Cartwright Lake in Manitoba: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Cartwright Lake belongs to Manitoba. The ground round it is taiga. The water covers around 6.94 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. At about 31 km of edge, most people fish a single area and learn it well. It ranks high for size among our Manitoba listings. Nearest town is Thompson, 211 km off. After that come Snow Lake at 216 km and Pelican Narrows at 227 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Cartwright Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. 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. Cartwright Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics. The mouth of any inflow is worth an hour after rain.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 16°C and January reads -26°C. Long winters and short summers set the pattern. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid May. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid May in spring and again near early November in autumn. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. The season on Cartwright Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Failing this one, try Norrie Lake, 3.7 km away. Ask locally about Cartwright Lake if anything is unclear.