Fishing Bess Lake in Kelsey, Manitoba

• Overview

  Bess Lake stands in Kelsey, Manitoba. Land around it is taiga. At some 2.27 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. The edge covers about 16 km, enough to hold several distinct areas. Flin Flon lies 61 km from the water. Creighton is 63 km away, with Snow Lake at 69 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Bess Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Across Kelsey, recorded fish include white sucker, johnny darter and northern pike. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Bess Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 17°C, with January the cold end at about -23°C. Open water is the exception rather than the rule here. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early May. Averages suggest open water from about early May through to roughly early November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. It holds true on Bess Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Finger Lake, 2.9 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm access to Bess Lake locally before you travel.