Fishing at Dirty Water Lake, Manitoba, Manitoba

• Overview

  Dirty Water Lake belongs to Manitoba. The land about it is taiga. The water covers some 16 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. With about 1.8 km of edge, you can try several depths in one session. Most waters listed here for Manitoba are larger. Swan River at 65 km is the nearest place to stop. The big place round here is Regina, 334 km distant. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Dirty Water Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The near bank of Dirty Water Lake is often the one people ignore. A change of depth of a foot can change the day.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 16°C, while January sits near -19°C. Cold dominates the calendar on water this far north. Winter locks it down, and early May brings it back. From about early May to around early November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. The season on Dirty Water Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Fagnan Lake, 2.1 km out. Treat Dirty Water Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.