Ominiwin By-Pass Channel Fishing in Kelsey, Manitoba

• Overview

  Look for Ominiwin By-Pass Channel in the Kelsey part of Manitoba. Height above sea level is 213 metres. It measures some 1.14 sq km, and wind has room to build across it. Ground here is low by Manitoba standards. Cross Lake 19A is the closest place, 32 km off. Winnipeg is the closest city, 509 km away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Ominiwin By-Pass Channel

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. The outside of each bend cuts deepest and holds the better fish. After rain the colour clears from the surface first, so fish the edges. Fish documented in Kelsey include white sucker, johnny darter, northern pike, walleye and silver redhorse. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. At Ominiwin By-Pass Channel light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -23°C and July at about 17°C, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter owns most of the year at this latitude. Ice takes the slower stretches in winter; by early May the whole run is open again. Break-up sits around early May on average, with the water closing again about early November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. The season on Ominiwin By-Pass Channel follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Tippett Lake is 24 km distant. The position on Ominiwin By-Pass Channel is worth confirming on the day.