Fishing Elk Lake in Ethelbert, Manitoba

• Overview

  In Manitoba, Elk Lake falls inside Ethelbert. The surroundings are northern bush. About 1.22 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. The edge covers about 5.2 km, enough to hold several distinct areas. It ranks high for size among our Ethelbert listings. Roblin is the closest place, 51 km off. After that come Dauphin at 69 km and Swan River at 70 km. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Elk Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Records held for Ethelbert cover Iowa darter, yellow perch, northern pike and white sucker. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Fish Elk Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -19°C in January up to 16°C in July. Cold dominates the calendar on water this far north. Break-up comes around early May, and the run that follows is short and strong. The season between ice runs from about early May to early November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. The season on Elk Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. A rest area sits about 720 m from the water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. If the gate is shut, Korzelosky Lake at 2.9 km is the nearest alternative. Signs at Elk Lake carry more weight than any list.