Fishing at Big Bobs Lake, Ethelbert, Manitoba

• Overview

  You will find Big Bobs Lake in Ethelbert, Manitoba. The bank is 684 metres above sea level. At some 1.29 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. The shoreline runs about 6.1 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. On our Ethelbert list it sits near the top for size. 33 km away sits Swan River, the nearest town. Kamsack is 67 km away, with Roblin at 72 km. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Big Bobs Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Records held for Ethelbert cover Iowa darter, yellow perch and northern pike. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Big Bobs Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between -19°C in January and 16°C in July. This far north the hard season runs and runs. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early May. Ice clears near early May and comes back about early November in a typical year. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. At Big Bobs Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Failing this one, try Second Lake, 1.3 km away. For Big Bobs Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.