Taylor Bay, Saskatchewan: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Taylor Bay lies in Stony Rapids, in Saskatchewan. What surrounds it is northern bush. At 7.24 sq km this is proper open water rather than a pond. Some 27 km of shoreline means conditions can differ from one end to the other. Fort Smith sits 350 km from here and is the nearest stop. The nearest city of size is Edmonton, 802 km away. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Taylor Bay

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Oyster and old piling give the only hard structure in sight. The mouth fishes hardest when the run is at its strongest. Records held for Stony Rapids cover cisco, northern pike, round whitefish, lake chub and slimy sculpin. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Work Taylor Bay in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 15°C in July and bottom out at -26°C in January. The year here is short and sharp: a long lid, then a burst of open water. Once it clears, about mid May, the fishing comes on quickly. Break-up near mid May, freeze-up near late October: that is the shape of an average year. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. It holds true on Taylor Bay more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Should this one be busy, Owens Lake is 3.7 km off. Ask locally about Taylor Bay if anything is unclear.