Turner Bay, Manitoba: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Turner Bay stands in Kelsey, Manitoba. Elevation runs to 230 metres. This is big water, about 12.43 sq km, and in a wind it behaves like a small sea. The bank runs about 56 km in total, split between open shore and sheltered corners. Few waters listed in Kelsey are bigger. 77 km away sits Cross Lake 19A, the nearest town. The big place round here is Winnipeg, 588 km distant. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Turner Bay

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Slack water is dead water on a place like this. The mouth fishes hardest when the run is at its strongest. Species logged across Kelsey include white sucker, johnny darter, northern pike and walleye. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Turner Bay the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 17°C, the coldest about -24°C. The ice season is long here and the open one short. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early May. Average temperatures cross freezing around early May in spring and again near early November in autumn. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Anyone fishing Turner Bay regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Pistol Lake at 1.4 km is the nearest alternative. Treat Turner Bay as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.