Josie Lake, Manitoba: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Josie Lake is a St. Laurent water, Manitoba side. The land about it is rolling bush. Around 17 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. Roughly 2.7 km of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. It is a small entry by St. Laurent standards. The closest town, Portage la Prairie, is 42 km distant. After that come Stonewall at 52 km and Headingley at 64 km. Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on Josie Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. St. Laurent records list common carp, northern pike and walleye among the fish reported. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Take Josie Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -18°C to 19°C. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. From about late April to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Josie Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Sioux Pass Lake, 7.2 km away, makes the obvious fallback. Where Josie Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.