Besnard Lake

ol whitey · #1 05-12-2022, 11:17 AM

Morning everyone
Buddy and I have trip to Besnard Lake booked for late June.
Just wondering how long it will take us to drive there, from
Red Deer? Thanks in advance, and have a good day.

beerhunter · #2 05-12-2022, 11:51 AM

Google maps says 9 hours

dodgeboy1979 · #3 05-12-2022, 12:20 PM

it's 5.5 from Lloydminster

-JR- · #4 05-12-2022, 01:35 PM

I guess it would not be the lake i would go to if I had to drive 9 -11 hrs .
But I guess we all have to go there once and see what the talk is all about .
Then say never again. Keep use posted if fishing has got better .

58thecat · #5 05-12-2022, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -JR-

I guess it would not be the lake i would go to if I had to drive 9 -11 hrs .
But I guess we all have to go there once and see what the talk is all about .
Then say never again. Keep use posted if fishing has got better .

Well
Been there many times and the walleye fishing was fantastic but the pike fishing was killer on 40” or bigger.
Just gotta get away from the areas near the camps, watch out for rocks as this lake has very shallow areas that pop up in the middle of no where.
The sandy road can be interesting if it rains for a few days but thats all part of getting to a lake that simply is awesome, been fishing that lake since 1990 and recommend it.

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58thecat · #6 05-12-2022, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Well
Been there many times and the walleye fishing was fantastic but the pike fishing was killer on 40” or bigger.
Just gotta get away from the areas near the camps, watch out for rocks as this lake has very shallow areas that pop up in the middle of no where.
The sandy road can be interesting if it rains for a few days but thats all part of getting to a lake that simply is awesome, been fishing that lake since 1990 and recommend it.

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On another note regarding this lake we have had the best fishing there mid to late September, locals say something about the lake turning over?

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skidderman · #7 05-13-2022, 07:18 AM

I suggest taking an extra spare tire for the boat trailer. That road can be a killer on tires.

Buckhead · #8 05-13-2022, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ol whitey

Morning everyone
Buddy and I have trip to Besnard Lake booked for late June.
Just wondering how long it will take us to drive there, from
Red Deer? Thanks in advance, and have a good day.

With fuel and pit stops about 11 hours.

ol whitey · #9 05-13-2022, 05:31 PM

Now I know it's about 10-11 hr drive... not a problem for me, as long as the fishing is decent, which I believe it will be. Thanks for the replies everyone.

DRhunter · #10 05-14-2022, 08:46 AM

We are heading up for our annual trip at the beginning of June.. not too sure what some are saying about poor fishing?! We absolutely slay walleye, but size is somewhat limited, very few over 60cm, and can catch pike in bays all day long.

I would say compared to what we see in Alberta, it is catching at Besnard and not fishing!

DR

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bradvtown · #11 05-24-2022, 11:07 AM

We've been going there for years also. Don't catch too many huge walleye but plentiful enough. I second watching out for rocks. We always take a guide partially to know where the rocks are but the shore lunch is always number 1. As mentioned that road can be bad after a few days rain but nothing too terrible. It was completely washed out 5ish years ago before the prison and we had to travel to PA and then up to La Ronge to get in.

YeeHaw · #12 05-26-2022, 12:15 PM

Get a guide to take you into Clam lake, great walleye and perch

kingrat · #13 05-30-2022, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YeeHaw

Get a guide to take you into Clam lake, great walleye and perch

I would skip clam and just fish morning lake, way easier access and just as good.

skidderman · #14 05-31-2022, 03:46 PM

Time to get there depends a lot on road conditions. When it rains lots that road turns ugly and I mean ugly.

SaskFarmer78 · #15 06-27-2022, 03:41 PM

I am heading up there this weekend to take my boys on there first northern SK fishing trip. I used to fly into Clam Lake lots a while back and the fishing was always great no matter the time of year. Clam was fairly easy to get around although there are a few places you had to watch out for rocks in the middle of no where but as long as you were paying attention you would have no issues. Do you think a person would be ok at Besnard Lake or should I hire a guide. The guides aren't expensive (and would make fishing a lot easier) but it is nice to just fish with the boys and not have to send one of them in another boat with a guide they don't know?

wouldn't mine the forums opinion?

bradvtown · #16 06-27-2022, 03:59 PM

I understand that issue but we've encountered some rocks even with guides in odd spots. Never had any real damage as when it's happened we were slowly jigging or drifting. Few spots under the bridge to the West that make me happy to have a guide. Not sure the age of the kids but that might factor in your decision.

SaskFarmer78 · #17 06-28-2022, 07:16 AM

Thanks BradVtown

The boys are 12 and 14.

DRhunter · #18 06-28-2022, 07:21 AM

Saskfarmer,

Our group have been going to Besnard for years, initially my dad when he first started going there hired guides and kept GPS tracks on areas where you could navigate without hitting rocks. As long as we stay on our tracks we don’t have any rock issues.. but once in a while someone will get a little over confident and venture off on their own and come back having to pay for a boat motor to be fixed.

If it were me and didn’t know the lake at all, I would be hiring a guide for sure.

Good luck, we had great fishing this year!

DR

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