Nail Lake, Manitoba: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Look for Nail Lake in Manitoba. What surrounds it is northern bush. With some 10 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The edge runs 1.5 km or so, easy to work in an afternoon. It is a small entry by Manitoba standards. Nearest place of any size is Pelican Narrows, 208 km away. Saskatoon sits 625 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Nail Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. On Nail Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one. Keep your shadow off the water when the bank is high.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 16°C and January reads -25°C. Open water arrives late and leaves early, which concentrates the fishing. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid May. Averages place the thaw at mid May and the freeze at early November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Nail Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Eileen Lake sits 2.7 km off and takes the overflow. The position on Nail Lake is worth confirming on the day.