Round Lake in Alexander: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Round Lake lies in Alexander, in Manitoba. Height above sea level is 276 metres. At some 1.73 sq km it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. At about 5.6 km of edge, most people work one arm at a time. On our Alexander list it sits near the top for size. Lac du Bonnet sits 42 km from the bank. Beausejour is 78 km and Gimli 86 km. No boundary runs near, so the local rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Round Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Fish documented in Alexander include smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch and white sucker. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Round Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 18°C for July and -18°C for January. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Winter locks it down, and late April brings it back. Open water usually runs from late April until about mid November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Round Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Maskwa Lake sits 9.2 km off and takes the overflow. Where Round Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.