Fishing at Leech Lake, Riding Mountain West, Manitoba

• Overview

  Riding Mountain West, Manitoba, is where Leech Lake sits. The country here is rolling bush. Surface area is around 37 hectares, which gives you real water without needing a boat. There is little indentation to the bank, so wind hits most of it the same way. Roblin lies 17 km from the water. Regina sits 251 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Leech Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Open biodiversity records for Riding Mountain West list white sucker, rock bass and blackside darter. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Take Leech Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 18°C on average, January about -20°C. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Winter locks it down, and late April brings it back. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. On Leech Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. The nearest alternative is McArthur Lake, 1.5 km out. What applies at Leech Lake may have changed since it was mapped.