Fishing Cumpstone Lake in Killarney-Turtle Mountain, Manitoba

• Overview

  The Killarney-Turtle Mountain end of Manitoba holds Cumpstone Lake. The surroundings are lake country bush. It covers about 2 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is a small entry by Killarney-Turtle Mountain standards. Start from Belcourt, 23 km down the road. Further out sit Killarney (23 km) and Shell Valley (26 km). It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Cumpstone Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Across Killarney-Turtle Mountain, recorded fish include white sucker, johnny darter, northern pike and yellow perch. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Cumpstone Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 18°C in July and bottoms out near -17°C in January. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. Averages suggest open water from about late April through to roughly mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. The season on Cumpstone Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Records show it does not hold water year-round. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try Turners Lake, 1.5 km away. The position on Cumpstone Lake is worth confirming on the day.