Trophy Fishing Trip Of A Lifetime
The Search For Your 10-Pound Trophy Walleye And 20-Pound Northern Pike Begins Here
Our numbers tell the real story about our prolonged success, and proven results. Not only do we catch some of the biggest walleye each year, we catch a lot of them - for 22 seasons in a row, Budd’s has more than doubled the amount of Trophy Walleyes compared to every other lake in Manitoba.
Gunisao Lake is known by many as the "Master Angler Walleye Lake"
3 out of 5 of our 2022 guests caught a Master Angler. Take a look at last season's numbers and you'll see that Budd's Gunisao Lake Lodge continues to live up to the reputation of The World's Best Trophy Walleye Fishing!
Manitoba is home to the oldest Master Angler program in North America, 51 years and going strong. The program considers a 28 inch (or larger) walleye a Manitoba Master Angler.
World Class Walleye & Northern Pike
If Trophy Walleye's Your Game, Then Budd's Is The Name! ™
Not only do they taste great, but they are fun to catch. Most of our guests head to Gunisao Lake because of the opportunity to land a Master Angler walleye, and boy do they ever land them in great numbers. With 770 Master Angler walleyes caught in 2022 you can see why Budd’s is the destination for avid Trophy Walleye anglers.
Spring Fishing (May 17 - June 15)
Spring fishing is usually done in more shallow water from 5 to 12 feet. We use jigs, plugs, and walleye rigs most of this time. We catch a lot of big fish and in great numbers this time of year. It calls for cooler weather, but the best part of all is that you don’t have to travel far. “Walleye Hole” is a 5 minute boat ride from the lodge. That is where you will to start hauling in those lunkers.
This time of year we fish from 15 to 35 feet of water with mostly vertical jig fishing. Bait your jig with a frozen minnow and away you go. We cover much more of the lake this time of year and fish off islands, under water reefs and even catch them in the river entering Gunisao Lake. Great weather, the ability of your guide to follow the migration patterns, and proven years of success turn a day of fishing into a day of catching.
Fantastic Northern Pike Fishing
Budd's Master Angler Club
The Budd’s Master Angler Club (BMAC) is our very own club designated to acknowledge the achievements of all of the Trophy Fishermen on Gunisao Lake.
Benefits of joining the BMAC include:
◉ A commemorative BMAC pin with the year of your accomplishment.
◉ Entry in our St. Croix Rod and Reel combo giveaway.
◉ 1 lucky BMAC member will receive a free trip back to Budd’s the following year.
Great Guides & Gear
Pro Staff Guides
Experience is valuable
and our guides have it.
Many of our guides have fished Gunisao Lake for over 20 years. Our guides know every nook and cranny of the lake as well as migration patterns, so you can spend the majority of your time catching fish. Excellent boat control by your guide allows you to simply reel them in while your guide keeps you over your honey hole. You spend almost 9 hours a day with your guide and they are an integral part of the success and overall experience of your fishing trip, so you definitely want the best. Year after year our guides assist guests in catching record-size Trophy Walleye and Northern Pike in record numbers!
18 Foot Alaskan Lund Boats
Quick, safe, and comfortable boats.
40hp, 4-stroke Yamaha motors and 18 foot Alaskan Lund Boats speed you across Gunisao Lake with comfort and safety. Our boats have flat bottoms so you can easily walk around, and feel sturdy and secure when standing up to reel in your next lunker. Vinyl, non-slip flooring and Coast Guard safety foam make you feel comfortable on the water, even in the rain. The boats are big enough for you and your guide to freely move around when catching and netting your monster fish. Padded Air Ride pedestal seats cushion the ride as you hit all the good fishing holes. A depth finder helps to locate the smallest of drop offs and ledges where big Walleye tend to hang out.
Pontoon Boat
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if your group of 6 fishermen could all fish out of the same boat? Well at Budd’s, you can! Our pontoon is comfortable and has spacious seating, lots of room to move around while fishing, drink and rod holders, a canopy, and many other amenities. This experience can be booked for $200 per day, based on availability. Please let us know in advance of your stay if you are interested.
Rods & Reels, Tackle, And More
Superb fishing gear catches fish.
Budd’s has top-of-the-line St. Croix fishing rods and reels to rent. If you bring your own reel, you can use our St. Croix rods for free. A complete tackle store is located inside the Lodge and has exactly the right gear to help you catch your Trophy fish. With the fishing gear and tackle the Lodge has to offer, you can pack light before heading North to Winnipeg. Bring clothes and friends, and leave your cell phone and everything else behind!
Catch, Photo, Release
At Budd's Gunisao Lake Lodge we continually do our best to keep our waters, fishery, and camp pristine; and to the highest quality standards for our guests.
The province of Manitoba has been catch and release for many years, and we have been catch and release for many years before it was provincially mandated. This is one of the largest contributing factors to why Budd’s has the World’s Best Trophy Walleye Fishing. As many have come to find out, the larger females are the breeding fish. They produce the most eggs and this helps to ensure the walleye population will be bountiful for years to come. 2014, 2015, 2018, and 2023 produced over 1000 Master Anglers each season; making them 4 of our best seasons for Trophies.
* As an industry leader in conservation, Budd's Gunisao Lake Lodge does not allow our guests to take fish home. However, you will be able to enjoy plenty of fish at our famous shore lunches.
