Fishing Smoky Lake in Alexander, Manitoba

• Overview

  Smoky Lake falls in Alexander, part of Manitoba. The surface lies 312 metres up. The water covers some 81 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. At about 9.0 km of edge, most people work one arm at a time. Start from Lac du Bonnet, 54 km down the road. Further out sit Beausejour (93 km) and Gimli (106 km). No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Smoky Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Species logged across Alexander include smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch and white sucker. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Work Smoky Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 19°C and January near -19°C on the long-run figures. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Ice usually gives way near late April, and forms again about mid November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. The season on Smoky Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Little Bear Lake, 4.2 km away. Check the position at Smoky Lake before loading the car.