Fishing Crater Lake in Manitoba, Manitoba

• Overview

  Crater Lake lies in Manitoba. The bank is 264 metres above sea level. Surface area runs to about 4 hectares — small enough to read in one session. Our Manitoba list holds plenty of bigger water. For a base, Thompson sits 156 km out. Further out sit Snow Lake (178 km) and Flin Flon (224 km). The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Crater Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. At Crater Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach. The mouth of any inflow is worth an hour after rain.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 16°C, with January the cold end at about -26°C. Open water arrives late and leaves early, which concentrates the fishing. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid May. Ice clears near mid May and comes back about early November in a typical year. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Plan around that when you fish Crater Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. For a change of water, Leaf Lake is 4 km distant. Rules at Crater Lake are worth checking on the day.