Fishing at Ward Lake, Manitoba, Manitoba

• Overview

  Set in Manitoba, this is Ward Lake. It sits in northern bush. The water covers some 86 hectares, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The perimeter runs near 5.1 km, so plan the walk before you start. It lies lower than most water we list in Manitoba. Gillam lies 163 km from the water. Thompson is 320 km away, with Oxford House at 322 km. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Ward Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. At Ward Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes. Follow the birds if you cannot find the fish.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 15°C, with January the cold end at about -27°C. This is a two-season water: locked, then wide open. Winter locks it down, and late May brings it back. On average, late May opens the water and late October closes it again. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Plan around that when you fish Ward Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Should this one be busy, Goodman Lake is 2.5 km off. Signs at Ward Lake carry more weight than any list.