Fishing Josh Lake in Ethelbert, Manitoba

• Overview

  Josh Lake lies in Ethelbert, in Manitoba. Height above sea level is 706 metres. Surface area runs to about 9 hectares — small enough to read in one session. The edge runs 1.8 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Manitoba listings. You are 46 km from Roblin. The nearest city of size is Regina, 282 km away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Josh Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Across Ethelbert, recorded fish include Iowa darter, yellow perch and northern pike. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Josh Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 16°C for July and -19°C for January. The year here is short and sharp: a long lid, then a burst of open water. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early May. Climate figures give an open season running early May to early November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. It sets the rhythm of the year at Josh Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. For a change of water, East Lost Lake is 1.4 km distant. Check the current arrangement for Josh Lake.