Middle Lake in Kelsey: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In Manitoba, Middle Lake falls inside Kelsey. Elevation runs to 195 metres. At some 2.15 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. Some 8.8 km of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. It lies lower than most water we list in Manitoba. You are 28 km from Thompson. Then Cross Lake 19A, 98 km, and Snow Lake, 145 km. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Middle Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Across Kelsey, recorded fish include white sucker, johnny darter, northern pike and walleye. The county list is broader than any single water. Middle Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 16°C for July and -25°C for January. Open water arrives late and leaves early, which concentrates the fishing. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid May. From about mid May to around early November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. It holds true on Middle Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. For a change of water, Upper Ospwagan Lake is 2.8 km distant. For Middle Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.