Bales Lake Fishing Guide, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Look for Bales Lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario. The surface lies 222 metres up. About 1.57 sq km, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. There is roughly 5.9 km of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. Size puts it in the front rank of our Thunder Bay District list. The closest town, Longlac, is 146 km away. It is 360 km to Thunder Bay, the nearest city. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Bales Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Across Thunder Bay District, recorded fish include cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The shape of Bales Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 16°C, the coldest about -21°C. Everything is compressed into the middle of the year. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early May. Climate averages put the opening at about early May and the closing near early November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. The season on Bales Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. The nearest alternative is Brundrit Lake, 4.9 km out. Check the position on Bales Lake before loading the car.