Fishing at Crystal City Reservoir, Louise, Manitoba

• Overview

  In Manitoba, Crystal City Reservoir falls inside Louise. Elevation runs to 452 metres. At roughly 7 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. On size it sits at the modest end of our Louise list. Nearest town is Killarney, 52 km off. Rolla lies 58 km off, Langdon another 60 km. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Crystal City Reservoir

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Reported across Louise: black bullhead, johnny darter, white sucker, creek chub and eastern blacknose dace. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. At Crystal City Reservoir the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 19°C, the coldest about -17°C. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late April. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Crystal City Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. If the gate is shut, Goudney Reservoir at 7.9 km is the nearest alternative. None of that is settled for Crystal City Reservoir in what we hold.