Elken Lake in Kelsey: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Elken Lake stands in Kelsey, Manitoba. The setting is taiga. Roughly 17 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Around 2.0 km of margin, front to back. Our Kelsey list holds plenty of bigger water. Snow Lake is the closest place, 64 km off. The nearest city of size is Saskatoon, 503 km away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Elken Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Public occurrence data for Kelsey names white sucker, johnny darter, northern pike, walleye and silver redhorse. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Elken Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 17°C in July and bottoms out near -23°C in January. Ice holds for a long stretch, so the open weeks matter more here than further south. Ice-out usually falls in early May, and the weeks after it fish hardest. From about early May to around early November, expect open water on the long-run figures. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Elken Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, Wapu Lake at 2.3 km is the nearest alternative. What applies at Elken Lake may have changed since it was mapped.