Paddy Lake, Manitoba: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  You will find Paddy Lake in Kelsey, Manitoba. The country here is northern bush. With some 71 hectares of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The full circuit measures close to 4.5 km on foot. The nearest place of any size is Snow Lake, 59 km away. The big place round here is Saskatoon, 497 km distant. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Paddy Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Records held for Kelsey cover white sucker, johnny darter, northern pike, walleye and silver redhorse. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Fish Paddy Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 17°C; by January the average is down near -23°C. Long winters and short summers set the pattern. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early May. On average, early May opens the water and early November closes it again. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Paddy Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. South Nokomis Lake sits 2.5 km off and takes the overflow. Confirm before you fish Paddy Lake.