Fishing Bale Lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  In Ontario, Bale Lake falls inside Thunder Bay District. The surface lies 397 metres up. At roughly 4 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Our Thunder Bay District list holds plenty of bigger water. The closest town, Greenstone, is 55 km away. The nearest city of size is Thunder Bay, 162 km away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Bale Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Open biodiversity records for Thunder Bay District list cisco, blackfin cisco and rainbow smelt. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Bale Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 16°C in July and bottoms out near -20°C in January. Everything is compressed into the middle of the year. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early May. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early May and starts locking again about mid November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Plan around that when you fish Bale Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. If the gate is shut, Badge Lake at 2.3 km is the nearest alternative. Where Bale Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.