Fishing at Fordham Lake, Stony Rapids, Saskatchewan

• Overview

  Fordham Lake belongs to Stony Rapids, Saskatchewan. The surroundings are taiga. It measures some 4.68 sq km, and wind has room to build across it. There is roughly 22 km of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. The closest town, Pelican Narrows, is 277 km distant. Saskatoon is the closest city, 652 km away. Near neighbours include: Mullin Lake about 5.4 km, Cairns Lake 5.9 km off, Tighe Lake about 7.7 km, Middle Lake 14 km off and Morwick Lake about 18 km. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Fordham Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Open biodiversity records for Stony Rapids list cisco, northern pike, round whitefish and lake chub. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. The near bank of Fordham Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about -25°C and July at about 16°C, the water has a wide range to work through. This is a two-season water: locked, then wide open. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid May. The open-water window runs from around mid May to about late October in an average year. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. It sets the rhythm of the year at Fordham Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. If the gate is shut, Mullin Lake at 5.4 km is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Fordham Lake before loading the car.