Fishing at West Lee Lake, Alexander, Manitoba

• Overview

  Out in Alexander, Manitoba, sits West Lee Lake. The ground around here is rolling bush. It runs to roughly 36 hectares — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. There is roughly 2.9 km of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. Lac du Bonnet lies 107 km from the water. Gimli is 111 km and Arborg 112 km. Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on West Lee Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Records held for Alexander cover smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch and white sucker. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. West Lee Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about -20°C in January to roughly 18°C in July. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Once it clears, about late April, the fishing comes on quickly. Average temperatures cross freezing around late April in spring and again near mid November in autumn. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Plan around that when you fish West Lee Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. The nearest alternative is East Lee Lake, 0.9 km out. Signs at West Lee Lake carry more weight than any list.