Fishing at Nao Lake, Kelsey, Manitoba

• Overview

  Nao Lake belongs to Kelsey, Manitoba. Land around it is lake country bush. Roughly 42 hectares: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Around 5.4 km of bank, which is a long day on foot. The nearest town is Flin Flon, 29 km away. Saskatoon sits 451 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Nao Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Across Kelsey, recorded fish include white sucker, johnny darter, northern pike, walleye and silver redhorse. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Fish Nao Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -22°C and July at about 17°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early May. Expect the water usable from around early May until roughly early November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. On Nao Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, Niyanun Lake at 1.4 km is the nearest alternative. Rules at Nao Lake are worth checking on the day.