Barehead Lake in Thunder Bay District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Thunder Bay District, Ontario, this is Barehead Lake. Elevation runs to 307 metres. The water covers around 2.16 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. The shoreline runs about 11 km, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. Few waters listed in Thunder Bay District are bigger. The closest town, Manitouwadge, is 9.8 km distant. Hornepayne is 85 km and Terrace Bay 92 km. Rules here are straightforward: one set of provincial rules.

• Where to Fish on Barehead Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Public occurrence data for Thunder Bay District names cisco, blackfin cisco and rainbow smelt. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Read Barehead Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -17°C to 16°C. Cold dominates the year and the fishing works around it. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early May. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early May and starts locking again about mid November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Plan any trip to Barehead Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. 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. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Failing this one, try Gaffhook Lake, 2.8 km away. The position on Barehead Lake is worth confirming on the day.