Fishing Season
For all practical purposes our tourist fishing season extends from the beginning of June until the first or second week of October. Keep in mind that the weather both early and late in the season can be quite cold, and toward the middle of the season (July, August) it could get very warm here.

The Fish at Kississing Lake

Northern Pike Locally nicknamed jack, they typically run 4 to 7 pounds, but are found up to 20 or more pounds. A "trophy" northern pike is 41" or longer. Found in great abundance on Kississing Lake, northern pike strike aggressively. Casting into shallows or in weed beds is the most typical way to go after them, but it's not unusual to get good strikes when casting or jigging for walleye. Highly territorial, pound for pound, they're great fighters. Within a few days (or if you're lucky, a few hours) on the lake, you should get a fairly good education on dealing with them. All northern pike 30" and over must be released.

Lake Trout Also typically 4 to 7 pounds, but found up to 20 or more pounds, a "trophy" lake trout is 35" or longer. Bringing a good size lake trout up from the bottom is an experience few fishermen ever forget. During most of the fishing season they're found in deep waters by jigging or trolling (downriggers may help). Once he's got one hooked a fisherman faces a patient and often difficult struggle against a very strong opponent, as a trout effectively turns its body in the deep, open water to avoid advances. While sometimes difficult to locate, trout generally are found in schools. All lake trout 26" and over must be released.

Walleye Locally nicknamed pickerel, but actually in the perch family, walleye typically run from one to 2.5 pounds, but are found up to 10 or more pounds. A "trophy" walleye is 28" or longer. Walleye can at times be hard to find, but when you do find them, you'll usually get excellent action for a period of time, as they're very much school fish. All walleye 22" and over must be released.

Whitefish
Typically one to 4 pounds, but found up to 10 pounds, a "trophy" whitefish is XX pounds. Few if any fishermen go after whitefish on Kississing Lake, and they're not caught in great numbers, but it is a rare trip to Kississing Lake when none are caught. Some fishermen save them and use their bellies as a favorite bait for jigging for lake trout.

Burbot
Locally nicknamed mariah, the burbot is a freshwater cod, a bottom fish, typically one to four pounds, occasionally seen up to 10 or more pounds. No one is known to fish for them, but they are occasionally brought up when fishing in deep water for lake trout. Some fishermen will actually cut their lines rather than handle, them due to their strange appearance and exceedingly oily skin.

Perch
Kississing Lake has an abundance of perch, which often turn up when you're fishing for walleye or northern pike. Sometimes it's amazing how a very large hook can find its way into the mouth of a very small fish, but expect to catch at least a few perch on a trip to Kississing Lake.

Fishing Styles & Tackle
Our guests have been seen to use a broad variety of spoons, jigs, spinners, tails, and fishing lures to hard to describe here. At times it seems that anything you throw out can attract a fish, and we've seen our share of strange lures with surprising success. In any given day you might fish by casting, trolling, or jigging, or all three.

Some of our guests like to employ downriggers for deep, lake trout fishing, and we have those available on one of our boats.

We strictly practice catch and release of fish caught on Kississing Lake, with the exception of allowances for the possession of specified numbers and sizes of each fish species. With each species we impose strict "slot limits" for fish that may be taken, with the intent of keeping the bigger fish in the lake, and as such preventing selective breeding of increasingly smaller fish.

Live bait is prohibited from use on Lake Kississing, but frozen minnows are commonly used with good success. If you wish to use these, let us know and we'll be sure to bring them along (so long as they're available).

Also note that only barbless hooks may be used on any of Manitoba's fishing waters, regardless of whether a plain hooks or on any type of lure. Barbed hooks may be kept in the tacklebox, but only barbless hooks are allowed on the line. Most fishermen here will remove the barbs with a plyers prior to their use.

As mentioned in the "what to bring" section of our site, we expect you to bring your own fishing gear. If you can't let us know well in advance so that we can accomodate you. For Walleye most fishermen prefer light gear (ultra light 4lb test line to light 6lb test). For Northern Pike and Lake Trout, medium to heavy gear (8lb test to 20lb test) is appropriate.

Shore Lunch
To most of our guest, other than the moments of catching the 'big ones', the most memorable part of the trip is Shore Lunch. We pull off to one of a number of accomodating islands on the lake, and prepare a daily feast of fish caught that morning. Typically the meal consists of batter fried fish, fried potatoes with onions and mushrooms, canned baked beans and corn, bread (on request), and Tim's famous tartar sauce. Some of our guests like to add their own special preparations to the meal.

While the guides prepare lunch, some guests like to fish off the island, or even take a swim during the warmer months. Others take a nap, or explore the island for wildlife. Most just relax and enjoy a delicious lunch. Its common for guests to discuss how they'd love to set up a shore lunch restaurant back home, if only they could duplicate the incomparible sights, sounds and general feel of the place.

Our presence on the island always attracts a great gathering of gulls and pelicans, waiting not too patiently for us to leave. Then they descend upon the remains of fish we've cleaned and other food left behind.

Our Boats
Our boats are top of the line. They are 16.5 to 20 feet, aluminum, fully carpeted with pedestal seats. We have 40 h.p. motors so that we don't spend any more time than is necessary moving about, and when we have to move, we do it quickly. Electronics are standard equipment, and we have downriggers for going after the deep lake trouts.

Under most circumstances each boat will hold a guide and two (or in some cases three) fishermen.

Our Guides
We are year round residents of this small community, and we know everyone here. As such we only work with guides that we know to be reliable and knowledgable of the lake and fishing. We take great pride in our place in the community, and our relationship with the people of this community.

License and Conservation Issues
All visitors sixteen years and older fishing on Kississing Lake must first purchase a Manitoba Conservation Fishing License. We will be sure to get you set up with one upon arrival. They are good for one year, and costs vary (prices may change every year). For more Manitoba License and Conservation Information click on this link.

Manitoba conservation laws and Kississing Lake rules dictate the numbers and sizes of fish that a fisherman can at any time possess and not immediately release. For the fish on Kississing Lake, these are as follows: 4 Northern Pike under 30", 4 Walleye under 22", 1 Lake Trout under 26"

Similarly, when leaving Kississing Lake and returning home at the end of your trip, you are allowed to take with you the numbers and sizes of fish shown above.

A Typical Day
Any number days of fishing at Kenanow Lodge is a party with the friends, family or associates along with you. Relax and enjoy yourself, while we look to your comforts. You'll be immersed in beautiful outdoor scenery, the action of the fishing, and our friendly accomodations.

A typical day begins when you awake, at whatever time you want. Coffee and other beverages are ready. The night before you will have been asked when you'll be up and what your party wants for breakfast, which is served promptly in the main building.

After breakfast you board the boats as soon as you're ready, and motor off to a location on the lake to begin fishing. Generally we'll have an idea of where we think the fishing is likely to be active, but as you get to know the lake, you're welcome to request where you want to go. Many choose to fish for walleye in the morning, and northern pike after lunch (although you'll almost always catch some northern pike when fishing for walleye, and visa-versa).

Next is Shore Lunch (read above). If you don't want fish for lunch, or don't want to have Shore Lunch, let us know, and we'll pack sandwiches and keep fishing if you like.

Typically we fish until around 5:00 p.m., but if you prefer to start late and stay out late, we try to accomodate you as much as possible. It's not unusual to go after deep water lake trout for the last hour or two on the way back in.

Upon returning to the lodge, you have roughly an hour or so, then dinner and relaxation.