Dove Lake, Manitoba: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Dove Lake falls in Alexander, part of Manitoba. The setting is lake country bush. About 4 hectares of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Most waters listed here for Alexander are larger. Lac du Bonnet is the closest place, 88 km off. Beyond it, Red Lake at 106 km and Golden at 113 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Dove Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Alexander records list smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch and white sucker among the fish reported. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Dove Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 18°C in July and bottom out at -19°C in January. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. That shapes the year on Dove Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. For a change of water, Wentworth Lake is 1.6 km distant. Confirm access to Dove Lake locally before you travel.