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Published February 17, 2013, 12:00 AM

GALLERY: Fishing on Lake Winnipeg


Lake Winnipeg ice fishing guide Jason Hamilton shows off a chunky 25-inch "greenback" walleye Monday afternoon. Hamilton says the big lake's rich forage base helps walleyes achieve girths not commonly seen on other lakes. (Brad Dokken photo)

  • Lake Winnipeg ice fishing guide Jason Hamilton shows off a chunky 25-inch "greenback" walleye Monday afternoon. Hamilton says the big lake's rich forage base helps walleyes achieve girths not commonly seen on other lakes. (Brad Dokken photo)
  • Jason Hamilton grimaces Monday morning as he drills through nearly 4 feet of ice on Lake Winnipeg near the mouth of the river. Hamilton, of Winnipeg, who also is a biologist for the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, is a member of the "Ice Team," a cadre of North America's top ice anglers and guides on Lake Winnipeg. (Brad Dokken photo)
  • Massive Lake Winnipeg provides a bleak backdrop Monday morning as Jason Hamilton tests the waters while fishing walleyes near the mouth of the Red River. Hamilton says he prefers an aggressive "run and gun" approach to tackling the big lake. Fish a spot more than 10 minutes without a bite, Hamilton says, and it's time to move -- even when the ice is nearly 4 feet thick. (Brad Dokken photo)
  • There’s still likely a good month or more left for ice fishing – and perhaps some of the best icefishing of the season, at that. (N.D. Game and Fish Department photo)
  • Jason Hamilton watches his depth finder for signs of fish from the comfort of a snowmobile seat Monday while fishing for walleyes on Lake Winnipeg south of Gimli, Man. Hamilton, of Winnipeg, also is a biologist for the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans and spends most of his summers studying whales and walruses in the territory of Nunavut. (Brad Dokken photo)
  • Massive Lake Winnipeg is rarely fished hook-and-line in open water, but the popularity of winter fishing has exploded during the past decade. (Brad Dokken photo)
  • Lake Winnipeg ice fishing guide Jason Hamilton says the potential for big fish is a major reason for the massive Manitoba lake's popularity among wintertime anglers, many of who come from Minnesota and North Dakota (Brad Dokken photo)
  • "Lipless" crankbaits with a wide profile and plenty of rattle are go-to lures in Winnipeg fishing guide Jason Hamilton's winter arsenal. (Brad Dokken photo)