Fishing at Gillan Lake, Manitoba, Manitoba

• Overview

  Gillan Lake is a Manitoba water, Manitoba side. It lies 299 metres above sea level. This is sizeable water at about 2.20 sq km, and a boat opens up most of it. There is roughly 15 km of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. Some 204 km away sits Norway House, the nearest settlement. Beyond it, Red Lake at 223 km and Arborg at 224 km. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Gillan Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. At Gillan Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does. Cover your ground slowly and you will find the productive stretch.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -21°C to 18°C. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Count the season from break-up, usually early May. Break-up near early May, freeze-up near early November: that is the shape of an average year. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. That shapes the year on Gillan Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Blackduck Lake, 7.3 km away. Confirm access to Gillan Lake locally before you travel.