do you plan to br in the Sioux area ?

[scar]

will be at the cabin for a work week may 22 - 26. lots of work as we built a new cabin on the property and are finishing the inside. will find some time to fish though. stop in if that is when you are up. have 2 more summer trips planned-june 14 -21 and july 21 - 25. will spend a lot of time on lac seul towards the end of the june trip and a couple of days during the july trip. minnitaki is good but lac seul gets in your blood after a few 100 eyes days.
hard for me to predict ice out as i live in wisconsin but from what iv'e heard and read i would say(guess) somewhere around may 5-8.
scar

[scar]

ww, just went back to your original post and saw that you fish in trout fish bay. we have a lot of time on minnitaki and no one from our cabin has ever even ventured into trout fish bay. is it a decent fishery and worthwhile?
scar

[WalleyeWagon3701]

Scar, read your last (2) posts. We will be on the lake the same time as you will be in late May. We will look for you throughout the week.

As far as Troutfish Bay, the north shoreline has a rock island that protrudes southward from the shoreline a good 30-40 yards. Depending on the water depth is may be visible. This was a very good area for walleyes as is the island that is to the southeast of this point. If you continue to the northeast corner of the bay you can pick up pike. We spent a great deal of time in Troutfish just working the islands.

[prov1900]

WalleyeWagon,

Where are you staying at that week? We will be up there the same time at Donneley's.