Fishing at Boon Lake, Alexander, Manitoba

• Overview

  Out in Alexander, Manitoba, sits Boon Lake. The surface lies 321 metres up. With some 79 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The edge covers about 7.5 km, enough to hold several distinct areas. The closest town, Lac du Bonnet, is 44 km away. Beyond it, Beausejour at 78 km and Kenora at 86 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Boon Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Survey and observation records for Alexander include smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye and yellow perch. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Boon Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -19°C to 19°C. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Once it clears, about late April, the fishing comes on quickly. In an average year the thaw lands around late April and the freeze near mid November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Boon Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Failing this one, try Akeroyd Lake, 0.7 km away. Rules at Boon Lake are worth checking on the day.