Fishing George Kelly Lake in Manitoba, Manitoba

• Overview

  George Kelly Lake is set in Manitoba. The country here is pine and birch. With some 93 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Around 11 km of bank, which is a long day on foot. The nearest place of any size is Norway House, 125 km away. Oxford House is 138 km and Cross Lake 19A 153 km. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on George Kelly Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. George Kelly Lake repays a walk before the first cast. Take a plummet or a sounder rather than guessing depth.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 17°C on average, January about -22°C. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early May. The open-water window runs from around early May to about early November in an average year. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. It holds true on George Kelly Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Sort the permit out before you load the car. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Salmon Lake sits 3.2 km off and takes the overflow. Rules at George Kelly Lake are worth checking on the day.