Elbow Lake in Kelsey: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Elbow Lake is listed under Kelsey, Manitoba. The water sits 293 metres up. Surface area runs to some 34.10 sq km, so a boat and a plan are both worth having. The shoreline runs to about 148 km, far more than one trip can cover. Few waters listed in Kelsey are bigger. Snow Lake lies 53 km from the water. Saskatoon is the closest city, 488 km away. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Elbow Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Public occurrence data for Kelsey names white sucker, johnny darter, northern pike and walleye. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Fish Elbow Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -22°C to 17°C. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early May. On average, early May opens the water and early November closes it again. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. It sets the rhythm of the year at Elbow Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. The nearest alternative is Marie Lake, 5 km out. For Elbow Lake in particular, ask before you travel.