East Winchester Lake in Alexander: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  East Winchester Lake sits within Alexander in Manitoba. It stands 326 metres above sea level. It covers about 6 hectares, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. The full circuit measures close to 2.8 km on foot. On size it sits at the modest end of our Alexander list. For a base, Lac du Bonnet sits 96 km out. It is 178 km to Winnipeg, the nearest city. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on East Winchester Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Survey and observation records for Alexander include smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch and white sucker. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On East Winchester Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 18°C; the cold one sits at -19°C. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about mid November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Plan any trip to East Winchester Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Shelley Lake at 0.8 km is the sensible second choice. Where East Winchester Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.