Banana Lakes, Manitoba: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Banana Lakes lies in Grahamdale, Manitoba. Everything around it is rolling bush. At about 62 hectares, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Roughly 2.8 km of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. Arborg lies 102 km from the water. Dauphin is 132 km away, with Gimli at 135 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Banana Lakes

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Species logged across Grahamdale include walleye, freshwater drum, nipigon cisco and white sucker. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Banana Lakes a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 18°C, with January the cold end at about -20°C. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from late April. Ice usually gives way near late April, and forms again about mid November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. That is the shape of the year on Banana Lakes.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. For walleye, a jig and minnow near the bottom is the standard; evenings beat middays. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, Spruce Lake at 16 km is the nearest alternative. The position on Banana Lakes is worth confirming on the day.