Gillies Lake Fishing near Waldheim, Saskatchewan

• Overview

  Out in Blaine LakeNo. 434, Saskatchewan, sits Gillies Lake. What surrounds it is rolling bush. At 4.54 sq km this is proper open water rather than a pond. Waldheim sits 27 km from the bank. It is 79 km to Saskatoon, the nearest city. Others worth noting: Boulanoff Lake roughly 18 km, Martins Lake 21 km away, Redberry Lake roughly 26 km, Ivy Lake 27 km away and Royal Lake roughly 28 km. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Gillies Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Read Gillies Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out. The mouth of any inflow is worth an hour after rain.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 17°C; by January the average is down near -17°C. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late April until roughly mid November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. That shapes the year on Gillies Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. It is recorded as intermittent, which means the basin empties in dry spells. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Boulanoff Lake at 18 km is the sensible second choice. Ask locally about Gillies Lake if anything is unclear.