Fishing Bass Lake in Rainy River District, Ontario

• Overview

  Bass Lake belongs to Rainy River District, Ontario. Elevation runs to 363 metres. It measures about 70 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. There is roughly 4.7 km of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. For a base, Ely sits 42 km out. Then Atikokan, 59 km, and Babbitt, 63 km. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Bass Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Survey and observation records for Rainy River District include northern pike, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and walleye. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The shape of Bass Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 19°C in July and bottom out at -16°C in January. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late April. Open water usually runs from late April until about late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. On Bass Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Should this one be busy, Bottle Lake is 2 km off. For Bass Lake in particular, ask before you travel.