Fishing Big Valley Lake in Porcupine No. 395, Saskatchewan

• Overview

  Set in Porcupine No. 395, Big Valley Lake is a Saskatchewan water. Height above sea level is 529 metres. This is sizeable water at about 2.87 sq km, and a boat opens up most of it. The edge covers about 8.4 km, enough to hold several distinct areas. Preeceville lies 55 km from the water. For a city, Regina is 244 km off. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Big Valley Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On Big Valley Lake a short move beats a long cast. Snags are worth the risk if you fish them carefully.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 17°C; the cold one sits at -19°C. The fishing year opens late and shuts early. The lid usually goes in late April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. The open-water window runs from around late April to about early November in an average year. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. The season on Big Valley Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Records show it does not hold water year-round. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, Ravina Lake is 5.9 km distant. Ask locally about Big Valley Lake if anything is unclear.