- Lake Winnipeg is the 11th largest freshwater lake in the world -- or 10th, according to some sources -- with a surface area of more than 9,000 square miles. Lake of the Woods, by comparison, has a surface area of about 1,600 square miles.
- The bottom of the lake is shallow and relatively featureless, especially in the south basin, and most of the ice fishing takes place in depths of 15 feet or less.
- The lake spans about 270 miles from south to north, with a width of as much as 25 miles in the south basin and 69 miles in the north basin. Major rivers draining into the south basin include the Red River and the Winnipeg River. The lake drains into Hudson Bay via the Nelson River.
- It's been said Lake Winnipeg walleyes get their iridescent bluish-green color from the big lake's rich limestone base. Some of the fish almost appear to glow, the color is so striking.
-- Sources: Report, "The State of the Saskatchewan River Basin"; Manitoba Natural Resources; Stu McKay, owner of Cats on the Red.
