Fishing Gow Lake in Air Ronge, Saskatchewan

• Overview

  Gow Lake belongs to Air Ronge, Saskatchewan. The surroundings are taiga. This is big water, about 15.63 sq km, and in a wind it behaves like a small sea. The shoreline runs to about 44 km, far more than one trip can cover. La Ronge is the closest town at 160 km. The big place round here is Saskatoon, 502 km distant. Neighbouring water: Macoun Lake (41 km), Lower Nistoassini Lake the better part of 42 km and Lower Waddy Lake (54 km). No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Gow Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Open biodiversity records for Air Ronge list lake trout, northern pike, white sucker, walleye and cisco. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Read Gow Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs -22°C to 16°C. Everything is compressed into the middle of the year. Look for the thaw near early May; the fishing lifts straight after. The water is typically free of ice between early May and early November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. The season on Gow Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. For a change of water, Macoun Lake is 41 km distant. Check the position at Gow Lake before loading the car.