What an honour it is for me to represent Manitoba as the official fishing ambassador for the 2nd year. As Travel Manitoba's fishing ambassador my job is to help promote the unbelievable fishing Manitoba has to offer. Publishing Hooked magazine allows me to spend a lot of time on the water and ice. I also have the opportunity to meet lots of great anglers, industry leaders and sometimes I even get to fish with them. What a thrill it is for me to take these anglers to some of my favourite lakes in Manitoba and watch them catch world class fish! For any angler that lives here we all know that Manitoba is a world class fishing destination for anglers from ALL around the world. For proof, head over to It's My Moment, a site dedicated to celebrating amazing Manitoba travel stories from people just like you , so get yours up there soon. I've got a few stories posted there, and will be adding more all the time. 2010 will definitely be another angling season to remember! For more information or to sign up for Travel Manitoba's Master Angler E-Newsletter go to www.travelmanitoba.com. Travel Manitoba has all kinds of neat things planned for 2010 and you don’t want to miss them. You can help us celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Master Angler program by purchasing Master Angler gear designed especially for, you guessed it, the Master Angler in your family! Don’t let this great gear be the one that got away! Make sure you keep up to date on what’s happening by checking back here often! I hope to see you out fishing on one of Manitoba’s fine trophy lakes this year!

Winnipeggers love a great deal, so it's only logical they would give visitors one! The Stay and Play offer is just one reason why so many people choose Winnipeg's casinos as their holiday destination. Best of all, it is simple to use and free to access.

Guests can be eligible for $15 in Gold Play for use at either Club Regent Casino or McPhillips Station Casino, both located in Manitoba's entertainment capital, Winnipeg. Stay and Play is available at www.destinationwinnipeg.com when booking your hotel accommodations or packages, such as a couples or girl's getaway.

If you're looking for a more in-depth entertainment package, then visit www.travelmanitoba.com for great seasonal casino promotions, featuring major casino performers. All getaway packages are priced to include one night's double accommodation at a select hotel, casino gaming and restaurant vouchers, plus complementary casino valet parking. New packages are offered regularly, book today!

Club Regent Casino offers exceptional dining, popular live entertainment, a dance club and a first-class gaming experience in a tropical environment. Offering the same array of venues but with a different flair, McPhillips Station Casino lets you step back in time into a nostalgic train station and grand hotel themed atmosphere.

Please remember that in Manitoba you must be 18 years of age or older to enter the casinos. Photo ID may be required.

For 50 years, anglers have been recognized for their abilities and achievements through the Master Angler Awards Program. To commemorate this milestone anniversary, a special pin will be awarded to each angler who registers a qualifying trophy fish with the program in 2010.

The program was originally initiated by the Neepawa Game and Fish Association and at the time recognized three species of fish. It was an instant success and in 1960, the association approached the Department of Tourism to take over the Master Angler Awards program as it is known today. The first badges and certificates were issued to 480 anglers catching trophy fish of seven different species.

Until 1985 the Master Angler Awards program was administered manually when continued growth prompted computerization with the first automated awards issued in 1987. Today, the Master Angle program recognizes 30 species and has registered over 200,000 trophy fish – approximately 10,000 fish a year with a record 13,077 entries in 2003.

This highly visible program is unique to Manitoba. It promotes conservation and responsible management of a renewable resource through its “catch and release” initiative. Approximately 90% of the entries registered in the program are released by anglers. The program serves not only as an educational and conservation tool, but also as a high profile and positive marketing tool for Manitoba’s world-class sport fishery. Anglers from across the continent come to Manitoba for some best sport fishing in North America.

As the Master Angler Awards program has grown in popularity and prestige over the last 50 years, Travel Manitoba is launching a line of Master Angler merchandise, giving anglers another way to proudly display their achievements.

All merchandise, which includes fleece, leather and nylon jackets, hats and a variety of shirts display the Master Angler crest and are available for purchase online at www.masteranglergear.com. Proceeds from the merchandise sales will be invested back into the Master Angler program.

The merchandise is categorized into three different groups – the first is products that will be available to the general public, the second group includes exclusive products that will only be available to those with official Master Angler certification, the third group will consist of co-branded items with Manitoba’s lodges and outfitters.

One of the special items only available to Master Anglers is an etched glass trophy – a “brag piece” that is easy to display on an office shelf. Also creating buzz are clothing items in “fishoflage”, which takes its cues from camouflage, but with an angler identity.

With the Master Angler Awards program celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2010, now is the perfect time to get your Master Angler gear. Go to www.masteranglergear.com to make your purchase!

I had the pleasure of being invited out to do some ice fishing north of Gimli, Manitoba on beautiful Lake Winnipeg. The goal was to try and find some great fishing up and around the Hecla Island area of Lake Winnipeg.

Our day started off meeting good friend and commercial fisherman Murray Olafson. Murray has been fishing the lake recreationally and commercially most of his life. If there is a man who knows the ins and outs of Big Windy it’s definitely Murray. We finished day one with about 60-70 fish between us with most fish caught measuring between the 20-22 inch mark. Now these fish are very aggressive and were mostly caught on fast moving baits.

After a great night’s sleep at the unbelievable Radisson Hecla Oasis Resort we were primed and ready to go bright and early the next day. Day two started off with a bang as we were catching fish at a fast and furious rate. The bite slowed till around noon and then I hooked into something very big. As I started gaining ground and had this fish coming up the hole I realized just how big it was. This walleye measured in at over 31 inches and we guessed it weighed in the neighbourhood of 12-13 pounds.

What a thrill it was to try new waters, new techniques and baits and have a very successful outing! The hospitality and food was beyond excellent at the resort and the company we shared the ice with both days was second to none. WOW, what a trip!

Congratulations to Janice Murray of Winnipeg for winning the It’s My Moment contest grand prize, a Manitoba Homecoming 2010 VIP travel package.

Here is Janice’s winning submission to It’s My Moment:

My daughter and I were living in Vancouver and decided on the spur of the moment, to make a trip to Manitoba to visit with family.

At that time my daughter was infatuated with sunflowers. She had her bedroom decorated in everything sunflowers. I guess I never thought anything of it but as we were nearing the turn off to Stonewall and it was raining slightly, I looked over at her and saw she had tears in her eyes. I asked her, “Diana, what ever is wrong?”

She said “Mom, look” and to my left was a field of sunflowers all in bloom. We stopped and got out and took pictures and it was one of the most “momentous moments” of our being together and sharing something.

I’ll never forget it and for that brief time, we were together.

Diana now lives in Australia but still has sunflowers all around her. For her to be able to make that trip again would mean the world to both of us.

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