Fishing at Okimaw Lake, Victoria Beach, Manitoba

• Overview

  Okimaw Lake lies within the bounds of Victoria Beach, Manitoba. Pine and birch runs right down to the water. Surface area runs to roughly 1.28 sq km, so plan for one area rather than the whole. The shoreline runs about 8.9 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. The town to know is Lac du Bonnet, 102 km out. The nearest city of size is Winnipeg, 171 km away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Okimaw Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Across Victoria Beach, recorded fish include johnny darter, yellow perch, logperch and rock bass. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Okimaw Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 18°C; the cold one sits at -20°C. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Once it clears, about late April, the fishing comes on quickly. Averages suggest open water from about late April through to roughly mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. The season on Okimaw Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Kakaki Lake sits 5.8 km off and takes the overflow. Confirm before you fish Okimaw Lake.