Fishing Dunnett Lake in Sandy Bay, Saskatchewan

• Overview

  The Sandy Bay entry here is Dunnett Lake, in Saskatchewan. Country round the bank runs to taiga. The water covers around 9.37 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. The edge covers about 18 km, enough to hold several distinct areas. Supplies mean a trip to Pelican Narrows, 258 km off. The big place round here is Saskatoon, 626 km distant. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Dunnett Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Survey and observation records for Sandy Bay include northern pike, walleye, yellow perch, Arctic grayling and white sucker. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. The shape of Dunnett Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 15°C and January near -24°C on the long-run figures. Open water is the exception rather than the rule here. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid May. Climate averages put the opening at about mid May and the closing near early November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Plan around that when you fish Dunnett Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Cook Lake at 7.5 km is the sensible second choice. The position on Dunnett Lake is worth confirming on the day.