August Lake Fishing Guide, Kelsey, Manitoba

• Overview

  This water sits in Kelsey, Manitoba. This is spruce and muskeg country. About 4.66 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. The bank runs about 25 km in total, split between open shore and sheltered corners. Cross Lake 19A is the closest place, 79 km off. Winnipeg is the closest city, 596 km away. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on August Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Fish documented in Kelsey include white sucker, johnny darter, northern pike and walleye. The county list is broader than any single water. Fish August Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -24°C to 16°C. Long winters and short summers set the pattern. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid May. Ice usually gives way near mid May, and forms again about early November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. It sets the rhythm of the year at August Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Bah Lake, 5.6 km away. Ask locally about August Lake if anything is unclear.