Hardmans Lakes, Manitoba: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Hardmans Lakes lies in St. Andrews, Manitoba. The surface lies 216 metres up. It is low-lying compared with other Manitoba water we list. Nearest town is Selkirk, 26 km off. Gimli lies 30 km off, Beausejour another 42 km. Alternatives close at hand: Passwa Lake near enough 2.7 km, Hughes Lake within 3.1 km, Ramsay Lake near enough 4.2 km, Oak Point Lake within 4.9 km and Cochrane Lake near enough 5 km. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Hardmans Lakes

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. St. Andrews records list black bullhead, common carp, freshwater drum, bigmouth buffalo and longnose dace among the fish reported. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Treat Hardmans Lakes as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 19°C; by January the average is down near -18°C. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Look for the thaw near late April; the fishing lifts straight after. Climate averages put the opening at about late April and the closing near mid November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Anyone fishing Hardmans Lakes regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. The nearest alternative is Passwa Lake, 2.7 km out. Treat access at Hardmans Lakes as something to verify.