Fishing at Purvis Lake, Big River No. 555, Saskatchewan

• Overview

  Purvis Lake lies within the bounds of Big River No. 555, Saskatchewan. The surface lies 557 metres up. The water covers around 2.12 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. At about 9.8 km of edge, most people work one arm at a time. Shellbrook is the closest town at 98 km. It is 217 km to Saskatoon, the nearest city. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Purvis Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Fish documented in Big River No. 555 include cisco, northern pike, yellow perch, white sucker and walleye. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. At Purvis Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 16°C and January near -18°C. This is a two-season water: locked, then wide open. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late April. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near early November: that is the shape of an average year. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Purvis Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Failing this one, try Perch Lake, 5.7 km away. Confirm before you fish Purvis Lake.