Goodwin Lake in Manitoba: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Goodwin Lake is set in Manitoba. The country here is taiga. Roughly 3.74 sq km of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. There is roughly 17 km of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. Thompson lies 132 km from the water. Snow Lake is 142 km away, with Flin Flon at 200 km. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Goodwin Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. At Goodwin Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach. Snags are worth the risk if you fish them carefully.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 16°C; the cold one sits at -25°C. The freeze holds for the better part of the year. Look for the thaw near mid May; the fishing lifts straight after. Ice clears near mid May and comes back about early November in a typical year. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Goodwin Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Grindstone Lake sits 2.4 km off and takes the overflow. Check the current arrangement for Goodwin Lake.