Fishing Sheep Lake in Manitoba, Manitoba

• Overview

  The Manitoba end of Manitoba holds Sheep Lake. The surface lies 322 metres up. The water covers around 2.70 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. With 12 km or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. Nearest place of any size is Kenora, 59 km away. Winnipeg is the closest city, 141 km away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Sheep Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Fish Sheep Lake to its features, not to its size. The last hour before dark is rarely wasted.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 19°C in July and bottom out at -19°C in January. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Ice-out usually falls in late April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late April until roughly mid November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. The season on Sheep Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. The nearest alternative is Hawken Lake, 1.5 km out. Confirm access to Sheep Lake locally before you travel.