Cliff Lake Fishing Guide, Alexander, Manitoba

• Overview

  Cliff Lake is an Alexander water, in Manitoba. The bank gives way to rolling bush. At some 1.10 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. Around 10 km of bank, which is a long day on foot. Lac du Bonnet sits 91 km from the bank. Red Lake is 104 km and Golden 110 km. Others close at hand: Stovel Lake lies 1.8 km on, Wentworth Lake within 1.8 km, Moore Lake lies 2.5 km on, Overhang Lake within 3.3 km and Dove Lake lies 3.4 km on. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Cliff Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Across Alexander, recorded fish include smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch and white sucker. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. The shape of Cliff Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 18°C and January about -19°C. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. That shapes the year on Cliff Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. For a change of water, Stovel Lake is 1.8 km distant. For Cliff Lake in particular, ask before you travel.