Fishing at Balkam Lake, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Balkam Lake is listed under Thunder Bay District, Ontario. It sits in spruce and muskeg country. At 2.85 sq km this is proper open water rather than a pond. With 8.6 km or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. On our Thunder Bay District list it sits near the top for size. 49 km away sits Longlac, the nearest town. Geraldton is 54 km away, with Greenstone at 59 km. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Balkam Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Reported across Thunder Bay District: cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. At Balkam Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from -20°C in January up to 16°C in July. The freeze holds for the better part of the year. Look for the thaw near early May; the fishing lifts straight after. Averages place the thaw at early May and the freeze at mid November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Time your trip to Balkam Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Rounds Lake, 1.9 km away, makes the obvious fallback. What applies at Balkam Lake may have changed since it was mapped.