Bark Lake in Rainy River District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Bark Lake is set in Rainy River District, Ontario. The surroundings are rolling bush. At roughly 10 hectares, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. The full circuit measures close to 1.6 km on foot. Our Rainy River District list holds plenty of bigger water. Nearest town is Atikokan, 38 km off. Thunder Bay is the closest city, 167 km away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Bark Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. County-wide records name northern pike, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The near bank of Bark Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 18°C and January reads -18°C. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. At Bark Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Lumby Lake at 1.1 km is the sensible second choice. The position on Bark Lake is worth confirming on the day.